What is a Gynecologist

Gynecologists are physicians who deal with the health of the female reproductive system, including the vagina, uterus, and ovaries. The fields of gynecology and obstetrics overlap, and most gynecologists are also obstetricians (ie dealing with the care of women throughout their pregnancy). For more on job duties, please visit our gynecologist job description page.

Work Environment

Gynecologists will typically work in hospitals, clinics, or private offices. Many also work in family planning centers. They will often work with other related physicians, as well as other administrative and health care personnel, such as nurses.

Their work environments will be clean and well-lit, and will be comfortable adorned in order to help put patients at ease during examination and treatment.

Work Schedule

The work schedule for gynecologists and obstetricians is a full one, with many working extra hours, particularly with patients who may be nearing the end of their pregnancy. Labor and delivery can be highly unpredictable, leading to on call requirements and overnight work. While a gynecologist may try to hold to regular business hours, there are plenty of potential emergency situations, and working outside of standard hours is a strong likelihood.

Mean Annual Gynecologist Salary

The average annual gynecologist salary is $212,570. The mean salary is calculated by adding all the wages within the occupation and divid that value by the total number of employees. Lowest 10% of this occupation makes less than $109,550 and the top 10% makes well over $320,000.

Gynecologist Salary: Quick Summary

2013 Mean Salary$212,570 per year
$102.20 per hour
Top 10% Salary$320,000 per year
$153.85 per hour
Bottom 10% Salary$109,550 per year
$52.67 per hour
Number of Jobs, 201321,730

Gynecologist Job Outlook and Prospects

The job outlook for gynecologists is expected to grow by about 18 percent in the coming years, which is about on par with physicians and surgeons. There are currently about 20,880 gynecologists and obstetricians in the United States, so this translates to approximately 3,800 new openings. These promising job prospects are driven partly by a growing need in all health care fields caused by a growing population, and partly by an increased desire for population growth in the United States. In conjunction with this, many current gynecologists will be retiring, leading to a higher demand for new gynecologists, making it a very promising field to pursue.

What Affects Gynecologist Salary

Gynecologist salary is affected by numerous factors, including experience (which leads to improved reputation), education, and position. Specialization is a further area for consideration, with several avenues to pursue; nearly 44% of gynecologists have some specialization. Finally, the industry worked and the geographic location make large differences in gynecologist salary, and are the primary pursuits to reach higher wages. With all of this in mind, the average gynecologist salary is around $212,570.

Education and Specialization 

Gynecologists require a bachelor’s degree, as well as a four-year medical degree. This must be followed by a three- to four-year residency. Those pursuing specializations will then follow their residency with a fellowship, often lasting between two and four years.

Education itself has some affect on gynecologist salary, with more prestigious medical programs and residencies leading to a higher salary upon graduation and certification. This will be due primarily to the reputation such prestigious institutions bring.

There are various areas of specialization for gynecologists, which bring greater pecuniary gains than education. For instance, one who has specialized in gynecological oncology, infertility evaluation and treatment, or various aspects of gynecological surgery (such as laparoscopy or endometrial ablation) will see large salary improvements.

Experience and Position 

Experience is one of the greatest factors influencing gynecologist salary. Similar to the school and residency, the more experience one has, the greater their reputation grows. Those with more renown will be more sought after by patients, and will thus receive higher salaries.

The position a gynecologist attains will also have a great impact on their salary. Heading a gynecology department in a hospital, or running one’s own clinic, can bring great salary improvements. Similarly, being involved in University training while continuing to practice will be a further source of income. 

Industry 

The industry worked is one of the primary factors affecting gynecologist salary. It can create a nearly $100,000 difference, with those employed only in Colleges and Universities receiving around $113,440, while those working for a local government earn and average of $206,740. Outpatient care centers bring an average wage of $214,830, but the highest average is in a private office, with those running their own practice earning approximately $223,070.

Location

The geographic location worked is the second primary factor affecting gynecologist salary, with potential earnings ranging from $110,710 in Puerto Rico to more than $250,000 in Idaho. Gynecology shows a different trend than most medical fields, with the top five wages being in Idaho, as mentioned, followed by Oklahoma ($249,960), Pennsylvania ($247,880), South Dakota ($247,240) and Montana ($246,010).

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics does not have the specific numbers for the top ten metropolitan areas, however it lists Winston-Salem, NC as offering the highest salary.

Gynecologist salary state by state