How much does a midwife earn? UK salary explained
MIDWIVES are an extremely important part of any pregnant person's journey and are normally the main contact for expecting, and new, parents.
The job covers many aspects of support during pregnancy, labour and birth, but how much do they get paid for work?
How much does a midwife earn?
According to the National Careers Service, a midwife's salary will vary depending on their level of experience.
The average salary for a midwife in the UK is £30,484, and average for a senior midwife is £42,891.
Midwives working for the NHS are paid according to a fixed pay scale.
Midwives starting on band 5 can expect an average salary of £26,104, while band 6 starts at £33,072, and band 7 begins at £40,872.
What does a midwife do?
Midwives support pregnant women and their babies before, during and after, childbirth.
No day is the same for a midwife and they can find themselves working at a client's home, at a health centre, at a GP practice or in an NHS or private hospital.
It is the job of a midwife to advise pregnant women prior to childbirth, and ensure that those expecting, and their baby, are both healthy.
They also run classes to help manage pregnancy and advise parents about parenting.
A midwife will manage the labour when it is time to deliver a baby, advise mothers on ways to manage pain and ensure that the baby is delivered safely.
Once a baby is born, a midwife will continue to provide support to new parents after the pregnancy.
They will advise clients once the baby is born and make home visits.
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How do I become a midwife?
In order to become a qualified midwife there are two different paths you can take.
The first is to obtain a university degree approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
If you already have a degree that is not in midwifery, you can do a postgraduate midwifery course to become a midwife.
In order to be accepted at your chosen university, you will usually need the following entry requirements.
- Five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- Two or three A levels, including a science, or a level 3 diploma or access to higher education in health, science or nursing
- A degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
However, there are other ways to get into midwifery that are not through a degree.
You can also gain the necessary accreditation through an apprenticeship.
They typically take 48 months to complete and include learning on the job and studying at an approved university.
You'll usually need the following entry requirements:
- Four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
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If you're a registered adult nurse, you may be able to take a conversion course to become a midwife.
These usually take between 18 and 24 months.