Generally, OB-GYNs spend eight years completing their undergraduate and medical degrees before moving on to four-year residencies in obstetrics and gynecology. If they decide to extend their training, it’s usually to focus on a sub-specialty within this branch of medicine.

OB-GYN Salaries

As of May 2012, OB-GYNs earned an average of $216,760 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, in a surveythe Association of American Medical Colleges conducted, OB-GYNs reported average earnings of around $298,000 annually. This average was down from the previous year, when the average was $304,000.

Salaries by Subspecialty

OB-GYNs interested in pursuing more specialized fields must complete a fellowship after their obstetrics and gynecology residency. It generally takes from two to three years to complete a fellowship, but the additional training may improve earnings. For example, reproductive endocrinologists -- OB-GYNs who treat fertility problems -- earned a mean of $317,312 a year, according to a survey by recruiting consultants MD & DDS Resources. Gynecological oncologists, or OB-GYNs who treat cancers of the female reproductive system, earned a mean of $413,500. A survey published in Becker's Hospital Review found that OB-GYNs in maternal-fetal medicine, which involves the treatment of high-risk pregnancies, averaged $473,227 annually.

Salaries by Setting

The setting in which OB-GYNs choose to practice can affect their earnings. According to a Medscape survery, outpatient clinics pay an average of $154,000 annually. OB-GYNs in academic settings averaged $173,000 annually, while those employed at hospitals averaged $194,000 per year. Single-specialty group practices, ormedical clinics devoted solely to obstetrics and gynecology, paid OB-GYNs the highest average wages at $242,000 a year.

Salaries by Gender

The gender gap also may affect the earnings of OB-GYNs. On average, men earned 14 percent more than women, reports the Medscape survey. In 2011, male OB-GYNs brought home $234,000 a year, whereas women in this same specialty earned $206,000 annually.

Physicians and Surgeons salary

• Median Annual Salary: $208,000 or more ($100/hour)