Lactation Consultant Salary

How much do lactation consultants charge for their services?

Lactation consultations vary in price by area, location, and certification. Home visits, if offered, are typically more expensive and include gas mileage fees. Consultations from an IBCLC can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on if the client is coming to the consultant’s office or if it is a home visit. Some consultants charge a flat rate and others charge by the length of the visit.

Learn more about lactation consultant certification.

Do insurance companies reimburse for lactation consultant services?

Many insurance companies do reimburse for lactation consultant fees. These insurance companies know that breastfed babies Lactation Consultant Salary

are far healthier than formula fed babies; visiting the pediatrician less than half the number of times in the first year alone. Many lactation consultants offer two copies of their receipt for their clients, which include insurance codes for the client to provide to their insurance company for consideration of reimbursement. However, some insurance companies do not reimburse for these services. According to several lactation consultants, clients typically say the services are money well spent even if they do not get reimbursement.

Learn more about how to become a lactation consultant.

Is this a high demand field?

Currently the lactation field is booming because researchers are continuing to find more and more benefits to breastfeeding. On the one hand the current economic recession has encouraged families to choose breastfeeding over formula feeding because of short-term and long-term costs of formula feeding. On the other hand, some hospitals and clinics are cutting back on staffing due to budget problems. So it can be location specific as to how much of a need there is for lactation consultants. Lactation consultants who have their own private practices can remain very busy with clients since breastfeeding continues to be on the rise.

Is there room for advancement in this field?

This depends on the setting of employment. For instance, in a hospital setting, an IBCLC could work toward becoming the director of the lactation program. Whether this position is available depends on the network of each particular hospital and how much importance they place on breastfeeding. Lactation consultants who work in product development, education, and sales are also able to advance.