Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Career Overview
Provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth. Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general care to women. May perform both medical and gynecological surgery functions.
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What Tasks Do Obstetricians and Gynecologists Perform?
The core tasks performed by obstetricians and gynecologists span:
- Treat diseases of female organs.
- Care for and treat women during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods.
- Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
- Perform cesarean sections or other surgical procedures as needed to preserve patients' health and deliver babies safely.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical histories, reports, or examination results.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Prescribe or administer therapy, medication, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective obstetricians and gynecologists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Doctor
- GYN (Gynecologist)
- GYN Physician (Gynecology Physician)
- Gynecologic Oncologist
- Gynecological Oncologist
- Hospitalist
- MD (Medical Doctor)
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician (MFM Physician)
Employment and Demand
There are about 2,583,792 obstetricians and gynecologists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.0% over the projection horizon.
Obstetricians and Gynecologists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $157,243 |
| Hourly median | $75.60 |
| 10th percentile | $96,157 |
| 25th percentile | $126,700 |
| 75th percentile | $187,786 |
| 90th percentile | $218,329 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $236,610 |
| Alabama | $204,570 |
| Indiana | $200,300 |
| Connecticut | $195,860 |
| Michigan | $193,500 |
| Oklahoma | $156,030 |
| Puerto Rico | $145,620 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for obstetricians and gynecologists vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other U.S. Territories | $145,620 | 0.5% | 0.60 |
| Great Lakes | $108,849 | 14.2% | 1.12 |
| New England | $42,348 | 7.2% | 1.25 |
| Southeast | $9,741 | 10.8% | 0.73 |
| Middle Atlantic | $4,680 | 29.3% | 2.03 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $235,930 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $209,230 | 280 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $202,240 | 180 |
| Asheville, NC | NC | $187,480 | 50 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $184,150 | 120 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $177,980 | 80 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | PR | $147,470 | 40 |
| Flint, MI | MI | $72,230 | 50 |
Top Industries Employing Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The bulk of obstetricians and gynecologists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 19,180 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 490 | $74,810 |
Below are examples of industries where obstetricians and gynecologists work:
Tech Stack
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for obstetricians and gynecologists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Physician Assistants (Supplemental)
- Registered Nurses (Supplemental)
- Nurse Midwives (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Emergency Medicine Physicians (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring obstetricians and gynecologists typically earn programs in:
4 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1218.00 (Obstetricians and Gynecologists).