Midwifery nurses: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time midwifery nurses in the UK earned a median £46,990 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 20% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
That ranks 78th of 382 occupations on this measure.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £42,084 and £53,564.
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
Most jobs here are part-time: 25,000 of about 54,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 it has risen 14.1%, from £41,188, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 42,500 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £36,463 | £692.20 | £18.91 | £17,731* | £378.80* | £19.16 |
| 20th percentile | £41,138 | £789.30 | £21.18 | £26,898 | £530.10 | £22.55 |
| 25th percentile | £42,084 | £817.20 | £22.36 | £29,055 | £564.00 | £22.98 |
| 30th percentile | £43,335 | £850.40 | £22.94 | £31,549 | £597.20 | £23.23 |
| 40th percentile | £45,606 | £877.00 | £24.38 | £34,717 | £654.70 | £24.63 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £46,990 | £934.70 | £25.29 | £39,327 | £718.50 | £25.86 |
| 60th percentile | £50,052 | £953.70 | £26.35 | £42,513 | £811.30 | £27.04 |
| 70th percentile | £52,325 | £993.90 | £27.88 | £46,025 | £872.40 | £28.37 |
| 75th percentile | £53,564 | £1,026.60 | £28.60 | £47,780 | £931.10 | £29.09 |
| 80th percentile | – | £1,072.00 | £30.04 | £49,684 | £951.30 | £30.03 |
| Mean | £48,988 | £945.30 | £25.69 | £38,474 | £741.80 | £25.81 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £41,188 | £771.30 | £21.09 | £24,757 | £448.50 | 83 |
| 2022 revised | £40,339 | £782.20 | £21.53 | £30,628 | £607.20 | 64 |
| 2023 revised | £41,668 | £828.00 | £22.29 | £33,190 | £688.70 | 57 |
| 2024 revised | £45,738 | £854.90 | £23.45 | £35,404 | £691.80 | 53 |
| 2025 provisional | £46,990 | £934.70 | £25.29 | £39,327 | £718.50 | 54 |
Midwifery nurses by region
UK: 42,500 (± 8,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What midwifery nurses do
Midwifery nurses deliver, or assist in the delivery of babies, provide antenatal and postnatal care and advise parents on baby care. They work with other healthcare professionals and advise on and teach midwifery practice. (ONS SOC 2020, 2231)
Also covers: delivery suite manager, midwife, midwifery manager, midwife manager, midwifery sister, registered midwife, superintendent midwife and team leader (midwifery).
- Monitors condition and progress of patient and baby throughout pregnancy
- Delivers babies in normal births and assists doctors with difficult deliveries
- Monitors recovery of mother in postnatal period and supervises the nursing of premature and other babies requiring special attention
- Advises on baby care, exercise, diet and family planning issues
- Supervises more junior staff and directs the work of the midwifery unit
- Plans and manages midwifery care services
A degree in midwifery is essential. Registered nurses can do a 12-18 month shortened course but graduates from other disciplines must undertake the full three or four year degree programme. Entry to midwifery training without a degree or HND is also possible. Applicants must have a minimum of five GCSEs (or equivalent) and at least two A-levels (or equivalent) for degree programmes.
Related
Nursing professionals (median £43,078) · Registered community nurses · Registered specialist nurses · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026