If you're a doctor and you deliver babies, how much do you make per delivery? If the answer is, "I don't know," you're not alone.
You may think that in-house OB-GYNs aren't particularly in tune with what they actually earn, and that's understandable: it's easy to be complacent about income when your entire practice is one big house call. But the truth is, medicine isn't exactly a lucrative career choice.
How much does an obstetrician make per delivery?
The salary of an obstetrician is not set by a particular medical speciality, but rather by the individual insurance company.
The obstetrics branch of a hospital has its own budget which is where salaries are determined. It is stated in the financial health reports of almost all hospitals. The main determining factors are volume, experience and competence level.
There's an old formula that states 1% of total gross revenue goes to pay doctors for their outstanding work - so there might be at least one obstetrician on staff who’s earning less than minimum wage (some of our readers did mention this).
To make more money, they will work through their shifts without eating, fearing that if they don't get paid on time, it may affect all future payments.
This is a common practice among doctors and other medical professionals, I’ve heard from those who work part-time for extra money.
A pregnant woman going to the obstetrics department came expecting me to deliver her baby – all she had was the name of an OB/GYN, identification card number, and the time she was expected to deliver.
I then asked her patient history, including when this OB/GYN delivered or did prenatal checkups in the last three years? Did he also carry out any other services like an ultrasound scan of the foetus, pregnancy test, etc.?
Also I called the OB/GYN office and asked, is she indeed with this doctor? Since he has a very large patient base, there's a good possibility that he can deliver her if it's not urgent.
Doctors who deliver babies make about $1,200 per delivery. Delivery is the process of assisting with childbirth by assisting during labor, or in some cases, after the baby has been born but before it is released to the parents. The medical specialty related to delivering babies is called obstetrics.
The following factors determine the quality of service to expect in an OB/GYN or maternity clinic, among others:
- The subject of doctors who deliver babies is controversial. While some people benefit by affordable healthcare, others argue that torturing their bodies only ends up ruining them in the future.
- Some doctors said that they had to turn down some patients because they didn't want to risk it (they weren't sure how complications like disease or malformation affecting their baby were going to manifest).
- Others argued that since having a natural birth and/or breathing is necessary, it's better than risking something terrible happening in the future when all they could do was go under anesthesia.
Salary and qualifications The median annual salary for an obstetrician was $216,760, according to 2012 BLS data. Obgyns must earn a bachelor's degree, take courses in biology, chemistry, physics and math, and then complete four years of medical school.
Also, how much do Obgyns make per month? The salary of an obstetrician/gynaecologist ranked third-highest among all physicians, after anesthesiologists and surgeons, with a median income of more than $235,000, or about $20,000 per month. The salary of an obstetrician or gynaecologist often depends on where they work.
Factors That Influence OBGYN Pay
Where They Work Matters a Lot
An OBGYN’s geographic location significantly affects how much they earn per delivery. Doctors practicing in urban hospitals or private clinics often see higher payouts than those working in rural or public settings.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OBGYNs in states like California and New York typically earn more due to higher demand and living costs.
Experience Changes Everything
Years of practice can drastically shift an OBGYN’s income. Entry-level doctors may earn less per delivery as they build their network and gain trust.
With time, experienced OBGYNs often secure higher-paying positions and are more likely to be referred for complex or high-risk cases. A 2023 report by Medscape found that OBGYNs with over 20 years of experience earn 25–30% more than their junior peers.
Employment Type Makes a Difference
The way an OBGYN is employed also impacts pay structure. Hospital-employed doctors often receive a fixed salary, while private practice or contract-based doctors are paid per delivery, allowing for higher earning potential based on volume.
However, private practice also means handling administrative costs and malpractice insurance.
The Number of Deliveries They Handle
More deliveries usually mean more income, especially for those paid on a per-procedure basis. Still, high volume comes with burnout risks. Many hospitals offer on-call incentives or volume bonuses for those willing to cover more births.
According to Becker’s Hospital Review, some OBGYNs earn additional income just for being on call overnight.
Special Cases Can Pay More
Deliveries involving complications, multiple births, or C-sections tend to result in higher compensation.
These cases require more time and medical resources, and sometimes a team. High-risk pregnancy specialists or maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists may also command more for their expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does an Obgyn make in an hour?
The average OB/GYN in the United States received an hourly wage of $105.10 in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This equates to an annual salary of $218,610 for a 40-hour week year.
How long do you have to go to school to be an Obgyn?
12 years
How many babies do obstetrician-gynecologists deliver per year?
Obstetrician-gynecologists in Louis have the second highest maternity caseload, with 232 births per year per specialist. The national average is 105 births. At the same time, obstetricians and gynecologists in the area are older: only 12 percent are under the age of 40.
Where do obstetrician-gynecologists make the most money?
The states and districts that pay obstetricians/gynecologists the highest median salary are New Mexico ($287,680), Colorado ($286,560), Indiana ($285,180), Alabama ($284,380), and South Carolina ($283,910).
Conclusion
The job of an obstetrician is to deliver babies. This can be done through natural childbirth or with the use of anesthesia.
The decision between these two methods is controversial, as some people argue that torturing their bodies only ends up ruining them in the future while others argue that since having a natural birth and/or breathing is necessary it's better than risking something terrible happening in the future.
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