Ob/gyns see slip in earnings

Although there are rumblings that earnings may finally be on the upswing for primary-care physicians, it doesn't seem so for ob/gyns. The 2006 Medical Economics Continuing Survey (10/20/2006), which sampled office-based MDs and DOs in 23 specialties, showed that ob/gyns saw a 2% drop in compensation from $215,000 in 2004 to $210,000 in 2005. They also saw a 5% loss in practice revenue from $569,300 in 2004 to $540,000 in 2005. These figures are still higher than the earnings of family practitioners, general practitioners, and internists.

Employed ob/gyns continued to post gains. Their total compensation rose 5% from 2004 to 2005-to a median of $200,000. Hospital employment is one way for physicians to sidestep skyrocketing malpractice premiums and work fewer and steadier hours.

Male physicians continue to make more than female ones. And there's no exception among ob/gyns: Male ob/gyns earned $225,000, while female ob/gyns brought in $200,000. Still, the vast majority of ob/gyns, regardless of gender, earned six figures or more in 2005: 50% earned between $100,000 and $249,999; and 39% earned $250,000 or more. Just 12% of ob/gyns earned less than $100,000.