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.
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+ |