some truths about CNM salaries and benefits

what2donow · Jul 13, 2009

Thank you so much for sharing this! I've been looking everywhere for this type of info, but like you said, there isn't much (reliable) out there. One question: can you explain what you mean by "2x8 hr clinic and 2x12 hrs"? Is part of this call, or is that in addition? I would love to know what your typical work week looks like!

epiphany · Jul 13, 2009

can you explain what you mean by "2x8 hr clinic and 2x12 hrs"? Is part of this call, or is that in addition?

sorry, i wasn't too clear on that. so, to breakdown - for 2 days, I have regular clinic hours, 8 hours a day. Clinic hours are mostly weekdays. You would see pregnant women, as well as GYN care. In the 12 hour shifts are L&D shifts, 7am to 7 pm. You clock in, and are on the floor managing labor, including triaging and postpartum rounds. It would work like a nursing shift. In many places that offer that 40 hour/wk, you never have to do calls.

Btw, I don't really like calls because it's like having this 24 hour period waiting for the other shoe to drop. You have to learn how to relax, go about your day or night until you get paged, sleep when you can. Some people can get used it but it would be hard for me.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 13, 2009

So its not true that you make more as a floor nurse? When I was a student I told a

L&D nurse that I wanted to become a CNM some day and she told me that floor nurses make more, especially if they work over time.

epiphany · Jul 13, 2009

If you take the high end of the spectrum of nursing salary (experienced nurses, overtime, high paying institution) and compare it with the low end of the spectrum of CNM's (new grads, lowpaying place, no overtime) yes, it could overlap. It's a like a magic trick - look we can make those two ends meet, can you believe it. People find that sort of thing fascinating.

What I am saying is that the site that I gave, is a true representation of what I am seeing. Most CNM's with a couple of years of experience are making close to 90K, and you can't say that about nursing salaries. Everybody makes more money with overtime - many CNM's do per diems.

I will say that job satisfaction is no comparison (and we are undervalued and underpaid) but still, if you are just talking money, there is incentive to be a midwife besides loving the job.

Yes, it is in my interest to encourage midwifery for anyone with doubts about money, and that's why I posted this, but only because it's the best job in the world, and if you have the heart, we need you. :)

kimiij · Jul 13, 2009

Thanks for this breakdown! I am also interested in hearing others' experiences.

Also, what about those that work for themselves?

kalley · Jul 17, 2009

Thanks for posting this. I am early in my nursing training and have a long way to go to CNM. I had heard recently from a floor nurse that used to work for a group of CNMs that she makes more than they do. I was suprised, but not detered from my dream. I'm not in this for the money, but it would be nice to give my hubby a break from his job after supporting me and our boys for years through nursing and CNM school.

mommy2boysaz · Jul 18, 2009

I am currently in school (Frontier Class 60!) for my CNM. A CNM that I know works with 2 OB/GYNs and 1 other CNM in a private practice at a small, rural hospital. The midwives each work 2 days per week seeing patients in the office and are on call for their own patients 24/7. That is the way they've chosen to work it. They want to offer their patients the satisfaction of knowing (except in rare circumstances) who will deliver them. They are pretty busy but they do cover for eachother for vacations, illnesses, etc. Anyways, the midwife who has been there almost 7 years now makes > $120K. I don't know the particulars about benefits though.

In our area, a staff RN in OB, with 10 years experience, makes around $23/hr. Hardly comparable!

I can't wait to become a CNM!! -And it's NOT about the money!

byrd262, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2009

Epiphany,

In a previous post, you said that there are more than enough CNM jobs available for new graduates. How would you describe the job market for CNMs these days (especially within the PA/DE/NJ) area? Thanks.

epiphany · Jul 23, 2009

Epiphany,
In a previous post, you said that there are more than enough CNM jobs available for new graduates. How would you describe the job market for CNMs these days (especially within the PA/DE/NJ) area? Thanks.

I think the job market is tougher in general these days. Unfortunately I don't work in that area, so I don't know it specifically. I do know that there are job openings, according to the midwifejobs.com listing and there some new grads were hired in that area recently. You should peruse that site, too.

When do you plan to have graduated? Things change with time, what's happening now may not be the case when you are ready for job. I expect that need for increased primary health care if the new healthcare plan gets passed, will open ways for a lot of NP's and midwives.

epiphany · Jul 26, 2009

I should also mention that if you worked for a federally qualified site, you will get loan repayment. As far as I know it's 25K a year. Check the facts for yourselves, I didn't actually apply but my friends did. You should also peruse their site:

http://nhscjobs.hrsa.gov/

lovingpecola · Aug 1, 2009

I agree that this information is hard to find. I am a new grad, currently looking for a job and have been talking to various employers. I can contribute the following to the discussion:

Job 1: large midwestern city, large community health practice but not eligible for loan repayment

Schedule: 2 days a week in clinic doing AP/GYN, another 24hrs week in hospital on L&D (scheduling is fluid- sometimes more in office, less on L&D, etc. but every week totals 40hrs)
Salary: about $75,000 + about $10,000 per year in bonuses
Benefits: 4 weeks vacation, 12 days sick leave
$1500 CME conference reimbursement
ACNM dues, RN license, CNM license, and DEA&State med licenses paid for by employer
80% health insurance

Job 2: very large private practice in the northeast, not eligible for loan repayment

Schedule: 3-4 days in the office, plus call "1 in 3" (meaning, three midwives cover the patients 24/7 and you are responsible for 1/3 of the call time... this equals 24hrs of call every 3 days, depending on how the midwives organize themselves)
Salary: about $70,000
Benefits: 3 weeks vacation
$1000 CME conference reimbursement
100% health insurance

Other differences between jobs:

-Job 1 has a much higher birth volume than Job 2... so in Job 1 there is no real "call" you staff L&D for your "call" shifts. Because job 2 has less than 20 births in a month, you do not spend your whole "call" time in the hospital, and may not be called in at all.

-Job 2 will eventually pay more than job 1, because the bonuses available after the first year will be almost double what those in job 1 are.

-Job 1 has 3 times as many midwives on staff.

-The midwives of job 2 perform significantly more expanded skills: first assist, colposcopies, ultrasounds, biopsies, etc. The midwives in job 1 give more primary care services: ear infections, URIs, asthma, etc.

I haven't been interviewed for or offered either job, this information came from preliminary, pre-interview talks with the practices.

If you're lucky enough to live in CT (or be looking for a job there), you can use this article for reference:

Survey of Connecticut Nurse-Midwives by Holland and Holland

An excerpt from the abstract: "Full-time midwives in Connecticut worked an average of 77 hours per week, had a mean salary of $79,554, and 87% had on-call responsibilities. A "typical" Connecticut midwife had an "average" full-time work week consisting of two 24-hour call days and three 7-hour office days, seeing 19 to 24 patients per office day."

I found the article helpful even though I'm not in CT.

Hope this helps! Thanks epiphany for starting the thread.

LP