Midwifery Salary in Australia
Midwifery is a skilled profession that sits at the centre of maternity care, and its pay reflects the responsibility and training required. According to the most recent data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), as published by Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for midwives is $2,114. That figure is for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, which is a useful benchmark because it strips out part-time workers, managers, and junior rates.
To understand where that sits, we compare it to the national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings of $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That average translates to about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). The midwifery median is about 1.5% higher than that average. But remember: the median is the midpoint – half of full-time midwives earn more than $2,114 per week, and half earn less. The average for midwives could be different, but the ABS does not publish an average for this occupation.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average is drawn from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which measures the average of all full-time adult employees across Australia. It is published twice a year, for May and November. The midwifery median comes from a different survey – the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey – which is published annually and provides medians for detailed occupations. The two surveys use different methodologies, so they are not directly comparable, but together they give a picture of where midwifery pay sits.
What would move this pay above or below the average
Several factors can push a midwife's individual pay above or below the median or the national average.
Sector: Midwives working in the public sector (hospitals and community health) often have higher base rates and better penalty rates for shift work, weekends, and public holidays. Public sector full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings for females was $2,154.00 in May 2026, compared to $1,840.80 in the private sector. Since midwifery is a female-dominated profession (100% female share according to Jobs and Skills Australia), the sector choice matters.
Location: State and territory averages vary significantly. The on-site notes show that the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at about $119,090 per year, while Tasmania is lowest at about $96,008. Midwives in the ACT or Western Australia ($115,825) are more likely to earn above the national average than those in Tasmania or South Australia ($102,450). States and territories provides a breakdown.
Experience and seniority: The median age of midwives is 38, and with experience come higher classifications under the Nurses and Midwives Award or enterprise agreements. Senior midwives, clinical specialists, and managers can earn well above the median.
Hours and overtime: Midwives work an average of 41 full-time hours per week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. But overtime, on-call allowances, and additional shifts can boost weekly earnings significantly.
Award and agreement increases: The national minimum wage rose to $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, and award minimums increased by 4.75%. Midwives covered by awards or collective agreements will see their base rates rise accordingly, which can lift the whole pay distribution.
How the line works
On this site, the line represents the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 per week. When you place a salary on the line, you can see how it compares: above, below, or right on the average. For a midwife earning the median of $2,114 per week, that is about $30 per week above the line. But individual salaries can vary widely.
Other benchmarks
It is also useful to compare against the all-employees median of about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) and the full-time median of about $90,532. The midwifery median of $2,114 per week ($109,928 per year if multiplied by 52) is well above both. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week – midwives earn more than double that.
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 income year, a midwife earning $109,928 would fall into the 30% tax bracket (income between $45,000 and $135,000). After the tax-free threshold of $18,200, the marginal rate is 30%, plus the 2% Medicare levy. Take-home pay would be around $80,000–$85,000 depending on deductions and offsets.
Conclusion
Midwifery pay in Australia sits slightly above the national full-time average, but the range is wide. Public sector work, location in higher-paying states, experience, and additional hours can push earnings further above the line. Conversely, part-time work, private sector employment, or location in lower-paying states can pull pay below. The median figure of $2,114 per week is a solid benchmark, but individual circumstances matter.
For more detail on how different occupations compare, see Job medians. For industry-level data, see Industry medians.