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Salary comparison

Obstetricians and Gynecologists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Who Earns More?

Obstetricians and Gynecologists out-earn Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by $229K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Obstetricians and Gynecologists land at $292,910 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses at $64,400. The education gap is real: obstetricians and gynecologist programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Obstetricians and Gynecologists is Utah ($437,170); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses it's Washington ($83,150).

Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Median salary
$292,910
$64,400
Hourly rate
$140.82/hr
$30.96/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$94,680
$49,740
Senior level (90th %)
$437,300
$83,440
Education required
Doctoral or professional degree
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
21,260
648,410
Job growth (10-year)
1.2%
2.6%
Category
Healthcare
Healthcare
Top-paying state
Utah
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Obstetricians and Gynecologists median pay.

State
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Alaska
$421,450
$80,800
Vermont
$418,760
$69,930
Oregon
$395,340
$80,470
Maine
$379,930
$73,200
Arizona
$369,720
$77,070
New Hampshire
$348,140
$77,110
Washington
$343,140
$83,150
Hawaii
$338,130
$71,140
Maryland
$306,310
$74,660
California
$301,240
$79,750
Massachusetts
$272,240
$80,220
New Jersey
$228,870
$75,160
Illinois
$208,000
$75,000
Connecticut
$200,580
$73,690
Rhode Island
$166,390
$80,090

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Obstetricians and Gynecologists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Obstetricians and Gynecologists earn more nationally. The median is $292,910 for Obstetricians and Gynecologists versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, a difference of $229K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Obstetricians and Gynecologists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses has the better 10-year outlook at 2.6% projected growth, compared to 1.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Obstetricians and Gynecologists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?

Obstetricians and Gynecologists typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Obstetricians and Gynecologists get paid the most?

Utah is the top-paying state for Obstetricians and Gynecologists at $437,170/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Obstetricians and Gynecologists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Obstetricians and Gynecologists earn $421,450 vs. $80,800 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Obstetricians and Gynecologists salary breakdownView →Full Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary breakdownView →Best cities for Obstetricians and Gynecologists by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by take-home payExplore →How to become a obstetricians and gynecologistsGuide →How to become a licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesGuide →