Midwife Salary UK
Calculate your midwife take-home pay after tax and NI. NHS Bands 5-7 and independent midwife rates for 2025/26.
Calculate Your Midwife Take-Home Pay
NHS Midwife Pay Bands 2025/26
All NHS midwives in England are paid according to the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay framework, which sets standardised salary bands. The 2025/26 pay deal includes a 5.5% increase for most bands, bringing significant improvements to midwifery pay after years of real-terms cuts.
Band 5 - Newly Qualified
£29,970 – £36,483
Entry-level for newly registered midwives. Covers the first 2-3 years of post-registration practice while developing core competencies in antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care.
Band 6 - Experienced / Community
£37,338 – £44,962
Experienced midwives with specialist skills, community midwives, and those with supervisory or caseload-holding responsibilities. Usually requires 2-4 years post-qualification experience.
Band 7 - Specialist / Team Leader
£43,742 – £50,056
Specialist midwives (e.g. diabetes in pregnancy, bereavement, mental health), team leaders, practice development midwives, and those managing significant caseloads or teams.
How NHS Midwife Tax Is Calculated (2025/26)
The calculator uses official HMRC 2025/26 tax rates:
- Personal Allowance: £12,570 (zero tax on income up to this amount)
- Basic Rate Tax: 20% on income from £12,571 to £50,270
- Higher Rate Tax: 40% on income above £50,270
- National Insurance (Class 1): 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270; 2% above £50,270
- NHS Pension: Employee contributions of 5.1% to 13.5% depending on salary tier
Independent Midwife Rates UK 2025
Independent midwives operate outside the NHS, offering private maternity care with a known midwife throughout pregnancy and birth. Key facts about independent midwife fees:
- Hourly consultations: £50 to £90 per hour
- Complete birth packages: £3,000 to £6,000 (includes antenatal care, labour support, birth attendance, and postnatal visits)
- Home birth packages: Often at the higher end of the scale due to additional equipment and time commitment
- Postnatal-only packages: From £800 to £2,000 for breastfeeding support and newborn care
Independent midwives must be NMC-registered and hold professional indemnity insurance under the Independent Midwives UK scheme. Many work as self-employed sole traders, subject to income tax and Class 4 National Insurance on their profits.
Midwife Pay Progression and Career Path
Midwifery offers a clear career progression pathway within the NHS:
- Student Midwife: Maintenance grant of £5,000 per year (plus up to £3,000 additional support for some students)
- Newly Qualified (Band 5): £29,970, progressing through band pay points over 2-3 years
- Experienced Midwife (Band 6): £37,338 after demonstrating advanced competencies or moving into community practice
- Specialist/Team Leader (Band 7): £43,742 for those with specialist qualifications or management responsibilities
- Consultant Midwife (Band 8a-8b): £50,952 to £62,215 for highly specialist roles influencing national practice
- Head of Midwifery (Band 8c-9): £62,215 to £105,385 for senior leadership roles
NHS Benefits Beyond Basic Salary
NHS midwives receive a comprehensive benefits package that significantly enhances the overall value of employment:
- NHS Pension Scheme: Defined benefit scheme with employer contribution of 23.7%
- Annual leave: 27 days rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, plus 8 bank holidays
- Unsocial hours payments: Enhancements of 30-60% for night shifts, weekends, and bank holidays
- Maternity pay: Enhanced NHS maternity pay (8 weeks full pay, 18 weeks half pay)
- Continuous professional development: Funded study leave and CPD days
- NHS discounts: Thousands of retailer and service discounts via Health Service Discounts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a newly qualified midwife's salary in the UK?
A newly qualified midwife in the UK starts on NHS Band 5, which ranges from £29,970 to £36,483 per year in 2025/26. After income tax and National Insurance, take-home pay is approximately £24,300 to £29,100 per year, or £2,025 to £2,425 per month. Progression through the band occurs annually based on satisfactory performance.
What does a Band 6 community midwife earn?
A Band 6 experienced or community midwife earns between £37,338 and £44,962 per year in 2025/26. Take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance is approximately £29,500 to £34,600 per year (£2,460 to £2,880 per month). Band 6 midwives typically have specialist skills or work in community settings with supervisory responsibilities.
How much does a Band 7 specialist midwife earn?
A Band 7 specialist midwife or team leader earns between £43,742 and £50,056 per year. After tax and NI, take-home pay is approximately £33,000 to £37,200 per year (£2,750 to £3,100 per month). Band 7 roles include specialist midwives in diabetes, mental health, bereavement, and team leadership positions.
How much do independent midwives charge in the UK?
Independent midwives charge between £50 and £90 per hour for consultations, or complete birth packages from £3,000 to £6,000. These packages typically include antenatal appointments, continuous labour support, birth attendance, and postnatal care. All independent midwives must be NMC-registered and hold indemnity insurance.
Do midwives get NHS pension contributions?
Yes, NHS midwives are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme. Employee contribution rates in 2025 range from 5.1% to 13.5% of pensionable pay, with employer contributions of 23.7%. This is one of the most valuable defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, providing a secure income in retirement based on career average earnings.
What additional pay can midwives receive?
NHS midwives can receive: unsocial hours enhancements (30-60% for nights, weekends, bank holidays), London weighting of £2,162 to £5,132/year, on-call payments, overtime at enhanced rates, and High Cost Area supplements. Midwives in London typically earn 5-20% more than standard NHS rates due to additional allowances.
How does midwife pay compare to nursing?
Midwives and nurses follow the same NHS Agenda for Change pay scales. Starting salaries are identical at Band 5 (£29,970). However, midwives often progress to Band 6 more quickly due to their specialist autonomous practice. Senior midwives in specialist or consultant roles (Band 8a+) can earn £50,952 to over £100,000, significantly above most ward nursing roles.
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