U.S. Ophthalmologist Salary 2026: $670K Median
The median ophthalmologist salary in the United States is $670,000 per year, based on 100 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through . The middle 50% of reports fall between $483,750 and $714,500; the 10th to 90th percentile range is $413,200 to $950,000.
- Median
- $670,000
- Middle 50% (25th–75th)
- $484K–$715K
- Approved reports
- 100
- As of
Source: SalaryDr salary reports — anonymous, self-reported and approved before publication. Total compensation includes base salary, bonuses and incentives. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles. Figures from 24 or fewer reports are rounded to protect privacy. Methodology
Ophthalmology Bonus & Incentive Pay (2026)
Based on 100 approved salary reports. 89% of them include bonus or incentive compensation.
Bonus Compensation Overview
- Average Bonus
- $153,427
- Median Bonus
- $110,000
- Bonus Range (IQR)
- $58,000 - $138,000
- Bonus as % of Total Comp
- 20%
- Physicians with Bonus
- 89 of 100 (89%)
New Graduate Offer Package
- Early Career Physicians
- N=9
- % Receiving Bonus
- 67%
- Median Bonus (0-3 yrs)
- $40,000
Ophthalmology Salaries by State
Browse All Specialties →Explore ophthalmology salary data across different states. Click on any state to view detailed compensation information for that location.
View all Ophthalmology salary reports by location →
Ophthalmologist Salary FAQ
Answers are computed from the 100 approved salary reports on this page.
How much does an ophthalmologist make in 2026?
The median ophthalmologist salary in the United States is $670,000 per year, based on 100 approved salary reports on SalaryDr through September 10, 2026. The average is $649,658. At the average reported workweek of 44 hours, the median works out to about $293 per hour.
What is the salary range for an ophthalmologist?
The middle 50% of reported ophthalmologist salaries fall between $483,750 (25th percentile) and $714,500 (75th percentile). The 10th to 90th percentile range is $413,200 to $950,000. Based on 100 reports.
Which states pay ophthalmologists the most?
Among states with at least 3 approved reports, the highest median ophthalmologist pay on SalaryDr is in Massachusetts ($795,000 median, 9 reports), Texas ($725,000 median, 4 reports), and Illinois ($690,000 median, 18 reports). State medians built from a handful of reports can move as new reports arrive.
Do private practice ophthalmologists earn more than hospital-employed ophthalmologists?
In SalaryDr's reports, yes: private practice ophthalmologists ($803,245 across 61 reports) report a higher average total compensation than hospital-employed ophthalmologists ($615,967 across 30 reports).
How many hours does an ophthalmologist work per week?
Ophthalmologists who reported their schedule average 44 hours per week (100 reports).
How does experience affect ophthalmologist pay?
Average total compensation by years of experience in SalaryDr's ophthalmologist reports: 0–2 years, $530,000 (9 reports); 3–5 years, $600,000 (16 reports); 6–10 years, $877,129 (26 reports); 11–15 years, $726,143 (28 reports); 16+ years, $835,000 (21 reports).
How much bonus pay do ophthalmologists receive?
89% of approved ophthalmologist reports include bonus or incentive pay. Among those 89 reports, the median bonus is $110,000 and the average is $153,427.
How satisfied are ophthalmologists with their jobs?
Ophthalmologists who rated their job gave it an average of 4.4 out of 5 (100 reports). 96% of the 98 reports that answered say they would choose the specialty again.
Where does this ophthalmologist salary data come from?
These figures come from 100 reports that ophthalmologists submitted anonymously to SalaryDr and that were approved before publication; the most recent is from September 10, 2026. Reports are self-reported: approval means a report passed SalaryDr's review checks, not that the submitter's pay was independently verified. Outlier reports beyond 1.5×IQR are excluded from the median, average and percentiles.
Reports are anonymous and self-reported. How SalaryDr calculates these figures.