What Does An Obstetrician and Gynecologist Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

OBGYNs

OBGYNs provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth and those who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general medical care to women.

Salary
$239120
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

OBGYNs provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth and those who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general medical care to women.

  • Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical histories, reports, or examination results.
  • Treat diseases of female organs.
  • Care for and treat women during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods.
  • Prescribe or administer therapy, medication, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.

Typical day

On a daily basis, OBGYNs collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical histories, reports, or examination results. They treat diseases of female organs.

A typical day for an Obstetrician and Gynecologist will also include:

  • Care for and treat women during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods.
  • Prescribe or administer therapy, medication, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
  • Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose the medical condition of the patient.
  • Monitor patients’ conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
  • Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, OBGYNs also perform cesarean sections or other surgical procedures as needed to preserve patients’ health and deliver babies safely. They may also consult with or provide consulting services to other physicians.

On a weekly to monthly basis, OBGYNs prepare government and organizational reports on birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or the medical status of individuals. They might also plan, implement, or administer health programs in hospitals, businesses, or communities for the prevention and treatment of injuries or illnesses.

In addition, they refer patients to medical specialists or other practitioners when necessary.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.

To some OBGYNs, it is also their responsibility to conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures to prevent or control disease or injury.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Very High

62% said they were satisfied with their job and 79% said they found their job meaningful.


Weiss Memorial Hospital - Women's Health Center

What does a typical day at work look like for you? My last group I was in had an on-call schedule that was very structured so that only those who were on call did deliveries and we were not in the office. It was great because we were a group of five OB/GYNs that were … Read More


Ob Hospitalist Group at Los Robles Medical Center

My day starts getting a sign out report at 7 am from the previous OB Hospitalist who is finishing up their 24 hour shift. We go over all of our patients and any tasks that are left for us to take care of. I then round of these patients and assess their clinical situations. We … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.

It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skills, knowledge, and experience are required for this career.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$239120 per year

Average hourly wage

$115 per hour

Entry-level OBGYNs with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $82,330 to $175,470 per year or $40 to $84 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $208,000+ $100+
Senior (Top 25%) $208,000+ $100+
Median $208,000+ $100+
Junior (Bottom 25%) $175,470 $84
No experience (Bottom 10%) $82,330 $40

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for OBGYNs based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Outpatient Care Centers $251900 $121.11
Offices of Physicians $246830 $118.67
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $219570 $105.56
Offices of Other Health Practitioners $188910 $90.82
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $145040 $69.73

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can OBGYNs work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of OBGYNs including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Offices of Physicians 12950 $246830 $118.67
Outpatient Care Centers 860 $251900 $121.11
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 310 $145040 $69.73
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 30 $188910 $90.82
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals $219570 $105.56

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
8%

40 hours
0%

More than 40 hours
92%

Working schedule

81%

19%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
11%

Every day
61%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
2%

Every day
98%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
1%

Every day
99%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
32%

Once a year
45%

Once a month
23%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
0%

Slightly competitive
0%

Moderately competitive
22%

Highly competitive
35%

Extremely competitive
43%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
20%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
80%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Very Hard
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge, and experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require graduate school and more than five years of experience. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include Pharmacists, Lawyers, Astronomers, Neurologists, and Veterinarians.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
0%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
3%

Doctoral Degree
57%

Post-Doctoral Training
39%

Relevant majors

Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program

A residency training program that prepares physicians in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of women, especially those affecting the reproductive system, and the comprehensive care and treatment of women before, during and after childbirth.

Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program

A fellowship training program that prepares physicians for consultation and comprehensive management of patients with gynecologic cancer, including those diagnostic and therapeutic procedures necessary for the total care of the patient with gynecologic cancer and resulting complications. Requires prior completion of a residency program in obstetrics and gynecology.

Maternal and Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program

A fellowship training program that prepares physicians to care for, or provide consultation on, patients with complications of pregnancy, based on advanced knowledge of the obstetrical, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy, and their effect on both the mother and the fetus, and expertise in the most current diagnostic and treatment modalities used in the care of patients with complicated pregnancies. Requires prior completion of a residency program in obstetrics and gynecology.


Medicine

A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of medicine, involving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, injuries, and other disorders of the human body. Includes instruction in the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, examination and diagnosis, patient communications, medical ethics and law, professional standards, and rotations in specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, clinical pathology, anesthesiology, family medicine, and psychiatry.

Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy

A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of osteopathic medicine, involving a combination of medical principles and procedures and osteopathic principles of holistic medicine and the relationship of the musculoskeletal system to general health. Includes instruction in the basic medical sciences, preventive medicine, family and community medicine, medical informatics, disease systems, organ and physiologic systems, osteopathic principles and practice, osteopathic manipulative treatment, musculoskeletal and skin systems, clinical specialty rotations, medical ethics, and professional standards and practice management.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
21%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
0%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
7%

4 to 6 years
38%

6 to 8 years
3%

8 to 10 years
8%

Over 10 years
23%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
38%

1 month
8%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
23%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
3%

4 to 10 years
24%

Over 10 years
4%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Thinker

People with this personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.

The Builder
71%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
100%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
29%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
86%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
52%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
29%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
90%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
86%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
90%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
81%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
90%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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