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Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $292,910 Median per year · $140.82/hr Most earn $94,680–$437,300

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Perform cesarean sections or other surgical procedures as needed to preserve patients' health and deliver babies safely.
  • 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.
  • Prepare government and organizational reports on birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or the medical status of individuals.
  • 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.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians63.8%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals20.2%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Obstetrics and gynecology is not an entry-level job. Most people spend about 12 years after high school in college, medical school, and residency training before they practice on their own. The work is demanding, but the path is well marked, and each step builds on the last.

  1. Bachelor's degree with pre-medical coursework

    4 years

    Earn a bachelor's degree, often in biology or another science, while completing required courses like chemistry, biology, physics, and organic chemistry. Strong grades and medical school entrance exam scores are needed to move on.

  2. Medical school (MD or DO degree)

    4 years

    Complete a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, with classroom learning followed by hospital rotations. Rotations in women's health and surgery give you hands-on experience in the field.

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology residency

    4 years

    Train as a resident in a hospital program, delivering babies, treating patients, and performing gynecological surgery under supervision. Passing the required board exams after residency lets you practice independently.

  4. Obstetrician and Gynecologist

    Ongoing

    Work as a licensed physician who cares for women's reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth, and who performs medical and surgical procedures.

Where it can lead

  1. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist

    4-5 years after residency in OB/GYN of experience first

    Complete an extra fellowship in high-risk pregnancy care to manage complicated pregnancies, which requires further training beyond general OB/GYN.

  2. Medical Director of Women's Health

    5+ years in practice of experience first

    Move into leadership of a clinic or department, which adds management and planning duties on top of patient care and usually requires years of experience as a practicing physician.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and mathStrong science and math classes prepare you for the college science courses that medical school requires.
  • Volunteer at a hospital or clinicVolunteering shows you the healthcare setting up close and looks good on future applications.
  • Get CPR and first aid certificationMany community groups and the Red Cross offer these courses, and they are a useful skill for any future medical role.
  • Join a science club or science fairProjects and clubs build research and problem-solving skills that carry into college science.
  • Shadow a healthcare workerAsk a family doctor, nurse, or midwife you know if you can observe their work for a day to learn what the job involves.

In college

  • Major in biology or another scienceA science major covers most pre-medical requirements and gives you a strong base for medical school entrance exams.
  • Volunteer at a women's health or community clinicDirect patient contact builds the empathy and communication skills that OB/GYN care depends on.
  • Work in a campus research labLab experience shows you can handle complex problems and teaches you how medical research is done.
  • Join a pre-medical student organizationThese groups often bring in doctors as speakers, offer advising on applications, and connect you with shadowing opportunities.
  • Find a healthcare-related jobWorking as a medical scribe, patient care assistant, or certified nursing assistant gives you paid, hands-on experience with patients.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real exposure early. Shadowing a doctor, nurse, or midwife helps you see whether daily patient care and long hours fit you.
  • Build a strong science record now. Medical schools look closely at grades in biology and chemistry, as well as your overall GPA.
  • Practice working with people. Clinical settings depend on communication, empathy, and calm under pressure, so seek out roles where you serve others.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Medicine Professional degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $65,192 a year · typical debt $207,472

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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