An obstetrician and gynecologist provides medical care to women throughout their reproductive lives. You diagnose and treat conditions, perform surgeries, and deliver babies. It requires a doctoral degree and extensive training, but offers deep patient relationships and meaningful work.
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Obstetricians and gynecologists care for women's reproductive health across the lifespan. You diagnose and treat gynecological conditions, manage pregnancies, and deliver babies. Your days involve examining patients, ordering and interpreting tests, performing surgical procedures, and consulting with other specialists. You document detailed medical records, stay current with medical research and guidelines, and provide counseling on contraception, fertility, and health risks. You make complex clinical decisions and solve problems that affect your patients' wellbeing.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Obstetricians and Gynecologists earn a median of $292,910 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You need a doctoral degree in medicine, followed by several years of residency training in obstetrics and gynecology. Medical school typically takes four years and requires strong science and math preparation. After earning your degree, you complete a residency program that provides hands-on training in patient care, surgical techniques, and clinical decision-making. You must pass licensing exams to practice. This path demands extensive study and commitment, but leads to a respected medical specialty.
The path to becoming an obstetrician and gynecologist is long and demanding, requiring medical school and residency training. If you are committed to this specialty and want to map out your steps from high school through practice, Pathly can map the obstetrician and gynecologist path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to stay on track.
You do not need a license to work as an obstetrician and gynecologist, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You are drawn to understanding how the body works and solving complex medical problems. You think critically, listen carefully to patients, and stay current with medical knowledge throughout your career.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).