A career as an Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/GYN) represents one of the most vital and fulfilling paths in medicine. It combines the disciplines of surgery, primary care, and long-term patient relationships, all centered on the crucial field of women's health. This demanding and rewarding profession also comes with significant financial compensation. For those considering this path, understanding the earning potential is a key part of the career planning process.
So, what salary can an OB/GYN expect? While averages often exceed $300,000 per year, the final number on your paycheck is influenced by a host of factors, from where you practice to the specific skills you offer. This guide will break down the salary landscape for OB/GYNs, exploring the key variables that shape your income.
What Does an OB/GYN Do?
An OB/GYN is a physician who specializes in two distinct but related fields: obstetrics and gynecology.
- Obstetrics focuses on all aspects of pregnancy, from prenatal care to childbirth and the postpartum period. Obstetricians manage both routine and high-risk pregnancies, perform ultrasounds, and deliver babies, either vaginally or through surgical procedures like Cesarean sections.
- Gynecology focuses on the overall health of the female reproductive system. Gynecologists provide preventative care like Pap smears and breast exams, diagnose and treat conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), perform hysterectomies, and manage issues related to menstruation and menopause.
Together, they provide comprehensive medical and surgical care to women throughout their lives, from adolescence to beyond menopause.
Average OB/GYN Salary
The salary for an OB/GYN is among the higher tiers for medical professionals, reflecting the extensive training, long hours, and high-stakes nature of the job.
According to major industry reports and salary aggregators, the average annual salary for an OB/GYN in the United States falls into a substantial range.
- Medscape's 2023 Physician Compensation Report, a widely respected industry benchmark, places the average OB/GYN salary at approximately $336,000 per year.
- Salary.com provides a more detailed range, reporting that the median OB/GYN salary in the U.S. is $350,190 as of early 2024. Their data shows a typical salary spread from $305,190 (10th percentile) to $419,090 (90th percentile).
This range highlights that while the average is high, actual earnings can vary by over $100,000 depending on a variety of key factors. It's also important to note that these figures often represent base salary and may not include bonuses, profit-sharing, or other incentives, which can add tens of thousands of dollars to an OB/GYN's total compensation.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your earning potential as an OB/GYN is not a single, static number. It's a dynamic figure shaped by your personal and professional choices. Here are the most significant factors that influence salary.
### Level of Education
Unlike other professions where a master's or doctorate directly increases salary, for physicians, the "level of education" is a baseline requirement that justifies the high income. The journey to becoming an OB/GYN is long, rigorous, and expensive, which is a primary reason for the six-figure salary. This path includes:
1. A four-year bachelor's degree.
2. A four-year medical degree (M.D. or D.O.).
3. A four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology.
This minimum of 12 years of post-secondary education and intensive training creates a high barrier to entry, ensuring that those who complete it are compensated accordingly for their expertise and dedication.
### Years of Experience
As with most careers, experience plays a crucial role in determining salary.
- Entry-Level: An OB/GYN just finishing their residency can expect to start on the lower end of the salary spectrum, typically in the $250,000 to $300,000 range.
- Mid-Career: With 5-10 years of experience, an OB/GYN gains efficiency, builds a patient base, and may take on more complex cases, pushing their salary closer to the national average and beyond.
- Senior/Experienced: OB/GYNs with over 15-20 years of experience, especially those who become partners in a private practice or hold senior hospital positions, can command salaries at the top of the range, often exceeding $400,000.
### Geographic Location
Where you choose to practice has one of the most significant impacts on your salary. This is largely driven by supply and demand. Urban areas on the coasts are often saturated with physicians, which can drive down average salaries. Conversely, less populated states and rural areas often offer higher compensation to attract and retain qualified doctors.
For example, compensation reports from Doximity and Medscape consistently show that states in the Midwest and South tend to offer higher average salaries for physicians than states in the Northeast. However, it is essential to balance a higher salary against the local cost of living to understand your true earning power. A $350,000 salary in a low-cost state may afford a better lifestyle than a $380,000 salary in a high-cost metropolitan area.
### Company Type
The type of organization an OB/GYN works for heavily influences their compensation structure and potential.
- Private Practice (Physician-Owned): OB/GYNs who are partners or owners in a private group often have the highest earning potential. In addition to their clinical salary, they share in the practice's profits. This comes with the trade-off of managing business operations, administrative tasks, and greater financial risk.
- Hospital or Healthcare System: Hospital-employed OB/GYNs receive a stable, negotiated salary and a comprehensive benefits package. This model offers predictability and freedom from administrative burdens but may have a lower long-term earning ceiling compared to practice ownership.
- Academic Medical Centers: OB/GYNs working at universities typically earn less than their counterparts in private practice or general hospitals. This lower salary is often balanced by opportunities for teaching, research, and working on groundbreaking cases, along with excellent benefits.
### Area of Specialization
While OB/GYN is itself a specialty, physicians can pursue further training through fellowships to become sub-specialists. This additional expertise commands a higher salary. Key sub-specialties include:
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI): These specialists diagnose and treat infertility and are often among the highest-paid OB/GYNs due to the complex and high-value procedures they perform (e.g., in-vitro fertilization).
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM): MFM specialists manage high-risk pregnancies, performing advanced diagnostics and treatments. Their expertise in complex cases leads to higher compensation.
- Gynecologic Oncology: These physicians are trained to diagnose and treat cancers of the female reproductive system, combining surgical and oncological expertise, which warrants a premium salary.
- Urogynecology: Specialists in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery who treat pelvic floor disorders.
Job Outlook
The career outlook for OB/GYNs is very strong. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for all physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032. While this reflects the average for all occupations, the demand for OB/GYNs remains robust and essential.
Factors such as an aging population requiring more gynecological care, an ongoing need for obstetric services, and a significant number of current OB/GYNs approaching retirement age ensure excellent job security and sustained demand for new professionals entering the field.
Conclusion
Choosing a career as an OB/GYN is a commitment to a lifetime of learning and compassionate patient care. The path is challenging, but the rewards—both personal and financial—are substantial.
With average salaries well into the six-figure range, the profession offers significant financial security. However, your ultimate earning potential will be shaped by your strategic decisions: your years of experience, the location and type of practice you choose, and whether you pursue an advanced sub-specialty. For those with a deep passion for women's health and the dedication to excel, a career as an OB/GYN offers a rare combination of profound purpose and exceptional compensation.