Obstetricians and gynecologists specialise in women's health issues, such as cancer of the breast and pelvic disorders. As with all doctors, educational requirements are rigorous: four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and three to eight years of internship. All states require these professionals to be licensed.
Earnings
Obstetricians and gynecologists make a mean £63.9 per hour or £132,905 per year, as of May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS). The lowest-earning 10 per cent make £31.1 or £64,688, while the top 50 per cent make £52 or £108,160.
Workplaces
The best-paying workplaces for these professions are: the offices of physicians, with wages at £65.7 or £136.8, according to the BLS; speciality hospitals, not including psychiatric and substance abuse, at £63.0 or £131,144; and general hospitals, at £60.3 or £125,573. Both the offices of physicians and general hospitals offer the most job opportunities for obstetricians and gynecologists, followed by outpatient care centres, with wages at £54.4 or £113,184.
States
The states with the highest-paid gynecologists and obstetricians are Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa, all with earnings at more than £52 or £108,160. However, these states do not offer the highest concentrations of jobs. That distinction belongs to New Mexico, with earnings at £53.60 or £111,553, Hawaii at £53.7 or £111,858, and Connecticut at £65.3 or £135,954.
Cities
The cities where employers pay the highest salaries are Barnstable Town, Massachusetts, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Santa Cruz, California, with wages at more than £52 or £108,160. However, the cities with the most obstetricians and gynecologists per capita are: Jackson, Mississippi, with pay at £63.40 or £132,060; Albuquerque, New Mexico, at £52.4 or £109,083; and Yakima, Washington, at £67.0 or £139,464.
Outlook
The BLS predicts a growth of 22 per cent for obstetricians and gynecologists from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than average. The increase will come from the expansion of health-related industries and a growing population that demands those industries. Job opportunities will be good, especially for those who can practice in low-income and rural areas because those areas face difficulties in attracting qualified doctors.
