Is Obstetrics & Gynecology a Good Career in 2026?
Providing women's reproductive healthcare from adolescence through menopause.
Based on 77 approved physician salary reports + BLS employment projections
SalaryDr Career Intelligence
Based on 77 approved physician salary reports + BLS employment projections
Score Breakdown
Demand score powered by BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034): 1.2% projected growth (little or no change)
What the scores mean
Median $340K before malpractice -- net take-home in high-premium states can be $150K+ lower than the headline suggests.
Delivering babies provides unmatched emotional highs, but the associated call schedule creates equally intense lows.
BLS projects 2% growth, though the OB workforce shortage in rural areas is acute and worsening.
Around 65% would choose again -- the split between those who love obstetrics and those who would escape it is stark.
Among the worst for generalists: unpredictable call makes scheduling personal life genuinely difficult.
Four-year residency with $340K median is reasonable, but malpractice costs significantly reduce the effective ROI.
OB/GYN malpractice premiums in high-risk states like New York can exceed $200K per year -- in some markets, insurance costs consume 30-40% of the salary premium over primary care.
The call lifestyle is driving a generational exodus: younger OB/GYNs are choosing GYN-only or REI fellowship paths that eliminate the 2 AM deliveries that define the specialty.
REI and MFM fellowships offer escape velocity: reproductive endocrinology ($400K-$600K with IVF center equity) and maternal-fetal medicine ($350K-$450K) both dramatically reduce call burden.
Obstetrics & Gynecology Compensation & Earnings
Obstetrics & Gynecology Compensation
$425,000
$400,000 – $500,000(P25–P75)
Obstetrics & Gynecology Salary Progression
From medical school to senior attending — based on 77 approved salary reports
11 submissions
18 submissions
44 submissions
15 submissions
+20% salary growth from early career ($370,000) to mid-career ($442,500)
Best States for Obstetrics & Gynecologists (After Tax)
The $100K+ malpractice premium swing between states makes geography the single most important financial variable for OB/GYNs.
| State | Median Salary | After-Tax Income | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $680,000(2) | $680,000 | Low(400 jobs) |
| Ohio | $550,000(3) | $531,850 | Very High(19,900 jobs) |
| Washington | $510,000(8) | $510,000 | Low(490 jobs) |
| Alabama | $490,000(4) | $466,970 | Limited(80 jobs) |
| Pennsylvania | $480,000(3) | $465,264 | Low(310 jobs) |
Estimate Your Take-Home
Based on median Obstetrics & Gynecology salary of $425K/yr
Select a state to see your estimated take-home pay
Take-Home Pay by State
How much a Obstetrics & Gynecology physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes
Highest Take-Home States
Lowest Take-Home States
Tax impact: A Obstetrics & Gynecology physician keeps $182,257 more per year in Nevada vs. Oklahoma — a 42.9% difference on gross income of $425,000.
Assumes single filer, standard deduction, W-2 employment. State rates from Tax Foundation 2025. Gross salaries from BLS OEWS May 2024. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K). Actual take-home varies with deductions, filing status, and local taxes.
How does your compensation compare?
Benchmark yourself against 77 approved obstetrics & gynecology salary reports — add yours in 2 minutes and see your percentile instantly.
Career Lifestyle
Career Reality: By the Numbers
Real data from 77 Obstetrics & Gynecology physician reports — not job board estimates.
What Physicians Actually Say
Themes across 5 written answers from Obstetrics & Gynecology physicians.
About the Lifestyle (5 answers)
Call Impact
40%2 answers mention this
Predictable Schedule
20%1 answer mention this
Job Market & Future Outlook
Job Market Outlook
BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034) for Obstetrics & Gynecology
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034. Includes wage/salary and self-employed physicians.
AI & Automation Impact
Delivering babies and performing gynecologic surgery are fundamentally human activities. AI assists with monitoring but cannot replace the clinician.
How Hard Is It to Match Into Obstetrics & Gynecology?
Obstetrics & Gynecology is a competitive specialty with a 85.7% match rate for U.S. MD seniors. There were 0.83 applicants per position (1,284 applicants for 1,539 spots). Matched applicants had significantly higher Step 2 CK scores (252 vs 244). Students scoring >260 matched at 97%, compared to 73% for those scoring 231-240.
Match Rate by Step 2 CK Score
What Differentiates Matched Applicants
| Metric | Matched | Unmatched |
|---|---|---|
| Step 2 CK | 252 | 244 |
| Research Experiences | 3.8 | 3.3 |
| Publications | 9 | 7 |
| AOA Members | 22% | 9% |
| Programs Ranked | 12 | 7 |
Data from Charting Outcomes in the Match, National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), 2024. U.S. MD seniors. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
OB/GYN: where malpractice premiums and call schedules define career viability
OB/GYN sits at a unique intersection of primary care and surgery, but neither fully describes the lived experience. The defining feature is unpredictability: babies arrive on their own schedule, and a generalist OB/GYN who delivers 150-200 babies per year can expect to be woken up at 2 AM multiple times per month for decades. This reality is driving a measurable shift in the field, with more graduates choosing GYN-only practices or fellowship pathways that reduce or eliminate obstetric call.
The malpractice environment is a career-shaping force. OB/GYN consistently has the highest malpractice premiums in medicine, with state variation that creates a $100K+ geographic salary adjustment. A generalist OB/GYN in a low-liability state nets significantly more than the same physician in New York or Florida, even if the gross salary is similar. This hidden cost is rarely discussed during medical school.
Fellowship options have reshaped the specialty's career landscape. REI offers IVF center ownership economics that push total compensation past $500K with predictable hours. MFM provides ultrasound-heavy, cognitive-focused practice with better call schedules. GYN oncology and urogynecology offer surgical focus without obstetric obligations. The common thread: every fellowship is partly an escape from the generalist call burden.
Training & Getting Started
7 years of post-medical-school training, with subspecialty fellowship options
Subspecialty Fellowships
Physicians Also Consider
Explore Obstetrics & Gynecology
Take the Next Step in Your Obstetrics & Gynecology Career
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Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology
According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data from 77 approved reports by Obstetrics & Gynecology Physicians (as of October 2026), the Physician Career Score for Obstetrics & Gynecology is 58/100. Median total compensation is $425,000, career satisfaction is 4.0/5, and 89% would choose the specialty again. The BLS reports 21,500 practicing Obstetrics & Gynecology Physicians nationally with 1.2% projected growth (2024-2034).