Occupation · SOC 29-9099.01
Midwives
Provide prenatal care and childbirth assistance.
Median wage
$64,030
$37,220–$127,340
Projected growth
+3.4%
Average growth
Annual openings
150
per year
Employed (US)
36,970
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
54 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessMonitoringCritical ThinkingSpeakingService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningLearning StrategiesInstructingWritingTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisPersuasionScienceManagement of Personnel ResourcesNegotiationOperations MonitoringMathematicsQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingTechnology DesignProgrammingManagement of Financial ResourcesOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionOperations AnalysisRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryPsychologyTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageBiologyEducation and TrainingSociology and AnthropologyAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentPersonnel and Human ResourcesChemistryComputers and ElectronicsAdministrativeSales and MarketingPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityCommunications and MediaMathematicsForeign LanguageTelecommunicationsEconomics and AccountingTransportationPhysicsGeographyMechanicalHistory and ArcheologyProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyFine ArtsDesignBuilding and ConstructionFood Production
Technology & tools
AS/400 DatabaseEmail softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareExtensible markup language XMLMEDITECH softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordPatient electronic medical record EMR softwarePrivate PracticeWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkAnalyzing Data or InformationProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleScheduling Work and ActivitiesTraining and Teaching OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesWorking with ComputersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesThinking CreativelyPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersSelling or Influencing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesStaffing Organizational UnitsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Maternal vital signs and uterine contraction patterns — monitor and document under preceptor supervision during active labor in a hospital or birth center setting.Complete patient health histories including medical, surgical, reproductive, and mental health information — obtain using structured intake tools under direct clinical guidance.Fetal heartbeat and basic growth indicators — detect and record using Doppler and tape measurement techniques with attending midwife oversight during prenatal visits.Prenatal health assessment findings — conduct and report systematically at scheduled intervals under supervision to track physical and emotional changes in low-risk patients.Gestational abnormalities such as hypertension or elevated glucose — recognize early warning signs and escalate findings to supervising practitioners in an outpatient clinic.Ectopic and tubal pregnancy indicators — identify clinical presentations and initiate referral protocols with guidance from supervising clinical staff.Emergency response plans for labor complications — follow established protocols and assist senior midwives during urgent maternal or neonatal events.Newborn status at birth — perform initial assessment and assist with basic care measures, including positioning and airway clearance, under direct supervision in a delivery room.Electronic medical records and clinical documentation software — enter patient data accurately and retrieve health histories using approved midwifery practice management systems.Patient communication and active listening techniques — apply during prenatal counseling sessions to gather relevant psychosocial information under structured mentorship.
developing
Maternal vital signs, contraction frequency, and labor progression — monitor and interpret independently across routine low- to moderate-risk labors in a hospital birth unit.Comprehensive health histories including reproductive, surgical, and mental health domains — obtain and analyze routinely to inform individualized care plans with reduced oversight.Fetal well-being through heartbeat auscultation, fundal height measurement, and Leopold's palpation — assess and document findings across a full prenatal caseload in community or clinic settings.Gestational diabetes, pre-term labor, and mild hypertensive disorders — identify, initiate evidence-based monitoring protocols, and coordinate management within a multidisciplinary team.Ectopic and tubal pregnancies — recognize clinical presentations, complete diagnostic workup, and arrange timely specialist referrals in ambulatory obstetric care environments.Newborn resuscitation and stabilization procedures — perform confidently using NRP guidelines when neonatal compromise is identified at delivery.Contingency and emergency care plans for labor and postpartum complications — establish and activate in response to evolving clinical situations with limited supervisory input.Prenatal emotional and psychological changes — monitor through standardized screening tools and coordinate referrals to counseling or social services when risk is identified.Clinical and administrative software including ERP and medical record platforms — utilize proficiently to manage scheduling, documentation, and continuity of care across a patient panel.Patient education regarding birth options, risk reduction, and postpartum recovery — deliver clearly and adapt communication style to diverse health literacy levels in group or individual sessions.
proficient
Complex maternal conditions including severe hypertension, gestational diabetes with complications, and retarded fetal growth — diagnose, manage autonomously, and coordinate interdisciplinary responses in high-acuity obstetric settings.Full-scope labor monitoring encompassing vital signs, contraction dynamics, cervical progression, and fetal status — integrate and interpret holistically to guide real-time clinical decisions without supervisory input.Non-routine fetal growth and well-being concerns identified through palpation, Doppler, and biophysical assessment — evaluate, formulate differential diagnoses, and arrange appropriate escalation pathways.Ectopic and tubal pregnancies presenting atypically — identify through advanced clinical reasoning, order confirmatory diagnostics, and manage referral and follow-up across the care continuum.Emergency and contingency protocols for maternal hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, and neonatal resuscitation — lead execution independently and debrief team performance post-event.Individualized prenatal care plans for patients with complex medical, surgical, or mental health histories — develop, implement, and adjust across all trimesters in collaboration with physicians and specialists.Newborn care at birth including advanced resuscitation, thermoregulation, and early neonatal assessment — provide with clinical authority and integrate findings into postnatal management plans.Psychosocial and cultural determinants affecting pregnancy outcomes — assess systematically, integrate into care planning, and advocate for patient-centered adaptations within organizational care pathways.Clinical data trends across a patient population — analyze using spreadsheet and medical software tools to identify care gaps, risk patterns, and opportunities for outcome improvement.Evidence-based guidelines and emerging research in midwifery practice — critically appraise, synthesize, and translate into updated clinical protocols applied across a full independent caseload.
advanced
Midwifery practice standards and clinical competency frameworks — design, implement, and evaluate at the organizational or systems level to drive measurable improvements in maternal and neonatal outcomes.Emergency and high-acuity obstetric response capabilities — lead development of institution-wide protocols, conduct simulation-based training, and oversee quality assurance audits for labor and delivery units.Complex prenatal risk stratification systems — architect and champion adoption of population-level screening programs for hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, and fetal growth restriction across care networks.Interprofessional obstetric teams including physicians, nurses, and allied health staff — coordinate and lead in high-stakes clinical environments, modeling advanced judgment and decision-making under pressure.Midwifery education curricula and clinical supervision programs — design and lead to develop the next generation of advanced practice midwives in academic, hospital, or community health settings.Health policy and regulatory advocacy for midwifery scope of practice — represent the profession at institutional, state, or national forums to expand equitable access to midwife-led care.Organizational performance data and patient outcome metrics — evaluate using enterprise-level analytics tools and translate findings into strategic quality improvement and resource allocation decisions.Research initiatives and evidence-generation projects in maternal-fetal health — lead as principal investigator or co-investigator, contributing original findings to peer-reviewed literature and professional guidelines.Patient safety culture and incident review processes within midwifery and obstetric services — lead root-cause analyses, implement systemic corrective actions, and disseminate learning organization-wide.Mentorship and professional development ecosystems for emerging and developing midwives — establish structured programs, provide expert clinical coaching, and foster reflective practice across the full workforce pipeline.
Also known as
16 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
APC (Advanced Practice Clinician)APP (Advanced Practice Provider)Birth Center MidwifeBirth DoulaCertified Direct-Entry MidwifeCertified MidwifeCertified Professional Midwife (CPM)Direct-Entry MidwifeDoulaHomebirth MidwifeLay MidwifeLicensed and Certified MidwifeLicensed Certified Professional MidwifeLicensed Direct Entry MidwifeLicensed Midwife (LM)Postpartum Doula