Basics

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that in May 2009, gynecologists make a mean hourly wage of $98.31 or annual salary of $204,470. The bottom 10 percent make a median hourly wage of $47.85 or $99,520, while the top 50 percent make a median of more than $80 or $166,400.
  
  

Industries

• The industry type can adjust wages. The highest-paying for this profession are the offices of physicians, in which rates are $101.18 or $210.48; specialty hospitals, not including psychiatric, in which rates are $97 or $201,760; local government, in which rates are $91.90 or $191,150; colleges, universities and professional schools, in which rates are $49.32 or $102,580; and local government, in which rates are $91.90 or $191,150.
  
  

States

• The state in which a job is located decides pay. The top five highest-paying for this profession are Wisconsin, with pay of $86.03 or $178,940; Hawaii, with pay of $82.73 or $172,090; Connecticut, with pay of $100.56 or $209,160; Montana, with pay of $71.49 or $148,960; and Mississippi, with pay of $97.68 or $203,170.
  
  

Cities

• The city of employment can affect salaries. The cities with the highest salaries are Barnstable Town, Massachusetts; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Santa Cruz, California; Reading, Pennsylvania; and Orlando, Florida. All have hourly wages of more than $80 and annual wages of more than $166,400.
  
  

Employment Levels

• The areas with the greatest employment numbers do not always offer the best income. For example, both self-employment and general hospitals offer jobs and pay that ranks them both in the top five. However, the highest concentrations of workers are in New Mexico, in which rates are $82.51 or $171,620; and Hawaii, in which rates are $82.73 or $172,090. None of them offer the highest rates. Finally, the cities with the highest concentration of professionals are Jackson, Mississippi, in which rates are $97.68 or $203,170; and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in which rates are $80.68 or $167,820. Neither pays the highest salaries.