Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Midwives Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to midwife salaries in the UK for 2026. NHS pay bands, specialist midwife roles, independent midwife earnings, unsocial hours pay, and career progression from Band 5 to consultant midwife.
Midwifery is a rewarding healthcare profession with a clear NHS pay structure. Here’s what midwives earn across different roles and settings.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
NHS Midwife Pay Bands (2025/26)
| Band | Role | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| Band 5 | Newly Qualified Midwife | £28,407 | £34,581 |
| Band 6 | Experienced / Team Midwife | £35,392 | £42,618 |
| Band 7 | Senior / Ward Manager / Specialist | £43,742 | £50,056 |
| Band 8a | Consultant Midwife | £50,952 | £54,619 |
| Band 8b | Head of Midwifery | £58,972 | £68,525 |
| Band 8c-8d | Director of Midwifery | £70,417-£96,376 | |
Midwife Roles by Band
| Role | Typical Band |
|---|
| Newly qualified midwife | Band 5 |
| Community midwife | Band 5-6 |
| Labour ward midwife | Band 5-6 |
| Birth centre midwife | Band 5-6 |
| Team leader | Band 6 |
| Specialist midwife (bereavement, infant feeding) | Band 6-7 |
| Practice development midwife | Band 7 |
| Ward/birth centre manager | Band 7 |
| Screening coordinator | Band 6-7 |
| Research midwife | Band 6-7 |
| Consultant midwife | Band 8a |
Unsocial Hours Enhancements
Midwives regularly work nights, weekends, and bank holidays.
Enhancement Rates
| Time Period | Enhancement |
|---|
| Saturday | Time + 30% |
| Sunday | Time + 60% |
| Bank holidays | Time + 60% |
| Weeknight shifts (8pm-6am) | Time + 30% |
| Weekend night shifts | Time + 60% |
Total Earnings with Enhancements
| Band | Basic Salary | Typical with Enhancements |
|---|
| Band 5 (start) | £28,407 | £32,000-£37,000 |
| Band 5 (top) | £34,581 | £38,000-£44,000 |
| Band 6 (mid) | £39,000 | £43,000-£50,000 |
| Band 7 (mid) | £47,000 | £50,000-£56,000 |
| Factor | Hospital | Community |
|---|
| Band | Usually Band 5-6 | Usually Band 6 |
| Shift pattern | Shifts including nights/weekends | More regular hours, some on-call |
| On-call | Rarely | Common (home births, emergencies) |
| Autonomy | Team-based | More independent |
| Caseload | High volume | Named caseload |
| Travel | No | Yes — car essential, mileage paid |
Independent Midwife Earnings
A small number of midwives work independently, offering private care.
| Factor | Details |
|---|
| Fee per birth package | £2,000-£6,000 |
| Births per year (full-time) | 20-40 |
| Gross income | £50,000-£150,000 |
| Insurance costs | £8,000-£15,000/year |
| Other costs (car, CPD, admin) | £5,000-£10,000 |
| Net income | £30,000-£80,000+ |
Many independent midwives also do NHS bank shifts for additional income
Regional Differences
High Cost Area Supplements
| Zone | Supplement |
|---|
| Inner London | 20% of salary (max £7,527) |
| Outer London | 15% of salary (max £5,532) |
| Fringe areas | 5% of salary (max £2,163) |
Regional Comparison (Band 6 midpoint)
| Region | Approximate Total |
|---|
| Inner London | £47,000-£53,000 |
| Outer London | £44,000-£50,000 |
| South East | £40,000-£48,000 |
| Rest of England | £38,000-£46,000 |
| Scotland | £38,000-£46,000 |
| Wales | £37,000-£45,000 |
Career Progression
| Stage | Years Qualified | Band | Salary (with enhancements) |
|---|
| Newly qualified | 0-2 | Band 5 | £32,000-£38,000 |
| Experienced midwife | 2-5 | Band 5 (top) / Band 6 | £38,000-£48,000 |
| Team leader / specialist | 5-10 | Band 6-7 | £42,000-£56,000 |
| Senior midwife / manager | 8-15 | Band 7 | £48,000-£56,000 |
| Consultant midwife | 10+ | Band 8a | £55,000-£65,000 |
| Head of midwifery | 15+ | Band 8b+ | £62,000-£75,000+ |
NHS Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|
| Pension | Defined benefit — employer ~23% contribution |
| Annual leave | 27 days rising to 33 (+ bank holidays) |
| Sick pay | 6 months full, 6 months half |
| Maternity pay | Enhanced beyond statutory |
| Blue Light Card | Discounts at 14,000+ retailers |
| CPD | Funded professional development |
| Uniform | Provided |
Summary
| Level | Typical Total Earnings |
|---|
| Newly qualified (Band 5) | £32,000-£38,000 |
| Experienced (Band 6) | £40,000-£50,000 |
| Senior/specialist (Band 7) | £48,000-£56,000 |
| Consultant midwife (Band 8a) | £55,000-£65,000 |
| Independent midwife | £30,000-£80,000+ (net) |
| London premium | +£4,700-£7,500 |