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.
Table of contents
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.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
62% said they were satisfied with their job and 79% said they found their job meaningful.
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
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
Average hourly wage
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
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program
Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program
Maternal and Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program
Medicine
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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