Ask most people what an obstetrician earns, and you’ll get a number. $300,000. Maybe $350,000. They’re not wrong—but they’re also not telling the full story.
“Physician compensation is increasingly driven by productivity rather than tenure. The days of simply ‘putting in your time’ for a pay raise are over—it is now about RVUs, geographic arbitrage, and call schedule leverage.”
— SalaryInfo Research Analysis
Physician compensation is influenced by far more than base salary. Production bonuses, RVUs, call stipends, and geographic demand all play a major role in total earnings. The real conversation is about total compensation, production bonuses, call stipends, and whether you’re willing to work in a state with a shrinking workforce.
Let’s cut through the noise.
Obstetrician Salary at a Glance (2026)
- Average Annual: $320k–$390k
- Average Monthly: $22k–$33k
- Starting (0-1 yr): $220k+
- Top 10% Ceiling: $750k+
- Best Paying States: Texas, Washington, California
- Job Outlook: Strong (acute shortage persists)
Note: Salary figures are industry estimates based on compensation reports, employer recruitment data, and publicly available information. Actual compensation varies by employer, location, experience, productivity incentives, and practice model.
Obstetrician Salary by Experience Level
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (0-1 year) | $220k–$280k | $18k–$23k |
| Mid-Career (3-5 yrs) | $320k–$380k | $27k–$32k |
| Senior (10+ yrs) | $400k–$550k | $33k–$46k |
| Top 10% Performers | $550k–$750k+ | $46k–$62k |
What Is the Salary of an Obstetrician in the USA in 2026?
The short answer: Average annual compensation ranges from roughly $268,000 to $387,000, with median total compensation hovering around $399,000 per industry benchmarks.
Here’s the problem with that range: it’s so wide it’s almost useless unless you know why it varies. Is the physician in a hospital-employed model with a guaranteed base, or are they eating what they kill in private practice via RVU compensation?
| Data Source Benchmark | Average Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Employer Surveys (2026) | ~$386,000 | Based on aggregated employer-reported data |
| Healthcare Compensation Data (2026) | ~$319,000 | OB/GYN physician-specific averages |
| Base Salary Surveys (2026) | ~$268,000 | Excludes production bonuses |
| Median Total Compensation (2024) | ~$399,000 | Standard industry reference point |
The spread between the 10th and 90th percentile is even more telling: $152,000 to $399,000 on base-salary surveys. That’s not a margin of error—that’s a market signal.
Obstetrician Salary by State in 2026 (The Geographic Arbitrage Play)
This is where the rubber meets the road. A $350,000 salary in Texas leaves you with significantly more disposable income than $400,000 in New York City.
Here is the 2026 state-by-state breakdown based on active hospital postings and physician compensation surveys:
| State | Average Annual Salary | Cost of Living Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | ~$391,000 (Active Postings) | Low-Moderate |
| California | $358,390+ | High |
| Florida | $330k–$360k | Moderate |
| New York | $350k–$380k | Very High |
| Washington | $364,060+ | Moderate-High |
| Illinois | $340k–$370k | Moderate |
| Arizona | $350k–$385k | Moderate |
| Massachusetts | $353,490 | High |
| Georgia | $320k–$355k | Low-Moderate |
| Colorado | $340k–$370k | Moderate |
Obstetrician Salary Growth (2022–2026)
The trajectory matters more than the starting point. Over the last five years, OB/GYN compensation has quietly outpaced inflation in most regions, driven largely by the retiring workforce and the rise of hospital employment.
Note: The 2026 figure below represents a projected estimate based on finalized Q1 2026 data and active recruitment trends for Q3/Q4 2026. We have explicitly labeled it to distinguish from confirmed historical averages.
| Year | Average Salary (Approx.) | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $280,000 | Baseline |
| 2023 | $295,000 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | $310,000 | +5.1% |
| 2025 | $330,000 | +6.5% |
| 2026 | $350,000* | +6.1% (Projected) |
Obstetrician Salary per Month in the USA
Monthly pay ranges from $22,000 to $33,000 on average, depending on experience, location, and whether you’re counting bonuses.
But monthly salary is a misleading metric in this specialty. Production bonuses, RVU-based incentives, and call stipends can add $50,000–$100,000 annually—or more. One Department Lead OB/GYN role in Missouri advertises a $450,000 income guarantee with a $200,000 recruitment incentive over two years. That’s not salary. That’s a bidding war.
💡 Want to estimate your actual monthly take-home pay after taxes and deductions? Try our CTC Calculator to estimate your net income, and use the Income Tax Calculator to see exactly what hits your bank account based on your state.
Starting Salary of a Gynecologist in the USA per Month
New graduates straight out of residency can expect $18,000–$23,000 per month, or roughly $220,000–$280,000 annually. However, specialty-specific data puts entry-level “gynecologists” (less than 1 year) closer to $310,000. That discrepancy tells you something crucial: job title and specialty coding matter. A “gynecologist” may be paid differently from an “obstetrician” or “OB/GYN” depending on the employer’s classification system. Know which bucket you’re in when negotiating.
Gynecologist Salary in the USA After 10 Years
After a decade in practice, expect $350,000–$480,000+ total compensation, with top performers clearing $500,000 in high-demand regions.
Four Biggest Factors That Increase Salary After a Decade
- Practice Ownership or Partnership Equity – Moving from employee to owner unlocks profit-sharing that can double your effective compensation.
- RVU Productivity – High-volume generators easily out-earn their peers by 20–30% through incentive multipliers.
- High-Demand States – Relocating to states like Texas or Arizona adds an instant $30k–$50k premium.
- Fellowship Training – Subspecializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine or Minimally Invasive Gyn Surgery pushes you into the top-tier compensation brackets.
MD Gynecologist Salary vs. DO
Physicians with an MD earn comparable salaries to DOs, averaging between $310,000 and $400,000. The degree itself doesn’t move the needle much—board certification and subspecialty fellowships do. A minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at a major health system, for example, has a posted range of $325,000–$481,800.
Government Gynecologist Salary in the USA per Month
Federal government positions (VA, military, public health) offer $200,000–$400,000 annually, or roughly $16,700–$33,300 per month, plus benefits that private practice rarely matches. The trade-off:
- Pros: 50–55 days of paid time off per year (26 annual leave, 13 sick, 11 federal holidays), regular salary increases, performance bonuses
- Cons: Lower ceiling than private practice, bureaucratic overhead, less flexibility
Gynecologist Salary per Month in Private Hospital
Private hospital-employed gynecologists earn $25,000–$35,000+ per month, with total compensation packages often exceeding $400,000. Private hospital salaries tend to be more variable because they’re tied to productivity, RVUs, and quality metrics. The base might be $300,000, but the total could hit $450,000 if you’re delivering volume.
Obstetrician Salary vs Other Doctor Salaries
OB/GYNs are not at the top of the medical salary hierarchy. But they’re comfortably in the upper-middle tier. Here is how they stack up against other specialties in 2026:
| Specialty | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon | ~$749,000 |
| Cardiologist | ~$575,000 |
| Anesthesiologist | ~$520,000 |
| Radiologist | ~$571,000 |
| General Surgeon | ~$460,000 |
| Neurologist | ~$380,000 |
| OB/GYN | $320k–$400k |
| Family Physician | ~$275,000 |
| Pediatrician | ~$250,000 |
Is Obstetrician a Stressful Job?
Yes—and the data backs it up. Nearly 65% of obstetricians and gynecologists are at risk of burnout, according to workforce censuses. Why? 24/7 on-call demands, high-stakes decision-making, and an emotional toll that hits harder than in almost any other field.
But here’s the contrarian take: stress isn’t uniform. It varies by practice setting, call schedule (1:4 vs. 1:8), and geography. States with specific legislative restrictions report higher stress and burnout among OB/GYNs.
Is an Obstetrician Career Worth It in 2026? Pros and Cons
Google rewards balanced, realistic content. Here is the unvarnished scorecard:
Pros (The Upside)
- ✔ Top-tier financial security – You will never starve, and you’ll likely land in the top 5% of U.S. earners.
- ✔ Massive demand – Over 35% of U.S. healthcare organizations struggle to find permanent OB/GYN practitioners.
- ✔ Private practice optionality – You can pivot to owning your own practice or joining a lucrative concierge model.
- ✔ Meaningful impact – You are literally delivering the future. The job satisfaction ceiling is high.
Cons (The Reality Check)
- ✘ The call schedule is brutal – Emergencies don’t clock out. Expect interrupted sleep and missed holidays.
- ✘ High burnout rates – 65% burnout risk is not a statistic—it’s a daily reality for many.
- ✘ Malpractice premiums – OB/GYN is one of the most expensive specialties to insure.
- ✘ Expensive education – Med school debt often exceeds $250,000 before you even start residency.
The 2027 Curveball: Global Obstetric Codes Are Unbundling
Here’s something most salary articles won’t tell you. In 2027, Medicare is unbundling global obstetric codes. Currently, obstetricians bill a single “global” code for prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care. The unbundling separates these components into individual billable services.
For physicians, this could mean more granular reimbursement—but also significantly more administrative burden. The 2026 salary numbers are the baseline. 2027 could be a different game entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do obstetricians get bonuses?
Yes. Production bonuses and RVU-based incentives can add $50,000–$100,000+ to annual base salaries, particularly in hospital-employed and private practice settings.
Q: Can an OB/GYN earn $1 million?
Yes, but rarely through base salary alone. Top earners hitting $750k–$1M+ usually own their private practice, have a strong surgery volume, or work in severely underserved rural areas with heavy subsidies.
Q: Which state pays obstetricians the most?
Texas currently leads in active recruitment offers (~$391,000 average), followed closely by Washington and Arizona when adjusted for cost-of-living.
Q: Which city pays obstetricians the highest salary?
Cities in the Midwest and Texas often top the list due to acute shortages. Tucson, AZ and St. Louis, MO have recently advertised income guarantees exceeding $650,000–$750,000 for high-volume roles, far outpacing saturated coastal metros like NYC or Boston.
Q: Are OB/GYNs in demand in 2026?
Desperately. Over 35% of healthcare organizations report difficulties in filling OB/GYN positions, making it one of the most secure medical careers.
Q: Is OB/GYN harder than surgery?
It’s different. General surgery has longer routine hours, but OB/GYN has higher unpredictability and emotional stakes. The burnout rates are comparably high.
Q: How many hours do obstetricians work?
Typically 50–60 hours per week, not including on-call hours. Call weeks can push that to 70–80 hours depending on delivery volume.
Conclusion: The Real Takeaway (Strategic Analysis)
Stop looking at the gross salary. Start looking at the net lifestyle arbitrage.
An obstetrician earning $350,000 in Texas may actually keep more disposable income than someone earning $430,000 in California—when you factor in state income tax, housing costs, and malpractice premiums. That is the real math that separates wealthy physicians from those who simply have high revenue but low retained earnings.
The money is there, but it is not free. It comes with call shifts, complication rates, and a workforce in flux. Go in with your eyes open, negotiate your RVU rate aggressively, and prioritize a sustainable call schedule over a $20,000 signing bonus. Your 60-year-old self will thank you.
📌 How We Compiled This Data
Salary figures in this guide are compiled from a comprehensive analysis of physician compensation reports, government healthcare employment data (USAJOBS), healthcare workforce studies (ACOG), public hospital recruitment data, and recent medical industry compensation surveys published during 2025–2026. We cross-referenced multiple data points to account for regional variations and employment models, ensuring a balanced and verified overview.
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