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Obstetricians and Gynecologists

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.

Median pay
$292,910

a year

Doing it now
22,800

across the country

By 2035
Up 1.7%

500 openings a year

Usually needs
Doctoral or professional degree

to get in

What the work involves

  • Care for and treat women during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods.
  • Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
  • Treat diseases of female organs.
  • Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
  • Perform cesarean sections or other surgical procedures as needed to preserve patients' health and deliver babies safely.
  • Prescribe or administer therapy, medication, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
  • Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.

What to study

The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.

Who it suits

O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.

  • Analytical and curious

  • Helping and teaching

  • Hands-on and practical

Answer 24 questions and see whether this is a fit for you

Careers like this one

Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $292,910 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.