Obstetrician Salary Overview
Obstetrician pay reflects physician compensation for prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. According to recent physician compensation surveys, the median annual salary for obstetricians in the United States is approximately $250,000 to $300,000, with total cash compensation often higher when including bonuses and profit sharing. Forbes Advisor reports current OB/GYN salary ranges based on employer surveys and self-reported physician data.
Obstetrician earnings vary by practice setting, with hospital-employed physicians typically earning higher base salaries than private practice owners. Academic medical centers and large health systems often offer structured pay packages, while private practice may include higher upside through practice ownership and call pay. Medscape's annual physician compensation report details OB/GYN pay by setting.
Factors That Influence Obstetrician Pay
Experience and Seniority
Entry-level obstetricians earn less than mid-career and senior physicians, with pay increasing as call coverage, complexity, and leadership responsibilities grow. Obstetricians with 10 to 20 years of experience often earn above the median, especially in high-demand labor and delivery markets.
Geographic Location
States with higher obstetrician demand and lower physician supply, such as parts of the Midwest and Southeast, tend to offer higher compensation. Coastal metropolitan areas may offer higher base pay but also carry higher cost of living, affecting effective take-home pay.
Top-Paying Employers and Settings
Large hospital systems, academic medical centers, and physician staffing companies are among the top employers for obstetricians. Doximity's physician compensation tools rank OB/GYN pay by employer type, showing that hospital-employed and multi-specialty group positions often pay above solo private practice averages.
Obstetricians working in high-acuity maternal-fetal medicine roles or those with additional subspecialty training can earn higher compensation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies obstetricians under physician occupations with strong projected growth, reflecting sustained demand for prenatal and delivery services across the country.