Obstetrician-gynecologist who diagnoses and treats cancers of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vulva and vagina with surgery and chemotherapy. SalaryDr gynecologic oncology data; Society of Gynecologic Oncology member survey (reported by Healio) puts typical pay at $445,000 a year (2026). BLS does not publish separate figures for obstetricians and gynecologists; it counts them within obstetrician and gynecologist (SOC 29-1218), whose median pay is $292,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1218
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Gynecologic Oncologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $292,910a year, or $140.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $95KTop 10% $437K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.7%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 50022,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202522.8K
- Projected 203523.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 22.8K Projected 2035 23.2K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Professional degree3.5%
- Doctorate22.5%
- Post-doctoral training74%
Highest education held by obstetricians and gynecologists Segment Value Professional degree 3.5% Doctorate 22.5% Post-doctoral training 74%
Also advertised as: Gyn Onc, Gynecologic Cancer Surgeon, Gynecologic Oncology Physician, Gynecologic Surgical Oncologist.
Pay
How much do Obstetricians and Gynecologists make?
Industry-reported pay
$445,000
Median total annual compensation, US gynecologic oncologists (physician-reported, small sample); consistent with an SGO member survey reporting medians by gender.
Source: SalaryDr gynecologic oncology data; Society of Gynecologic Oncology member survey (reported by Healio), 2026 (estimate from several industry sources). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts obstetricians and gynecologists within obstetrician and gynecologist, whose pay is shown below. SalaryDr: Gynecologic oncology salary · Healio: Survey shows significant gender pay gap in gynecologic oncology
Every gynecologic oncologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$292,910
Middle half earn $179,810 to $369,390
- 10th
- $94,680
- 25th
- $179,810
- 75th
- $369,390
- 90th
- $437,300
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,680 |
| 25th | $179,810 |
| Median | $292,910 |
| 75th | $369,390 |
| 90th | $437,300 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $292,910
- Median hourly wage
- $140.82/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $279,040
- People employed
- 21,260
Versus all US occupations
At $292,910, Obstetricians and Gynecologists earn 475% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $241,930 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 185% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $437,300 or more while the bottom 10% earn $94,680, a gap of 4.6×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 98% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Utah posts the highest raw median ($437,170), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $465,450 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Obstetricians and Gynecologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Utah | $437,170 | $442,193 | 200 |
| 2Alaska | $421,450 | $411,737 | 50 |
| 3Vermont | $418,760 | $427,489 | 90 |
| 4North Dakota | $414,060 | $465,450 | 70 |
| 5Louisiana | $404,550 | $458,637 | 80 |
| 6Oregon | $395,340 | $382,485 | 270 |
| 7Maine | $379,930 | $391,479 | 100 |
| 8Oklahoma | $370,260 | $421,502 | 60 |
| 9Arizona | $369,720 | $367,234 | 130 |
| 10Iowa | $356,020 | $405,665 | 180 |
Job outlook
Is Gynecologic Oncologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | +1.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to change 1.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 500 openings are projected each year, 2.2% of the 22,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Gynecologic Oncologist
After medical school and a four-year obstetrics and gynecology residency, physicians complete a three-year ACGME-accredited gynecologic oncology fellowship, which includes surgical, chemotherapy and research training.
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology certifies them in obstetrics and gynecology and then in gynecologic oncology. The Society of Gynecologic Oncology is the main professional organization. Fellowship positions are limited and competitive, so applicants usually show strong surgical skills and a record of oncology research during residency. Fellowship covers radical pelvic surgery, robotic surgery, chemotherapy and clinical trial design. Graduates usually join academic centers or cancer programs within large hospital systems.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as obstetricians and gynecologists.
- Post-Doctoral Training74%
- Doctoral Degree22.5%
- First Professional Degree3.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 74% |
| Doctoral Degree | 22.5% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Gynecologic Oncologist do?
Gynecologic oncologists treat cancers of the female reproductive organs. They perform complex surgery, often robotic or laparoscopic, to remove uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers, including extensive debulking operations for advanced ovarian cancer. Unlike most surgeons, they also give chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted treatments themselves.
They manage precancerous conditions and hereditary cancer risk, such as BRCA mutations, and perform risk-reducing surgery. They work with radiation oncologists, pathologists and genetic counselors, run clinical trials, and provide care that continues through survivorship or end of life.
Day-to-day tasks
- Perform surgery for uterine, cervical, ovarian and vulvar cancers
- Perform debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer
- Prescribe and manage chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted drugs
- Perform minimally invasive and robotic gynecologic surgery
- Counsel patients with hereditary cancer risk and perform risk-reducing surgery
- Present cases at multidisciplinary tumor boards
- Lead or enroll patients in clinical trials
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Gynecologic oncologists work mostly in academic medical centers, cancer centers and large hospital systems. The week mixes long operating days, chemotherapy clinic and tumor boards, with call for surgical complications. The work involves deep, sometimes difficult relationships with patients.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.4
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.1
- Active Learning4.1
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Science3.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Science | 3.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.9
- Time Management3.8
- Service Orientation3.6
- Instructing3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Gynecologic Oncologist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRS) built on O*NET's Obstetrician and Gynecologist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Gynecologic Oncologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Investigative5.7
- Social5.5
- Realistic4.8
- Conventional3.7
- Enterprising2.7
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Gynecologic Oncologist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with obstetricians and gynecologists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Gynecologic Oncologist$292,910
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Gynecologic Oncologist | $292,910 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Gynecologic Oncologist appears on
Questions
Gynecologic Oncologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Obstetricians and Gynecologists make?
SalaryDr gynecologic oncology data; Society of Gynecologic Oncology member survey (reported by Healio) reports $445,000 (median total annual compensation, US gynecologic oncologists (physician-reported, small sample); consistent with an SGO member survey reporting medians by gender, 2026). BLS does not publish a separate wage for obstetricians and gynecologists. It counts them within obstetrician and gynecologist, whose median pay is $292,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $179,810 and $369,390, and the top 10% earn $437,300 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Gynecologic Oncologist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Obstetricians and Gynecologists. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 74.0% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Gynecologic Oncologist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.7% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Gynecologic Oncologist do?
Gynecologic oncologists treat cancers of the female reproductive organs. A typical task: perform surgery for uterine, cervical, ovarian and vulvar cancers. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Obstetricians and Gynecologists the most?
The highest state medians for Obstetricians and Gynecologists are Utah ($437,170), Alaska ($421,450), Vermont ($418,760) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $465,450.
What personality type suits a Gynecologic Oncologist?
O*NET scores Obstetricians and Gynecologists highest on the Investigative, Social and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISFJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.