Ophthalmology Salary Data
Median Salary
$675,000
Average Salary
$755,222
Salary Range
Percentiles
Breakdown
How much does a Ophthalmologist make?
As of June 22, 2025, a Ophthalmologist in the United States earns an average of $675,000 per year ($56,250 monthly). Based on an average 46-hour work week, this translates to approximately $316 per hour.
Salary Range and Distribution
Based on 84 verified physician salary submissions, SalaryDr is seeing total compensation ranging from $520,000 to $797,000, with top performers (90th percentile) earning up to $2,079,000 annually. The majority of Ophthalmology salaries fall between $520,000 (25th percentile) and $797,000 (75th percentile).
Career Growth and Advancement
The salary difference between early-career and experienced Ophthalmology physicians is significant. Entry-level positions start at $730,070, while those with 11+ years of experience earn an average of $775,022 - a 6% increase. This substantial growth reflects the value of experience and skill development in the field.
Practice Settings and Compensation Structure
Base salary makes up 86% of total compensation ($648,888), with the remainder coming from bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives.
Job Satisfaction and Work-Life Balance
Ophthalmology physicians report high career satisfaction, rating their specialty 4.4 out of 5, with 94% saying they would choose this specialty again.
Salary Distribution
Distribution based on 84 verified physician salary submissions.
Median Salary: $675,000
Physician Satisfaction
Would Choose Again
Percentage of Ophthalmology physicians who would choose this specialty again if starting their career over.
Satisfaction Rating
Average satisfaction rating reported by Ophthalmology physicians (1-5 scale).
Career Satisfaction
Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.
Primary Challenges
On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.
Salary Comparison
Location Statistics
Average Salary
$755,222
Median Salary
$675,000
Salary Range
$520,000 - $797,000
National Comparison
National Average
$755,222
Difference
+0% vs National Average
Sample Size
84 local / 84 national reports
Salary by Practice Type
| Practice Type | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| Academic | $896,875 | 8 submissions |
| Private Practice | $780,992 | 50 submissions |
| Hospital-employed | $662,077 | 26 submissions |
* Practice types with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Salary by Experience Level
| Years of Experience | Average Salary | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $780,000 | 3 submissions |
| 3-5 years | $561,953 | 9 submissions |
| 6-10 years | $784,600 | 25 submissions |
| 11-15 years | $736,321 | 28 submissions |
| 16+ years | $832,054 | 19 submissions |
* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Subspecialty Comparison
Oculoplastic
Glaucoma
Retina
Pediatric
Cornea
| Subspecialty | Average Salary | Sample Size | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oculoplastic | $1,376,875 | 8 submissions | Focuses on specialized oculoplastic procedures and treatments within ophthalmology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Glaucoma | $707,214 | 14 submissions | Focuses on specialized glaucoma procedures and treatments within ophthalmology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Retina | $661,857 | 14 submissions | Focuses on specialized retina procedures and treatments within ophthalmology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
| Pediatric | $630,636 | 11 submissions | Provides specialized surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents, addressing congenital conditions and childhood diseases. |
| Cornea | $622,417 | 12 submissions | Focuses on specialized cornea procedures and treatments within ophthalmology, providing expert care in this specific area. |
* Subspecialties with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.
* Data is aggregated from verified physician submissions.
Related Specialties
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Average Salary: $1,776,100
Based on 15 submissions
Bariatric Surgery
Average Salary: $750,000
Based on 2 submissions
Head and Neck Surgery
Average Salary: $700,000
Based on 2 submissions
* Salary data is updated monthly based on verified physician submissions.
Ophthalmology Salary by State
Arizona
$440,000/year
3 reports
California
$680,000/year
8 reports
Colorado
$1,160,000/year
2 reports
Florida
$620,000/year
4 reports
Georgia
$670,000/year
17 reports
Illinois
$690,000/year
20 reports
Kansas
$938,000/year
1 reports
Louisiana
$1,900,000/year
2 reports
Maine
$1,100,000/year
1 reports
Maryland
$300,000/year
1 reports
Massachusetts
$800,000/year
8 reports
Minnesota
$671,000/year
1 reports
Missouri
$696,000/year
1 reports
North Carolina
$421,000/year
1 reports
Ohio
$1,270,000/year
1 reports
Oregon
$520,000/year
2 reports
Pennsylvania
$505,000/year
5 reports
Rhode Island
$700,000/year
1 reports
Tennessee
$1,200,000/year
1 reports
Texas
$750,000/year
2 reports
Virginia
$1,000,000/year
1 reports
Washington
$950,000/year
1 reports
See How Residency Salaries Compare
Planning your career path? Check out our comprehensive residency salary benchmarks to see how PGY compensation compares across different specialties and regions.
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