By Joe Dyton, WCI Contributor
The medical field is known to be a well-paying one, but a number of factors play into exactly how well-compensated a physician is. Generally, doctors earn more than the average worker, but expenses such as student loans and malpractice insurance can quickly offset that high income. The specialty a doctor chooses will also determine how much they earn. A plastic surgeon is likely to garner a higher salary than physicians in many other specialties, for example.
The average annual salary for Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) falls somewhere in the middle of physicians’ earnings, according to Medscape. The medical information site surveyed more than 10,000 physicians in more than 29 different specialties to create the 2023 Medscape OB/GYN Compensation Report. Physicians shared how their compensation fared, how they supplement their income, their feelings about being a doctor, and more.
If you’re a medical student considering obstetrics and gynecology as a specialty or a current physician looking to switch career paths, the following information can be helpful in knowing what to expect.
OB-GYN Average Salary
The average salary for OB-GYN doctors, according to Medscape, is $337,000, up slightly from the 2022 report. The salary puts OB-GYNs in the middle of the medical specialties surveyed from an earnings perspective. While the specialty ranks well above Public Health & Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics ($249,000 and $251,000, respectively), OB-GYNs earn significantly less than plastic surgeons ($619,000).
OB-GYN physicians may rank in the middle of physicians’ average annual income, but that $337,000 salary is much more than the average US worker earns. While not as high as some specialties, an OB-GYN can still provide a nice life during their career and save for retirement without feeling like they’re missing out—if they manage their money well.
Is OB-GYN Doctors’ Income Rising?
OB-GYN’s average compensation in 2023 increased by only $1,000 from 2022, leading to what amounts to a 0% increase. That's in contrast to when the average income increased 8% from 2021 to 2022.
Overall, OB-GYN’s income increased, but that wasn’t the case for all specialties, according to Medscape. The biggest declines came in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Nephrology, Allergy & Immunology, Emergency Medicine, and Ophthalmology.
Do OB-GYN Doctors Have Incentive Bonuses?
Overall, 57% of surveyed physicians have an incentive bonus arrangement, according to the Medscape report. OB-GYN doctors specifically reported an average incentive bonus of $57,000, higher than in 2022 ($49,000). OB-GYN’s average incentive bonus was about average among the surveyed medical specialties. Meanwhile, Orthopedics reported six-figure average incentive bonuses, while Pediatrics checked in with the lowest bonuses at $31,000.
Do OB-GYN Doctors Feel Fairly Compensated?
Although OB-GYN’s average salary falls near the middle of the physicians’ earning range, compensation satisfaction is near the bottom of all the specialties. Less than half (45%) of OB-GYN doctors feel that they are fairly compensated, just above Nephrology (43%), Internal Medicine (43%), Ophthalmology (42%), and Infectious Diseases (35%).
Other Sources
The Medscape report is a great resource, but it’s not the only place to find OB-GYN physician salary data. Be sure to check out other sources to make comparisons and ensure you’re being fairly compensated.
Other average salaries you can find from surveys conducted around the same time the Medscape survey was done include:
- MGMA: $379,759 (General)
- AAMC: $312,000 (this survey only includes academics)
- Doximity: $335,000
- Merritt Hawkins: $291,000
- AMGA: $357,266
Increasing Your Physician Income
One of the most important things that you can do to earn more for your work is to negotiate your pay and the terms of your contract. Many doctors wind up with bad contracts that leave them improperly compensated, facing high costs and non-compete agreements that restrict their future opportunities.
If you’re negotiating a new contract, The White Coat Investor has a list of vetted attorneys and law firms to work with to make sure you get a good deal.
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