Most doulas are self-employed, so what they make depends on what they charge and how many clients they take. Among 2,639 birth doula packages listed on Bornbir in September 2026, the median price was $1,400 per birth. Postpartum doulas listed a median of $40 an hour for daytime support and $45 an hour for overnight care. At the median, a birth doula who attends two births a month grosses about $33,600 a year before expenses.
Doula Rates at a Glance (2026)
These are the prices doulas publish on their Bornbir profiles, in US dollars, grouped by the type of package. They are asking prices, not take-home pay.
| Service | Median price | Middle half of listings | Packages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth doula package | $1,400 | $1,000–$1,900 | 2,639 |
| Birth and postpartum package | $2,000 | $1,250–$3,000 | 223 |
| Postpartum doula, daytime (per hour) | $40 | $35–$50 | 1,165 |
| Postpartum doula, overnight (per hour) | $45 | $40–$55 | 509 |
| Placenta encapsulation (add-on) | $300 | $250–$350 | 237 |
| Childbirth education (add-on) | $300 | $177–$400 | 171 |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish wage data for doulas as a separate occupation, so salary figures you see elsewhere are estimates. Package prices are the most direct measure of what doulas charge.
Which Type of Doula Makes the Most Money?
There is no single winner. Birth doulas earn the most per client, postpartum and overnight doulas can bill the most hours, and doulas who combine services earn more from each family. Which one earns the most in a year depends on how many billable hours you can fill.
Birth Doulas: Highest Price per Client
Birth doulas usually charge a flat package that covers prenatal visits, being on call around the due date, labor support and a postpartum follow-up. On Bornbir, providers who list themselves mainly as birth doulas had a median package price of $1,210 (702 packages). Doulas listed under the broader "doula" category had a median of $1,500 (1,937 packages).
The limit is volume. Being on call for weeks around each due date caps how many births you can take, and one long labor can take up an entire day or night.
Postpartum and Overnight Doulas: Most Billable Hours
Postpartum work is scheduled rather than on call, so you can book more hours each week. The hourly rate is lower, but the hours add up, especially for overnight shifts. Overnight postpartum care had a median of $45 an hour on Bornbir, slightly above daytime support. See the postpartum doula pay rate guide for more detail.
Doulas Who Offer More Than One Service
Combined birth and postpartum packages had a median of $2,000, about $600 more than a birth-only package. Add-ons such as placenta encapsulation and childbirth education, each with a median of $300, raise the revenue from each family you already serve.
Medicaid Doulas: Lower Rates, Wider Reach
As of March 2026, 26 states and Washington, DC cover doula services in Medicaid, 14 more states than in April 2024, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. Payment for labor and delivery support ranges from $459 to $1,500 depending on the state. Oregon, for example, pays a global fee of $1,505 for two prenatal visits, two postpartum visits and delivery support. Medicaid often pays less than private clients, but it opens doula care to families who could not otherwise pay for it. See which states cover doula care through Medicaid.
How Much Does a Doula Make per Year?
Annual income comes down to caseload. The examples below multiply Bornbir's median prices by a few common workloads. They show gross revenue before taxes and business costs.
| Workload | Math | Gross per year |
|---|---|---|
| Birth doula, 2 births a month | 24 births x $1,400 | $33,600 |
| Birth doula, 4 births a month | 48 births x $1,400 | $67,200 |
| Postpartum doula, 20 daytime hours a week | 20 hours x $40 x 48 weeks | $38,400 |
| Overnight doula, three 10-hour nights a week | 30 hours x $45 x 48 weeks | $64,800 |
From gross revenue, subtract self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare, per the IRS), income tax, backup doula fees, mileage, insurance, training and marketing. Time counts too: consultations, prenatal visits, travel and on-call weeks are all part of what a birth package pays for, so the effective hourly rate is lower than it looks. To run your own numbers, try the doula salary calculator, which starts from these median prices by state.
Doula Pay by State
Where you practice changes what clients will pay. Median birth doula package prices on Bornbir, for states with at least 50 listed packages:
| State | Median birth package | Middle half of listings | Packages |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $2,000 | $1,400–$2,500 | 341 |
| Washington | $1,800 | $1,500–$2,400 | 99 |
| New Jersey | $1,800 | $1,350–$2,500 | 99 |
| New York | $1,700 | $1,000–$2,500 | 114 |
| Colorado | $1,500 | $1,000–$1,800 | 93 |
| Maryland | $1,500 | $1,200–$1,995 | 73 |
| Oregon | $1,500 | $1,000–$1,800 | 59 |
| Virginia | $1,320 | $900–$1,750 | 95 |
| North Carolina | $1,300 | $1,000–$1,700 | 114 |
| Florida | $1,300 | $850–$1,800 | 198 |
| Texas | $1,300 | $950–$1,700 | 194 |
| Illinois | $1,297 | $1,000–$1,800 | 78 |
| Ohio | $1,200 | $900–$1,500 | 73 |
| Michigan | $1,200 | $850–$1,500 | 94 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,200 | $900–$1,500 | 90 |
| Georgia | $1,200 | $800–$1,500 | 107 |
| Arizona | $1,200 | $800–$1,500 | 65 |
Higher prices in places like California and New York come with higher living and business costs, so a bigger number does not always mean more take-home pay.
How Doulas Increase Their Income
- Price for your market. Use your state's typical range as a starting point, then adjust for your experience and what your package includes. This guide on setting your doula price walks through it.
- Keep the calendar full. Referrals from OBs, midwives, lactation consultants, childbirth educators and past clients are a common source of steady bookings.
- Add postpartum or overnight hours. They fill the weeks between births and are scheduled in advance.
- Offer services you are trained in, such as childbirth education or placenta encapsulation.
- Enroll in Medicaid if your state covers doulas. You will need an NPI and must meet your state's training requirements.
- Use a backup doula so you can take more clients without missing births.
If you are just getting set up, see how to start a doula business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a doula make per birth?
The median birth doula package on Bornbir was $1,400 in September 2026, and half of all packages fell between $1,000 and $1,900. Medicaid pays $459 to $1,500 for labor and delivery support, depending on the state.
How much does a doula make an hour?
Postpartum doulas listed a median of $40 an hour for daytime support and $45 for overnight care. Birth doulas rarely charge by the hour: among birth doulas on Bornbir, flat-rate packages outnumber hourly ones by more than 17 to 1.
Who makes more money, a doula or a midwife?
Midwives usually earn more. They are licensed clinicians who provide medical care during pregnancy and birth, while doulas provide non-medical support. Nurse midwives earned a median of $134,040 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More on nurse midwife salaries.
Are doulas in demand?
Coverage is growing. As of March 2026, 26 states and DC paid for doula care through Medicaid, 14 more states than in April 2024, which puts doula support within reach of many more families.
If you're a doula building your client list, you can create a provider profile on Bornbir and see care requests from parents near you.