Doula

Impact: Direct Personal

Provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to clients before, during, and after childbirth, offering guidance and resource referrals on maternal self-care, lactation, and parenting.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
Balanced
Client facing
Always
Impact visibility
High
Travel
Moderate
Schedule flexibility
Flexible
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
Variable
Stress level
High

At a glance

Median salary
$45,000
Entry-level
$28,000
Senior
$75,000
Growth by 2033
Above Average
Demand
Growing
Freelance potential
High
Salary growth potential
Medium
Typical student debt
$5,000 - $15,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Childbirth Support Techniques
  • Lactation Support
  • Resource Navigation

Soft skills

  • Empathy
  • Communication
  • Patience

Technical complexity: Low

How to get there

Minimum education
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
5
Years to senior
10
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. Advanced certifications, specialization (e.g., postpartum, bereavement), educator, mentor, business owner.

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      Very Low
      AI disruption risk
      Very Low
      Demand trend
      Growing

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      4/10
      Meaning
      4/10
      Work-life balance
      3.5/10
      Prestige
      5.5/10
      Social perception
      High

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