OBGYN physicians and APPs like certified midwife practitioners are invaluable in supporting the health and well-being of women, families, and communities. But are you being financially compensated appropriately?
OBGYN pay is trending down in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic wound down. You need to understand how factors like experience, employment type, and geographic location influence your earning potential.
In this guide, we’ve gathered industry benchmarks alongside OnCall Solutions’ real-world compensation insights to help you assess your worth, plan your career, and negotiate for better pay.
Here’s what you need to know about OBGYN compensation in 2025.
Table of Contents
What Can OBGYNs Expect To Earn in 2025?
OBGYN salaries have remained relatively consistent since the pandemic. From 2023 to 2024, there was no significant change, but median annual OBGYN physician salaries are projected to decrease by 3% in 2025 to $301,462 due to a few key trends:
- Increasing administrative burdens: The average OBGYN spends 15 hours a week on tasks like billing, EHR documentation, and compliance reports. This cuts into their average billable hours and pay.
- Malpractice insurance: OBGYNs face higher insurance costs than other specialties due to the elevated risk their work entails. The AMA estimates that 62% of OBGYNs have been sued at some point in their careers, and as a result, premiums average as high as $46,000 annually.
Despite these trends, specialties like Maternal/Fetal Medicine have seen increasing pay, partially due to a nationwide increase in high-risk pregnancies. Much like in other fields, APP salaries are increasing faster than those of physicians as they continue to expand their roles in healthcare and more states pass legislation granting them increased autonomy.
What Factors Influence OBGYN Compensation?
Several factors influence your earning potential. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when planning out your career:
- Location: Rural and underserved areas often offer higher pay to entice qualified clinicians, while metropolitan areas tend to pay well due to high demand. Whether you prefer a rural setting or a bustling city, there are opportunities to match your salary expectations and lifestyle.
- Experience level: While staying in one location yields modest salary increases (around 5% between new and established OBGYNs), more experience opens the door to negotiations and fresh opportunities that could pay more.
- Specialization: Niche or high-demand specialties often command higher pay due to a lack of supply. For example, Maternal/Fetal medicine specialists earn 44% more than unspecialized OBGYNs, while Gynecologists earn 14% more.
- Employment type: Locum tenens positions typically require urgent support from experienced professionals, so hospitals are willing to pay a premium for your services.
Regional Salary Trends Across the US
Median salaries for permanent, full-time obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) across states follow a few trends. First, highly urbanized areas tend to have higher wages, as evidenced by the District of Columbia, which has high physician and CNM salaries at $348,401 and $124,584, respectively. While Northeastern states generally have high median salaries, you can still earn significantly in rural states like Alaska and North Dakota. However, the lowest-paying states are still rural areas with low living costs, like Mississippi, which has a median salary of $280,601 for physicians and $100,347 for CNMs.
Here is how full-time, permanent median salaries break down for OBGYNs and CNMs:
OBGYN Salaries by State
Source: Salary.com
Certified Nurse Midwife Physician Salaries by State
Source: Salary.com
How Experience Impacts OBGYNs’ Earning Potential
Clinicians often see increased earning power, access to leadership opportunities, and better benefits with more experience. Starting OBGYNs and CNMs make $301,462 and $108,417, each. While entry-level salaries for OBGYN providers have declined year over year, experienced providers’ salaries increased, as physicians with 8+ years of experience saw their salaries increase by 1%, and similarly experienced CNMs saw their salaries increase by 5%. Here’s how permanent OBGYNs’ salaries might increase throughout their careers:
Source: Salary.com
Due to budget constraints and set pay scales, experienced OBGYNs typically earn only about 5% more than their newer counterparts. To maximize your salary, consider exploring other strategies, such as leveraging your experience to negotiate for higher pay or leadership roles. Changing hospitals could also increase your pay, as facilities often offer sign-on bonuses or higher starting salaries to attract experienced talent.
Top-Paying OBGYN Specialties
Specializing can significantly boost your earning potential. For example, Maternal/Fetal Medicine physicians earn 44% more than the median OBGYN salary of $314,601, while Gynecologists earn 14% more. Here is how rates for different specialties break down across hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual rates, plus how they compare to a typical locum tenens rate:
How Employment Type Affects Pay for OBYNs and CNMs
Salary.com says the median annual salary for permanent OBGYNs in 2025 was $314,601. Meanwhile, on average, OBGYN nurse practitioners earn $126,928, and OBGYN physician assistants earn $120,212. Finally, certified nurse midwives make $112,522 on average each year.
While your salary will depend on assignment frequency, locum tenens providers could earn as much as 36% more than permanent OBGYN physicians.
Comparing Permanent and Locum Tenens Benefits
OBGYNs in temporary roles often receive higher pay, but choosing between a permanent position and temporary clinical work involves more than just salary considerations. For example, permanent positions come with significant benefits:
- Health insurance: Most hospital employers offer comprehensive coverage options at reduced costs.
- Paid time off: Vacation and sick leave are often built into permanent contracts.
- Retirement contributions: Many permanent roles include employer contributions to 401(k) or pension plans.
On the other hand, locum tenens assignments offer different, but significant benefits:
- Higher hourly pay: OBGYNs in temporary roles can earn up to 36% more than their permanently placed peers.
- Housing and travel stipends: Assignments typically include covered lodging and travel reimbursements.
- Licensing assistance: Many locum tenens agencies offer support by covering application fees, managing paperwork, and directly coordinating with state medical boards to expedite the licensing process when working in a new state.
This model increases overall compensation for many clinicians, especially when accepting weekend, night, or rural assignments.
Source: Salary.com & OnCall Solutions
Build a Rewarding OBGYN Career, On Your Terms
Taking a strategic approach to your career can optimize your earning potential while maintaining flexibility and work-life balance. Here are some strategies to help you boost your hourly rate:
- Consider locum tenens or moonlighting: Contract roles often pay higher hourly rates than permanent positions, providing greater financial flexibility. Even if you decide to work a permanent position, you can moonlight on the side to make extra income or pay off student loans while building experience.
- Relocate to higher-paying states: Both rural areas with physician shortages and large metropolitan areas with high demand offer competitive compensation. Choosing high-salary locations is also easier if you travel as a locum tenens provider.
- Leverage your experience: As you take on new assignments and gain years on the job, you’ll build up a resume of skills employers want. You can use these skills to negotiate better compensation and leadership opportunities at your next assignment. Many facilities are willing to pay a premium for experienced OBGYNs due to high demand and a lack of supply, especially in locum tenens roles.
At OnCall Solutions, we connect permanent, moonlighting, and locum tenens OBGYNs with rewarding opportunities that align with expertise and salary expectations. We support you with job placement, contract negotiation, and career advice, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’re receiving your full value from an assignment.
Want to Earn More Without Sacrificing Balance?
OBGYN physicians and APPs have more options when choosing when and how much they work. Locum tenens roles offer the chance to increase income, reduce administrative burdens, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Whether you’re seeking your next assignment or curious about your options, OnCall Solutions is here to help. We offer a dedicated Chief Medical Officer to oversee the recruitment process and ensure your new role aligns with your goals, whether achieving financial security, working in your ideal location, or reducing burnout. If you are looking for a side gig, we provide moonlighting support and fast and friendly onboarding, so you can start earning extra income quickly.
Explore current job openings or connect with our team to get started today.
