Career comparison
Family Medicine Physician vs. Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Obstetrician-gynecologists earn more at the median ($292,910 vs. $244,180), while family medicine physicians usually get to work faster (11 years after high school of training). Family medicine physicians provide ongoing primary care to patients of all ages. Obstetrician-gynecologists care for women’s reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Family Medicine Physician | Obstetrician-Gynecologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $244,180 ($117.39/hr) | $292,910 ($140.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $76,830 – $428,550 | $94,680 – $437,300 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.3% (about as fast as average) | +1.7% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,900 | 500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 11 years after high school | 12 years after high school |
| Key credential | ABFM board certification | ABOG board certification |
| Work setting | Family physicians work in clinics, community health centers, hospitals and rural practices.. | OB-GYNs work in clinics, hospitals, labor and delivery units and operating rooms.. |
What each job does
Family Medicine Physician
- Provide checkups and preventive care
- Diagnose and treat common illnesses
- Manage chronic diseases
- Perform minor procedures
- Order and interpret tests
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
- Provide prenatal care
- Deliver babies and perform cesarean sections
- Manage high-risk pregnancies
- Perform gynecologic exams and screenings
- Treat reproductive conditions
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, high-pay, working with people, and high responsibility. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose family medicine physician if…
- I want long-term patient relationships
- I like variety
- I enjoy prevention
Choose obstetrician-gynecologist if…
- I want to care for women’s health
- I like both clinic and surgery
- I stay calm in emergencies
Still torn? Take the Family Medicine Physician fit quiz and the Obstetrician-Gynecologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, family medicine physician or obstetrician-gynecologist?
Obstetrician-Gynecologists earn more at the median: $292,910 versus $244,180 for family medicine physicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Family Medicine Physicians typically train faster (11 years after high school) than obstetrician-gynecologists (12 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects family medicine physicians to grow +3.3% from 2025–35, compared with +1.7% for obstetrician-gynecologists.