Title: How Much Do Doulas Make in the United States?

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Let’s talk about what doulas get paid in the US

If you are Googling how much do doulas make in the United States, you are asking a smart and necessary question. I mean, this has to be a sustainable decision, amiright?!

Before you invest time, money, and emotional energy into an online doula training, you deserve honest information about doula pay, doula salary, and what doulas actually earn in real life.

So let’s slow this down and lay it out all nice and clearly…

There is no single doula wage.
And that is not a bad thing.

The income of a doula depends on location, experience, client load, scope of practice, and how their business is structured. Some doulas work part time around family life. Some work full time. Some blend client care with education, digital products, or community work. Some doulas have other full time jobs and doula on the side.

All of that matters when we talk about money.

Let’s get into the numbers.

What Is a Doula Salary in the United States?

The question what does a doula get paid does not have one clean answer, but there are realistic ranges we can look at.

Across the United States, most doulas earn somewhere between $30,000 and $120,000 per year from doula work alone.

Yes, we see it, that is a wildly wide range.

And it reflects reality.

Doula salary is influenced by:

• where you live
• how many clients you take
• whether you offer birth, postpartum, or both
• whether you specialize
• how confidently you price your work
• whether you are running your own business or working for an agency

This is not a capped profession which is a cool thing. There is no fixed ladder which means you can grow your business to whatever size (hello, agency!). That is why doula work can be both freeing and intimidating if you are feeling nervous about the business part.

Fun fact: Our online doula training teaches you HOW to have a doula business right alongside you learning about hip squeezes and infant feeding. You need to know the business basics before you get out there and we make sure you do. This is something that you don’t have time to learn in a weekend training (read more about our feelings on this here). 

How Much Do Doulas in the US Make Per Year?

Let’s talk annual income in clearer terms. Don’t worry, we made pictures for you too! 

A doula working part time in a smaller city or rural area might earn $30,000 to $45,000 per year.

A doula working full time in a mid sized or large city can realistically earn $60,000 to $90,000 per year.

Many experienced doulas earning through client care plus teaching, mentoring, or digital products earn $100,000 or more annually.

The biggest difference is not hustle, although getting out there in a big way is key. It is structure and support. You need to know what to do, what to skip, and do what works over and over again.

This is why an online doula training that includes business education matters so much. High five for us!
 

How Much Do Birth Doulas Make?

Birth doulas are typically paid per client rather than hourly. This means sometimes you will make $200 an hour if the birth is slow, and other times you will make $30 an hour if the birth is longer… but it all works out in the wash to be a steady average depending on what your package rate is.

Most birth doulas offer packages that include:

• prenatal visits
  • on call support
  • labor and birth attendance
  • a postpartum follow up

In the United States, birth doula packages usually range from $1,200 to $5,000 per birth.

Early career doulas often start at the lower end of that range, but you do not have to!
Experienced doulas or those in high cost areas charge more.

What Does That Look Like in Real Life?

If a birth doula charges $1,500 per birth and supports 2 clients per month, that is:

$3,000 per month
$36,000 per year

If a birth doula charges $2,500 per birth and supports 4 clients per month for 10 months of the year, that is:

$10,000 per month
$100,000 per year

Same role, just a different fee structure and client load.

Let’s look at this visually. We are going to look at 2 doulas for their first 2 years of work. 

The first doula lives rurally and wants to only work part time. She also is in her online doula training for the first couple months and working on her certification, so she only has 10 months of clients rather than the 12 she will have in her second year of her doula business. 

Now let’s look at a doula who is working full time in the city. They also only have 10 months because of their online doula training taking up a couple months of the year. So, this is their first and second years of business. 

It also matters if you live in a smaller community versus a city. Doulas typically have higher package prices when they are practicing in an urban environment. Our founder, Bianca, had to cut her package price in half when she moved from Toronto to a rural community on the East Coast. It did not matter that she was almost 20 years into her career, folks could not pay $4500 for her to support them. 

How Much Does a Postpartum Doula Make?

Postpartum doula pay is usually hourly.

In the United States, postpartum doulas typically earn:

$35 to $50 per hour in smaller towns
$45 to $70 per hour in larger cities

Overnight postpartum shifts often range from $300 to $450 per night.

Postpartum doulas often increase income by selling bundled hours instead of one off shifts. This creates more stability and protects against burnout.

Let’s look at the difference between a part time and a full time postpartum doula salary and note if they are rural or urban. Again, what a doula makes varies where you live too. There are some wealthy smaller communities so this is not a hard rule, but in general it does impact a doula pay rate. 

First Year Expectations

Many new postpartum doulas earn $25,000 to $50,000+ in their first year, depending on availability and location.

Full time postpartum doulas in urban areas often earn $70,000 to $90,000+ per year.

Doula Pay in the First Year After Online Doula Training

One of the biggest myths we hear is that you must wait until graduation to earn money.

With strong online doula training, many students begin supporting clients while still in training. We had a student take on 9 clients, yes 9, and made over $15K while still in the program last year!

At bebo mia, our online doula training is 17 weeks long and students are encouraged to build confidence and structure alongside learning.

Most of our students begin earning income within their first year, often recouping the cost of training after just a few clients. Then after that it is all profit!

This matters. Especially for parents and caregivers making careful financial decisions.

What would you do with your money? Pay off debt? Buy a new car? Go on a trip? Go to more concerts and events? 

Insurance Coverage and Getting Paid as a Doula in the United States

Another important shift impacting doula pay in the United States is insurance reimbursement. 

More states are approving Medicaid coverage for doula services, and some private insurance plans are beginning to follow. This does not mean every doula will be paid easily or quickly through insurance. Reimbursement rates vary widely by state, paperwork can be time consuming, and many programs still undervalue doula labor. 

That said, insurance coverage is increasing access to doula care for families who could not previously afford it, while also creating more consistent referral streams for doulas. Many doulas choose a hybrid model, accepting insurance or Medicaid clients alongside private pay packages, which can stabilize income while maintaining autonomy. 

This is an evolving area, and well trained doulas who understand scope of practice, documentation, and boundaries are best positioned to navigate it sustainably.

Where Do Doulas Work in the United States?

Doulas in the US earn income in several ways.

You can:

• run your own doula business
• work for a doula agency
• work within hospital based programs
• be part of a collective
• combine doula care with education or community work

Hospital based doula programs in the US often pay $30 to $40 per hour, sometimes with benefits. Agency work offers structure but lower take home pay. Independent work offers flexibility but requires business skills.

There is no right answer. Only what works for your life.

Is There Demand for Doulas in the United States?

Yes. Demand for doulas continues to rise across the US. This is really exciting for the industry! Like, we are so jazzed. When we started bebo mia, not many people even knew what a doula was, and almost 20 years later that has changed SO much!

Research consistently shows that doula support is associated with lower cesarean rates, improved birth outcomes, and higher client satisfaction. Insurance coverage for doula care is expanding in many states.

As systems strain and families seek better care, doulas are not a trend, we save lives and make a difference. We are the stop gap for all the gaps in the systems families are forced to access. Well trained doulas are needed more than ever.

TLDR: How Much Do Doulas Earn in the US?

Birth Doula Salary
Most birth doulas earn between $30,000 and $120,000 per year, depending on location, pricing, and client load.

Postpartum Doula Salary
Most postpartum doulas earn between $25,000 and $90,000 per year, with hourly rates ranging from $35 to $70.

Doula Wage Reality
Doula pay is flexible, scalable, and deeply influenced by training and business support.

How Do I Become a Doula in the United States?

You are already in the right place.

bebo mia offers comprehensive online doula training that prepares you for fertility, birth, and postpartum care in one program.

Our training is built for real life.
It centers sustainability.
And it teaches you how to build a doula practice that does not burn you out.

If you want to learn more, start here.

Related Reading from bebo mia

To keep learning, here are six blogs our readers love:

How to become a doula: https://www.bebomia.com/blog/how-to-become-a-doula
Learn more about online doula training: https://www.bebomia.com/blog/online-doula-training
The difference between birth doula and postpartum doula work: https://www.bebomia.com/blog/birth-doula-vs-postpartum-doula
The best doula business tips: https://www.bebomia.com/blog/doula-business-tips
Is a doula training worth it? Find out!: https://www.bebomia.com/blog/is-doula-training-worth-it
How to make money as a doula after your online doula training: https://www.bebomia.com/blog/turning-your-doula-certification-into-income

If you have questions, reach out ([email protected]). We read every message. 

You do not have to figure this out alone!