Thank you for your response, but as I said in my original post, I do have sincere interests in other fields. Sorry to say, but salary does play a large role in people's decisions, especially when they will be working like dogs for the rest of their lives, as in ob/gyn. I am not an altruistic do-gooder... I went into medicine because I was interested in the subjects, interested in the human body. That's a pretty selfish reason, and I will pick my specialty based on which subject and career I like best. Part of that is salary and lifestyle.
It always seems to be on this ob/gyn forum, when a salary question is asked, the most common answer is never an actual number, it's "do what you love". Maybe those of you who have knowledge of these numbers don't want to share them because you don't want to scare potential applicants away? Anyways, I'm scared away already.
Dude, you're preaching to the choir. I like money as much as the next person, but as I mentioned above, don't let that be the basis for your decision. This is not some template answer I give everyone, its just the reality of it. If salary is in fact that big of a factor in your decision, then I really think you're looking at the wrong field. Another way you may want to approach the pay issue (with respect to time) is look at the RVU's specific to the specialty.
Your comment regarding this forum and "numbers" is correct, but your reasoning is absolutely wrong! 1) We have nothing to hide/gain/lose by stating what the numbers are 2) I strongly doubt that applicants would be scared away solely by comments on this forum and 3) there is so much variability in the job market that a fair answer can't be given.
I can easily make your day by telling you that OB/GYN's make $233,487 in NY/NJ/CT, but that would be flat out lie. Think about what your asking, and what the reality is:
1. Academic or Private?
2. OB/GYN large group or joining a solo practitioner?
3. National Health Service Corp area and job?
4. Planned Parenthood/VA gyn?
5. Pure GYN practice?
6. Practice with many CNM/NP's utilized?
This is why you can't get one answer and why the median surveys such as MGMA don't really apply. I have a friend who joined a large practice and started at $220, I have another that is working for an academic hospital in Jersey for $140, another performing only terminations at $190, one working as a hospitalist/laborist at $170, and a couple in upstate predominantly doing OB for $280 each.
If you're already as "scared"as you mention in your post, then again you I say that you should look at OB/GYN very carefully as no matter how good the money, it may not be right option for you. Most folks would take less money as a happy doctor than more money as a miserable doctor.