What is the average midwife salary in Canada?

The average midwife salary in Canada is $85,000-$110,000 for a registered midwife with several years of experience. New registrants earn $72,000-$90,000. Experienced midwives earn $100,000-$130,000. Midwifery pay varies significantly by province due to different funding models, with Ontario and BC offering the highest compensation through their publicly funded course-of-care payment systems.

Is midwifery a good career in Canada?

Midwifery is a rewarding but demanding career in Canada. The pay is solid ($85,000-$130,000 mid-career), demand far exceeds supply in most provinces, and the profession has strong public funding. However, midwives work on-call schedules that include nights, weekends, and holidays attending births, which creates significant lifestyle challenges. Burnout is a recognized issue in the profession. Job availability is excellent — most provinces have midwife shortages.

How do you become a midwife in Canada?

To become a registered midwife in Canada, you need a 4-year Bachelor of Midwifery degree from one of Canada''s midwifery education programs (available at UBC, McMaster, Toronto Metropolitan, Laurentian, Manitoba, and Mount Royal). After graduation, you must pass the Canadian Midwifery Registration Examination (CMRE) and register with your provincial regulatory body. Internationally educated midwives can pursue bridging programs.

Are midwives in demand in Canada?

Yes, midwives are in very high demand across Canada. Most provinces have waitlists for midwifery care. Only about 10-12% of births in Canada are attended by midwives (vs. 50%+ in many European countries), and governments are investing to expand access. Ontario, BC, and Alberta are actively recruiting. Remote and Indigenous communities have particular need for midwifery services.

How does midwife pay compare to nursing in Canada?

Midwives earn slightly more than RNs on average ($85,000–$130,000 vs $75,000–$85,000 for RNs) but work demanding on-call schedules. Nurse practitioners earn comparable salaries ($100,000–$125,000). Midwives in Ontario and BC are compensated per course of care (per client) rather than hourly, which rewards efficiency but means income fluctuates with caseload.

How Much Do Midwives Make in Canada 2026: $85K

Midwifery in Canada has evolved from an unregulated practice to a fully funded, publicly insured health profession over the past three decades. Ontario was the first province to regulate and publicly fund midwifery in 1994, and most provinces have followed. The compensation model is unique — most midwives are not salaried employees but rather independent practitioners paid per course of care (the full prenatal, birth, and postpartum cycle for each client) through provincial health insurance. This means a midwife’s income is directly tied to their caseload. The profession is in chronic shortage across Canada, with demand for midwifery care far exceeding the supply of registered midwives.

Verified Against Statistics Canada Data

The figures below come directly from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census (employment income reported for 2020), the most detailed occupation-level income data StatCan publishes. Because the Census figures are from 2020, they are shown alongside an inflation-adjusted equivalent so the numbers reflect today’s purchasing power. StatCan’s NOC classification does not have a standalone “midwife” code; the closest available occupation unit group bundles midwives together with physician assistants and other allied health professionals, so treat this as a directional benchmark rather than a midwife-specific figure.

Physician Assistants, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals Income by Province (StatCan Verified)

Province	Median (2020 Census)	Median (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)	Average (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)
Canada	$85,000	$105,400	$102,700
Newfoundland and Labrador	Too few workers to report*	Too few workers to report*	Too few workers to report*
PEI	Too few workers to report*	Too few workers to report*	Too few workers to report*
Nova Scotia	$88,000	$109,200	$104,200
New Brunswick	Too few workers to report*	Too few workers to report*	Too few workers to report*
Quebec	$77,000	$95,500	$105,400
Ontario	$86,000	$106,700	$101,200
Manitoba	$111,000	$137,700	$130,300
Saskatchewan	$84,000	$104,200	$99,200
Alberta	$59,200	$73,400	$84,400
British Columbia	$80,000	$99,200	$93,000

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Table 98-10-0586-01. Figures are for those who worked full year, full time in 2020, and are inflation-adjusted to today’s dollars using the Consumer Price Index. *Some province/occupation combinations show “too few workers to report” because StatCan suppresses Census income cells with too few respondents to protect individual privacy — the data isn’t missing, it’s withheld for confidentiality.

Midwife Salary by Experience

Level	Annual Compensation	Typical Caseload
New registrant (0-2 years)	$72,000-$90,000	30-35 courses of care/year
Mid-career (2-5 years)	$88,000-$110,000	35-40 courses of care/year
Experienced (5-10 years)	$100,000-$125,000	40 courses of care/year
Senior/practice lead (10+ years)	$110,000-$140,000	40 courses + admin/mentorship
Educator/academic	$90,000-$130,000	University appointment
Clinical lead/program manager	$100,000-$140,000	Administrative/clinical mix

Salary by Province

Province	New Registrant	Experienced	Funding Model
Ontario	$80,000-$95,000	$110,000-$135,000	Course-of-care (AOM/MOH)
British Columbia	$78,000-$92,000	$105,000-$130,000	Course-of-care (MABC)
Alberta	$75,000-$88,000	$95,000-$120,000	AHS salary + fee-for-service
Quebec	$70,000-$85,000	$90,000-$115,000	Salaried (CISSS/CIUSSS)
Manitoba	$72,000-$85,000	$90,000-$110,000	Mixed model
Nova Scotia	$68,000-$82,000	$85,000-$105,000	Salaried
Saskatchewan	$70,000-$84,000	$88,000-$108,000	Salaried/contract
New Brunswick	$68,000-$80,000	$82,000-$100,000	Salaried
Newfoundland	$68,000-$80,000	$82,000-$100,000	Salaried

Ontario and BC have the highest midwifery compensation because their course-of-care funding models allow experienced midwives to earn based on caseload. Ontario’s compensation framework, negotiated by the Association of Ontario Midwives with the Ministry of Health, is the most developed. Quebec employs midwives as salaried employees within the public health system, which provides more predictable income but lower earning potential.

Course-of-Care Payment Model (Ontario)

Most midwives in Ontario and BC are paid per course of care — the complete prenatal, intrapartum (birth), and postpartum care cycle for each client. Understanding this model is essential to understanding midwifery income.

Component	Details
Course of care payment (2025-26)	~$3,800-$4,100 per client (Ontario)
Full caseload	40 courses of care per year
Gross revenue (full caseload)	$152,000-$164,000
Overhead (shared practice expenses)	20-30% (~$35,000-$50,000)
Net income (full caseload)	$105,000-$130,000
Part-time caseload (24-30 courses)	$60,000-$85,000 net

Practice Models

Practice Model	Compensation	Lifestyle
Group practice (3-6 midwives)	Course-of-care payments, shared call	Most common; shared on-call rotation
Hospital-based midwife	Salaried ($80,000-$115,000)	More predictable hours
Birth centre	Course-of-care or salaried	Collaborative, may have lighter call
Remote/fly-in communities	Salary + northern allowance ($90,000-$140,000)	Isolation, but high demand and premiums
Locum/travel midwife	Higher per-diem rates	Short-term contracts, flexibility
Academic/educator	University salary ($90,000-$130,000)	No on-call; teaching + research

On-Call and Workload Realities

Midwifery’s on-call obligations are a defining feature of the profession. Most midwives provide 24/7 on-call coverage for their clients, attending births whenever labour begins. This schedule is the primary reason for burnout and the reason many midwives reduce to part-time caseloads.

Factor	Typical Details
On-call schedule	5-15 days per month (shared rotation)
Average birth attendance (including travel)	6-12 hours per birth
Prenatal appointments	10-14 per client
Postpartum home visits	3-6 per client
Night/weekend births	~50% of births
Sleep disruption	Significant and ongoing
Vacation coverage	Arranged within practice group

Education Path

Step	Details	Duration
Bachelor of Midwifery (BHSc Midwifery)	McMaster, TMU, Laurentian, UBC, U of Manitoba, Mount Royal	4 years
Clinical placements	Integrated throughout program (~80 births minimum)	Part of degree
CMRE (Canadian Midwifery Registration Exam)	National competency exam	After graduation
Provincial registration	Register with provincial regulatory college	After CMRE
International bridging (IMPP)	For internationally educated midwives	12-18 months

Education Costs

Program	Approximate Cost
Bachelor of Midwifery (4 years)	$28,000-$48,000
CMRE exam fee	~$1,200
Provincial registration (annual)	$500-$1,500
Professional liability insurance	Covered by province (ON, BC) or $2,000-$6,000/year
International bridging program	$10,000-$20,000

Profession	Mid-Career Salary	Education
Family physician	$250,000-$350,000 (gross billings)	MD + 2-year residency
Nurse practitioner	$95,000-$125,000	MN/MScN
Registered midwife	$88,000-$125,000	4-year BHSc Midwifery
Registered nurse (hospital)	$72,000-$100,000	4-year BScN
Physician assistant	$80,000-$110,000	2-year PA program
Doula (certified)	$25,000-$60,000	Certification course

Benefits

Benefit	Course-of-Care Practice	Salaried Position
Pension	Self-funded (RRSP)	Employer pension (HOOPP in ON hospitals)
Health insurance	Self-funded or group plan through practice	Employer-provided
Liability insurance	Province-funded (ON, BC)	Employer-provided
Parental leave	EI + limited/no top-up	EI + employer top-up
Vacation	Self-managed; arrange coverage	3-5 weeks
CME funding	Self-funded	Often employer-funded

Job Outlook

Midwifery is one of the fastest-growing health professions in Canada. Governments across the country are expanding midwifery services as a cost-effective way to improve maternal care and reduce pressure on obstetricians and hospitals. Ontario has the most midwives (~1,000 registered) and continues to expand funded positions. BC, Alberta, and Manitoba are actively growing their midwifery workforces. The profession is also expanding into Indigenous communities, where culturally appropriate birth care close to home is a reconciliation priority. Job prospects for new graduates are excellent — virtually every graduate finds employment, and most can choose their location.

Factor	Status
Overall demand	Very high — chronic shortage
Job availability for new graduates	Near 100% employment
Government funding trend	Expanding in most provinces
Indigenous midwifery	Priority growth area
Burnout concern	Significant — on-call schedule is demanding
Part-time viability	Good — reduced caseloads common
Rural/remote premiums	Available — northern allowances $5,000-$20,000+

Similar-Paying Professions

At a StatCan-verified median of $105,400/year (inflation-adjusted to today’s dollars), midwives earn about the same as several other professions covered on this site:

Secondary School Teachers — $105,400/year
Architects — $104,200/year
Government Program Officers — $107,900/year

Based on the same Statistics Canada 2021 Census occupation income data (Table 98-10-0586-01) used throughout this page, inflation-adjusted to today’s dollars.