Occupation · SOC 29-1218
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 wage
$239,200
$94,750–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
19,900
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
55 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive LearningActive ListeningWritingSpeakingMonitoringComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguagePsychologyCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Medical softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareCalendar and scheduling software
Representative tasks
Treat diseases of female organs.Care for and treat women during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods.Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.Perform cesarean sections or other surgical procedures as needed to preserve patients' health and deliver babies safely.Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical histories, reports, or examination results.Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.Prescribe or administer therapy, medication, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.Consult with or provide consulting services to other physicians.Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioner when necessary.Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.Plan, implement, or administer health programs in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention and treatment of injuries or illnesses.Prepare government and organizational reports on birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or the medical status of individuals.Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures to prevent or control disease or injury.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Female reproductive anatomy and physiology — identify and describe structures and functions under attending physician supervision during clinical rotations in an academic medical center.Prenatal patient records and medical histories — collect and document accurately using electronic health record systems under direct oversight in an obstetrics clinic.Diagnostic test results and laboratory reports — review and summarize findings with guidance from a supervising obstetrician-gynecologist in an inpatient hospital setting.Common gynecological conditions and disease presentations — recognize and report observations to senior clinicians during supervised patient encounters in a residency training program.Patient intake procedures and clinical protocols — follow established workflows to gather examination results and update charts using office suite and medical software systems.Prescribed medications and standard treatment plans — administer under attending physician direction and document dosage and patient response in the electronic medical record.Patient explanations of routine procedures — deliver using clear, empathetic language under supervision during outpatient gynecology appointments.Fetal monitoring equipment and vital sign tools — operate and interpret basic readings with direct guidance during labor and delivery shifts in a hospital maternity unit.Cesarean section and surgical assist protocols — participate in a supporting role under the direction of a lead surgeon in a hospital operating room.Evidence-based clinical guidelines for obstetric and gynecologic care — study and apply foundational principles when preparing for supervised patient management decisions.
developing
Prenatal, natal, and postnatal care plans — develop and implement independently for low-risk pregnancies in a community obstetrics practice with reduced attending oversight.Medical histories, examination findings, and diagnostic reports — analyze systematically to formulate differential diagnoses for routine gynecological conditions in an outpatient clinic setting.Female reproductive diseases including infections, fibroids, and hormonal disorders — treat using established protocols and adjust therapies based on patient response in a clinical practice.Routine vaginal and cesarean deliveries — perform safely and competently, managing standard intraoperative decisions in a hospital labor and delivery unit.Medication regimens and specialized therapeutic interventions — prescribe and monitor for efficacy and adverse effects in patients with common obstetric and gynecological presentations.Patient progress across prenatal visits and postpartum recovery — monitor consistently and reevaluate treatment plans as clinical conditions evolve in a hospital or clinic environment.Test results and treatment options — communicate clearly to patients and families using active listening and plain language during consultations in a private or group practice.Electronic health record and medical software systems — use proficiently to maintain complete, accurate, and timely patient documentation across an outpatient gynecology panel.Time-sensitive clinical priorities across a patient caseload — manage effectively, coordinating with nursing and ancillary staff in a busy obstetrics department.Continuing medical literature and emerging clinical evidence — read and integrate into routine practice decisions to support active learning in an evolving specialty environment.
proficient
Complex, high-risk pregnancies involving comorbidities or complications — manage autonomously, applying advanced clinical judgment and coordinating multidisciplinary teams in a tertiary care center.Non-routine gynecological conditions including malignancies, congenital anomalies, and pelvic floor disorders — diagnose and treat using comprehensive evaluation and individualized care planning.Advanced surgical procedures including complex cesarean sections, hysterectomies, and laparoscopic interventions — perform independently and manage intraoperative complications in a hospital surgical suite.Comprehensive patient data sets including imaging, pathology, and longitudinal records — analyze with inductive and deductive reasoning to arrive at nuanced, evidence-based diagnoses.Therapeutic regimens for chronic gynecological diseases — prescribe, titrate, and monitor with full autonomy, adapting plans to individual patient physiology and comorbidity profiles.Informed consent and complex treatment discussions — lead with clarity, empathy, and professional authority, ensuring patients understand risks, benefits, and alternatives in sensitive clinical situations.Patient outcomes and population-level care quality metrics — monitor using data from medical software and spreadsheet tools to identify trends and drive continuous practice improvement.Ethical and clinical decision-making in high-stakes obstetric scenarios — exercise sound judgment independently, balancing maternal and fetal risk in urgent hospital delivery room situations.Interdisciplinary care coordination with maternal-fetal medicine specialists, oncologists, anesthesiologists, and social workers — lead effectively to optimize outcomes for complex patients across care settings.Clinical protocols and institutional guidelines for obstetric and gynecologic emergencies — apply and adapt with confidence, managing hemorrhage, eclampsia, or fetal distress in real-time inpatient environments.
advanced
Departmental clinical standards and evidence-based practice protocols for obstetrics and gynecology — develop and institutionalize across a hospital system to elevate quality and patient safety organization-wide.Residency training programs and medical education curricula — design and lead to develop the next generation of obstetrician-gynecologists in an academic medical center or teaching hospital.Strategic vision for women's health service lines — set and communicate to hospital leadership and administrative teams, aligning clinical priorities with organizational goals and community health needs.Complex medicolegal, ethical, and policy challenges in reproductive medicine — navigate at an organizational or regulatory level, advising institutional leadership and contributing to policy development.Research initiatives and clinical trials in obstetric and gynecologic medicine — lead as principal investigator, generating new knowledge that advances the specialty and informs national practice standards.Performance and professional development of attending physicians and clinical staff — mentor, evaluate, and coach systematically to build high-performing women's health teams across a healthcare enterprise.Quality improvement and patient safety programs at the department or system level — champion using data-driven methodologies, reducing maternal morbidity and mortality across large patient populations.Interdisciplinary and cross-functional collaboration with executive leadership, payers, and public health agencies — represent women's health priorities and shape resource allocation decisions at the organizational level.Adoption of emerging surgical technologies, diagnostics, and digital health tools — evaluate, advocate for, and integrate into clinical practice, positioning an institution at the forefront of gynecologic innovation.Community outreach, health equity initiatives, and preventive care programs for underserved women — lead and scale through partnerships with public health organizations, extending access across diverse regional populations.
Also known as
73 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
OB Specialist (Obstetrics Specialist)GYN Physician (Gynecology Physician)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y3A)General Practice Physician (Air Force 44G4)Gynecologic OncologistFamily Physician (Air Force 44F1)Family Physician, Sports Medicine (Air Force 44F4A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y4F)Family Nurse Practitioner (Army 66P)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y1P)OB/GYN Hospitalist (Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospitalist)HospitalistAdvanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y3P)Gynecological OncologistFamily Physician, Sports Medicine (Air Force 44F3A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Family Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y1H)Family Physician, Sports Medicine (Air Force 44F1A)Nurse Corps Officer (Army 66)MD (Medical Doctor)Family Physician, Obstetrics (Air Force 44F3B)Family Physician (Air Force 44FX)General Practice Physician (Air Force 44GX)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y1A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Air Force 46Y3M)Family Physician, Obstetrics (Air Force 44F4B)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Air Force 46Y4M)OBGYN MD (Obstetrics Gynecology Medical Doctor)OB/GYN (Obstetrician Gynecologist)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y4A)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Air Force 46Y4B)Family Physician (Air Force 44F3)Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Air Force 46Y1M)Family Physician (Navy 0108)General Practice Physician (Air Force 44G3)PhysicianGynecologistFamily Physician (Air Force 44F4)Certified Nurse Midwife (Army 66W)General Practice Physician (Air Force 44G1)Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nurse (Army 66G)