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The field of obstetrics & gynecology offers multiple career pathways and options to tailor your practice to patient-populations or specific interests. Key career tracks in OB/GYN include:

• Generalist OBGYN Physicians: Provide full-spectrum women’s health care including prenatal, postnatal, gynecologic, and wellness services. Obstetricians in this track manage pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, while gynecologists focus on non-pregnancy related female reproductive health. Many generalists are both obstetricians and gynecologists, offering comprehensive care.
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists: Focus on high-risk pregnancies, fetal care, and complex obstetric cases. Examples include managing preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and multiple gestations.
• Gynecologic Oncologists: Diagnose and treat cancers of the female reproductive system, including surgical and medical management. Examples are ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer.
• Reproductive Endocrinologists & Fertility Specialists: Address infertility, hormonal disorders, and reproductive health planning. Examples include in vitro fertilization (IVF), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and recurrent pregnancy loss.
• Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeons: Implement advanced procedural techniques (such as robotics) for gynecologic conditions. Examples are laparoscopic hysterectomy, myomectomy, and endometriosis excision.
• Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS): Specializes in pelvic floor disorders, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and reconstructive pelvic surgery
• Complex Family Planning: Provides advanced contraceptive and reproductive healthcare for patients with medically or surgically complex needs

Each of these tracks opens different obstetrics-gynecology job opportunities—from private practice settings to academic institutions, giving physicians flexibility in career trajectory and specialization.

Compensation in the field of obstetrics & gynecology varies widely depending on education, experience, geographic region, subspecialty focus, practice structure, office-based versus hospital-based practice, and call obligations. Physicians in OBGYN enjoy competitive compensation relative to many specialties. Request your copy of our Annual Physician Compensation and Placement Summary to learn more about OBGYN compensation and salary.

The job outlook for OBGYN physicians remains positive. With continued growth in demand for women’s health services, maternal care, and gynecologic care, obstetrics and gynecology roles are expected to remain in high demand. Work schedules and call obligations can vary by week, depending on the practice environment and patient needs. Recruiting demand for OB/GYN physicians is expected to remain significant. Current federal workforce projections anticipate that national OB/GYN physician supply will meet only about 86% of modeled demand by 2038, with geographic access challenges varying considerably by market.

A career in obstetrics & gynecology presents numerous benefits—both tangible and intangible:

Tangible Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance packages
• Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401(k) or physician retirement plans)
• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave)
• Malpractice insurance coverage or premium assistance
• Signing bonuses, relocation assistance, or loan-repayment options (depending on employer and location)
• Continuing medical education (CME) support and professional society dues

Intangible Benefits:

• The opportunity to support women and families through key life events (e.g., childbirth, reproductive health)
• Work in a high-demand specialty with strong patient-physician relationships
• Availability of subspecialty certifications and practice niches
• Contributions to preventive care, maternal health, and community health make the work highly fulfilling
• Potential for leadership roles, research, teaching, and practice ownership
• The chance to provide expert consultation within multidisciplinary teams, enhancing patient management and collaboration
• The benefit of developing a deep understanding of complex women's health issues, including maternal morbidity, mortality, menopause, and perimenopause

Hard Skills:

• Comprehensive prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care, including recognition and management of obstetric complications and collaboration with Maternal-Fetal Medicine for complex high-risk pregnancies
• Gynecologic surgeries, minimally invasive techniques, and surgical planning
• Diagnostic assessment and medical management of female reproductive disorders
• Use of advanced imaging, fetal monitoring, and ultrasonography
• Implementation of evidence-based preventive care protocols including screenings, immunizations, and counseling
• Responsible for ensuring patient safety and maintaining high standards of quality care in all aspects of OB/GYN practice

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication and patient education abilities (especially in emotionally charged settings)
• Empathy, compassion, and cultural sensitivity when working with diverse patient populations
• Strong leadership and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams (OB, pediatrics, neonatal, anesthesiology)
• Adaptability, decisiveness, and composure in emergency obstetric and surgical settings
• Ethical decision-making, patient advocacy, and empowerment

OBGYN physicians engage in a wide variety of job responsibilities, including:

• Providing prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care for pregnant patients
• Conducting gynecologic evaluations, wellness exams, and preventive screenings
• Evaluating gynecologic abnormalities and cancers, with referral to or collaboration with gynecologic oncology for malignancies requiring specialized oncologic management
• Performing surgical procedures, such as minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, cesarean sections, and hysterectomies
• Counseling patients on fertility, family planning, and women’s health wellness
• Collaborating with neonatologists, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and other specialists for coordinated care
• Maintaining detailed patient records, compliance with medical standards, and overseeing patient transitions of care

OBGYN physicians practice in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospital-based obstetrics & gynecology departments (community and academic hospitals)
• Private or group practices specializing in women’s health
• Outpatient clinics, reproductive health centers, and fertility clinics
• Academic medical centers, research institutions, and teaching hospitals
• Community health organizations and public health settings

Work schedules may include call shifts, weekends, and irregular hours—especially for those in labor and delivery or high-risk obstetrics. However, many practices are innovating to improve work-life balance through flexible scheduling, hospitalist models, and reduced call burdens.

Achieving and maintaining certification is a cornerstone of a successful career in obstetrics and gynecology. Eligible physicians may pursue board certification through ABOG after completing accredited residency training. Board certification is voluntary, although many hospitals, health systems, insurers, and employers may require or strongly prefer certification.

ABOG specialty certification is a two-step process involving the Qualifying Examination followed by the oral Certifying Examination for eligible candidates. These exams assess a physician’s knowledge and clinical skills in areas such as high-risk pregnancies, infertility, and advanced surgical procedures. To maintain their certification, OB/GYN physicians participate in ongoing education and training, ensuring they stay current with the latest advancements in women’s health, obstetrics, and gynecology.

For those seeking to further specialize, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology offers additional certifications in subspecialties like maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and gynecologic oncology. These advanced certifications allow physicians to focus on specific aspects of care, such as managing high-risk pregnancies or providing treatment for infertility, and signal a high level of expertise to patients and colleagues alike. By pursuing and maintaining these certifications, OB/GYN physicians uphold the highest standards in medical practice and ensure that patients receive the best possible care throughout every stage of life.

OBGYN physicians can pursue numerous specialization tracks and leadership paths:

• General OBGYN: Broad women's-health care including prenatal and surgical services
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine: High-risk pregnancy management and fetal care, with a focus on addressing maternal morbidity and mortality
• Gynecologic Oncology: Surgical and medical treatment of reproductive cancers
• Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility: Addressing infertility, hormone disorders, and reproductive planning
• Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery: Focus on pelvic floor disorders and reconstructive care
• Academic & Research Careers: Teaching, leadership, clinical trials, and women's-health innovation, where OB GYN certification is essential for advanced roles and professional recognition
• Private Practice / Group Ownership: Leading or owning women's-health practices with autonomy and entrepreneurial opportunity, with OB GYN certification supporting leadership and advanced practice