Nurse midwives
SOC Code: 29-1161
Nurse midwives carries a 39% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $128,790 and +11.1% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 8,600 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Nurse midwives (SOC 29-1161) carries an AI exposure score of 39%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 8,600 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +11.1% change through 2034 — a strong growth outlook that compensates meaningfully for automation risk. Median annual compensation stands at $128,790, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Master's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Nurse midwives. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.
- 2. Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
- 3. Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.
- 4. Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.
- 5. Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.
- 6. Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.
- 7. Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.
- 8. Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests.
- 9. Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients.
- 10. Document findings of physical examinations.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
Knowledge Areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Nurse midwives?
Nurse midwives has an AI exposure score of 39%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Nurse midwives?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Nurse midwives is projected to grow by 11.1% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 8,600 workers.
What skills are needed for Nurse midwives?
Key skills for Nurse midwives include Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Master's degree.
How much do Nurse midwives earn?
The median annual wage for Nurse midwives is $128,790, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Nurse midwives?
The typical entry-level education for Nurse midwives is Master's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Nurse midwives?
Nurse midwives roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).