TL;DR: A government Midwife I earns ₱24,329 a month at Step 1 (Salary Grade 9) as of January 1, 2026, per DBM National Budget Circular No. 601. The ladder runs to Midwife VI at SG 19 (₱59,153). Rural health unit midwives are usually LGU employees, so their pay can be 70% to 100% of the national rate depending on the LGU's income class (DBM Local Budget Circular No. 172). As public health workers, government midwives also get ₱2,000 PERA and may qualify for RA 7305 hazard, subsistence, and laundry allowances. Private clinic and hospital midwives typically earn ₱14,000-₱24,000 a month, according to Jobstreet job-ad data.
Midwifery is one of the most community-rooted health careers in the Philippines, and "magkano sahod ng midwife" is a fair question to ask before committing to a four-year BS Midwifery program and the midwifery board exam. The honest answer depends on where you work: a DOH hospital, a rural health unit run by an LGU, a private lying-in clinic, or a hospital maternity ward. This guide uses DBM's official salary schedule and classification index for government pay, the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers for allowances, and job-ad data for private pay, labelled as estimates.
How Much Does a Government Midwife Earn?
A Midwife I earns ₱24,329 a month at Step 1, classified at Salary Grade 9 under the Third Tranche Monthly Salary Schedule (DBM National Budget Circular No. 601, effective January 1, 2026). That is basic pay only, before PERA, bonuses, and Magna Carta allowances.
| Position | Salary Grade | Step 1 (2026) | Step 8 (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwife I | SG 9 | ₱24,329 | ₱25,725 |
| Midwife II | SG 11 | ₱31,705 | ₱33,611 |
| Midwife III | SG 13 | ₱36,125 | ₱38,241 |
| Midwife IV | SG 15 | ₱42,178 | ₱45,202 |
| Midwife V | SG 17 | ₱49,562 | ₱53,221 |
| Midwife VI | SG 19 | ₱59,153 | ₱65,132 |
Salary grades come from DBM's Index of Occupational Services (CY 2022 edition, issued with Budget Circular No. 2022-2), which places the Midwife I-VI ladder in the nursing group. Local postings follow it: Rizal Province's April 2026 bulletin of vacant positions, for example, lists Midwife I at SG 9 with RA 1080 (Midwife) eligibility. Above Midwife VI sit Midwifery School Principal I and II at SG 21 and SG 23.
Disclaimer: salary figures follow the DBM tranche schedule under EO 64, s. 2024 and can change with the next tranche. Confirm current rates with your agency or LGU HR office before budgeting.
Why RHU Midwives Can Earn Less Than the National Rate
Most rural health unit and barangay health station midwives are employed by LGUs, not the DOH, and LGUs set pay by their own income class and finances. Under DBM Local Budget Circular No. 172 (July 16, 2026), which covers the third tranche for LGU personnel, LGUs may pay these percentages of the national salary schedule:
| LGU Income Class | Provinces / Cities | Municipalities |
|---|---|---|
| Special cities | 100% | — |
| 1st class | 100% | 90% |
| 2nd class | 95% | 85% |
| 3rd class | 90% | 80% |
| 4th class | 85% | 75% |
| 5th class | 80% | 70% |
The same circular gives public health workers a specific option: the sanggunian may adopt the full national rate (the special city and first-class rate) for its public health workers, or apply the LGU's percentage if funds are short. LGUs also implement each tranche only after sanggunian approval, so an RHU midwife's actual rate depends on both the municipality's class and its budget decisions. At 70%, a Midwife I's ₱24,329 Step 1 rate becomes about ₱17,030. That is our arithmetic, not a published figure.
What Allowances Do Government Midwives Get?
Government midwives are public health workers under RA 7305, the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, which adds several allowances on top of basic pay, PERA (₱2,000/month), and the standard mid-year and year-end bonuses:
- Hazard allowance, for health workers in hospitals, rural health units, and other health establishments in hazardous, disease-infested, or calamity-declared areas.
- Subsistence allowance, for health workers required to be available for service at all times.
- Laundry allowance of ₱150 a month.
- Longevity pay and remote assignment allowance, tied to years of service or hardship postings.
These depend on the facility, posting, and funding, so two midwives at the same salary grade can take home different amounts. Our nurse salary guide covers the same Magna Carta allowances in more detail.
Midwife vs. Nurse Pay in Government
| Entry Position | Salary Grade | Step 1 (2026) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwife I | SG 9 | ₱24,329 | DBM Index of Occupational Services |
| Nurse I | SG 15 | ₱42,178 | RA 9173, Sec. 32 (mandated minimum) |
The gap is large at entry. Nurse I is fixed at SG 15 by Section 32 of the Nursing Act, while the midwife ladder follows DBM's standard position classification, so a midwife reaches SG 15 only at Midwife IV. If a government career is the goal and you are choosing between the two degrees, that difference matters. Note that RA 7392 also lets registered nurses sit the midwifery board exam after personally handling 20 deliveries.
How Much Do Private Midwives Earn?
Private pay is set clinic by clinic. Jobstreet's job-ad data, based on salary ranges employers disclose in postings, puts a typical midwife salary at ₱14,000-₱24,000 a month, with location averages around ₱19,000 in several Metro Manila cities. That sits below the government Midwife I rate of ₱24,329.
Common private settings include lying-in and birthing clinics, private hospital delivery rooms, and NGO maternal health projects. Midwives who run their own licensed birthing facility earn from the practice itself, which no salary survey captures well.
Disclaimer: private figures are Jobstreet estimates based on salary ranges employers disclose in job ads, not a government wage survey. Actual offers vary by clinic, region, and experience.
Can Filipino Midwives Earn More Abroad?
Overseas demand for Filipino midwives exists, but foreign midwifery registration usually does not map one-to-one onto the Philippine license, and each country sets its own education, language, and exam requirements. We are not quoting overseas midwife salaries here because the realistic figure depends entirely on whether you can register as a midwife in that country, or end up working in a different role. Check the destination country's midwifery regulator first.
How Do You Become a Licensed Midwife?
- Complete BS Midwifery. Under CHED Memorandum Order No. 03, s. 2023, it is a four-year program with 2,703 clinical practicum hours, and schools have shifted away from the standalone two-year diploma.
- Meet the clinical caseload. The board exam requires documented cases, including 20 normal deliveries.
- Pass the PRC Midwife Licensure Examination under RA 7392, with a general average of at least 75% and no subject below 50%.
- Apply for government posts with your RA 1080 (Midwife) eligibility, which is what LGU and DOH Midwife I postings list.
How to Decide If Midwifery Pays Enough for You
- Check which LGU you would work for. An RHU midwife in a first-class city and one in a fifth-class municipality can earn noticeably different pay at the same grade.
- Compare against nursing if government pay matters most. Nurse I starts six salary grades higher, at SG 15 versus SG 9.
- Plan the promotion ladder. Midwife II (SG 11) adds about ₱7,400 a month over Midwife I at Step 1; check how many Midwife II-IV items your target LGU or hospital actually has.
- Pick a school with strong clinical affiliates. The caseload requirement decides whether you graduate on time.
- Track tranche dates. The fourth EO 64 tranche on January 1, 2027 raises every national salary grade again; LGUs follow on their own timeline.
Ready to find the right school? Browse schools or compare midwifery programs and tuition across hundreds of Philippine schools on SchoolFinderPH.
Sources
- DBM National Budget Circular No. 601, s. 2026 — Third Tranche Salary Schedule (official PDF)
- DBM Index of Occupational Services, CY 2022 Edition, Volume I (official PDF)
- DBM Index of Occupational Services, CY 2022 Edition, Volume II (official PDF)
- DBM Local Budget Circular No. 172 — Third Tranche Salary Schedule for LGU personnel (official PDF)
- Province of Rizal — HRMO Bulletin of Vacant Positions, April 17, 2026
- Republic Act No. 7305 — Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, IRR
- Republic Act No. 7392 — Philippine Midwifery Act of 1992 (LawPhil)
- Republic Act No. 9173 — Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, Sec. 32 (LawPhil)
- CHED Memorandum Order No. 03, s. 2023 — PSG for the BS Midwifery Program
- Jobstreet — Midwife salary in the Philippines
- SchoolFinderPH — Midwifery Board Exam Guide
