Best States for Midwife, Direct Entrys to Start a Home Business
We ranked all 51 states based on licensing requirements, earning potential, LLC costs, and tax burden. Here are the best (and worst) states for midwife, direct entrys.
0 states don't require a license · National median: N/A · Updated 2025
▲ Top 5 Best States
Full Ranking: All 51 States
| # | State | License | Fee | Median Wage | LLC Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | No | — | $64.89/hr | $50 | 98 |
| 2 | Ohio | No | — | $58.52/hr | $99 | 94 |
| 3 | Connecticut | No | — | $59.87/hr | $120 | 85 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | No | — | $74.86/hr | $500 | 85 |
| 5 | Mississippi | No | — | — | $50 | 83 |
| 6 | West Virginia | No | — | — | $100 | 79 |
| 7 | Iowa | Yes | — | $65.60/hr | $50 | 78 |
| 8 | Kansas | No | — | — | $165 | 75 |
| 9 | Georgia | Yes | — | $60.50/hr | $100 | 74 |
| 10 | Nebraska | Yes | — | $64.37/hr | $110 | 70 |
| 11 | North Carolina | Yes | — | $58.41/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | Yes | — | $51.80/hr | $125 | 70 |
| 13 | Arizona | Yes | $1450 | $65.19/hr | $50 | 68 |
| 14 | Colorado | Yes | $1600 | $63.78/hr | $50 | 68 |
| 15 | Michigan | Yes | $1783 | $56.16/hr | $50 | 68 |
| 16 | New Mexico | Yes | $1370 | $57.04/hr | $50 | 68 |
| 17 | California | Yes | $1449 | $94.57/hr | $70 | 64 |
| 18 | Idaho | Yes | $2300 | $43.21/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 19 | Indiana | Yes | $1300 | $62.02/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 20 | Louisiana | Yes | $1796 | $45.88/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 21 | Maryland | Yes | $2231 | $62.46/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | Yes | $1430 | $65.32/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 23 | Oregon | Yes | $1950 | $59.18/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 24 | Utah | Yes | $1400 | $66.36/hr | $54 | 64 |
| 25 | Virginia | Yes | $1577 | $67.20/hr | $100 | 64 |
| 26 | Alaska | Yes | $5600 | $62.52/hr | $250 | 60 |
| 27 | Delaware | Yes | $1582 | $47.63/hr | $110 | 60 |
| 28 | Florida | Yes | $1805 | $55.50/hr | $125 | 60 |
| 29 | Illinois | Yes | $1300 | $55.01/hr | $150 | 60 |
| 30 | Maine | Yes | $1596 | $63.91/hr | $175 | 60 |
| 31 | Minnesota | Yes | $1500 | $61.14/hr | $155 | 60 |
| 32 | New York | Yes | $822 | $66.28/hr | $200 | 60 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | Yes | $1380 | $61.29/hr | $150 | 60 |
| 34 | South Carolina | Yes | $1500 | $56.78/hr | $110 | 60 |
| 35 | Vermont | Yes | $1400 | $67.42/hr | $125 | 60 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | Yes | $1359 | $65.08/hr | $130 | 60 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | Yes | $1300 | $51.24/hr | $99 | 59 |
| 38 | New Jersey | Yes | $1610 | $65.23/hr | $125 | 55 |
| 39 | North Dakota | Yes | — | — | $135 | 55 |
| 40 | Tennessee | Yes | $2345 | $46.82/hr | $300 | 55 |
| 41 | Texas | Yes | $1420 | $53.46/hr | $300 | 55 |
| 42 | Washington | Yes | $1996 | $69.71/hr | $200 | 55 |
| 43 | Kentucky | Yes | $2351 | — | $40 | 53 |
| 44 | Montana | Yes | $2400 | — | $35 | 53 |
| 45 | Nevada | Yes | — | — | $425 | 50 |
| 46 | Hawaii | Yes | $2130 | — | $51 | 49 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | Yes | $2300 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 48 | Arkansas | Yes | $1100 | — | $50 | 48 |
| 49 | Alabama | Yes | $2100 | — | $200 | 45 |
| 50 | South Dakota | Yes | $2343 | — | $150 | 45 |
| 51 | Wyoming | Yes | $2500 | — | $102 | 45 |
▼ 5 Most Challenging States
Wyoming
Fee: $250045
South Dakota
Fee: $234345
Alabama
Fee: $210045
Arkansas
Fee: $110048
Oklahoma
Fee: $230049
How We Scored Each State
Each state starts with a base score of 50, then we add or subtract points based on:
- No license required: +20 points (biggest single factor — lower barriers to entry)
- License fee: −10 for fees over $500, −5 for over $300, +10 for under $50
- Wages above national median: Up to +15 points for states paying 20%+ above national median
- LLC formation cost: +8 for states under $50, −5 for states over $300
- No sales tax on services: +5 points
Data sources: Institute for Justice License to Work 3 (licensing), BLS OEWS May 2024 (wages), state Secretary of State offices (LLC costs). This ranking reflects factors relevant to home-based operators — commercial location costs, local zoning, and cost of living are not included.
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