Ophthalmologists Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
The median ophthalmologists salary in the United States is $300,080 per year ($144.27/hour). Salaries range from $100,180 at the entry level to $489,710+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 8,950 ophthalmologists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Ophthalmologists Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for ophthalmologistss.
Ophthalmologists diagnose + treat eye disease + perform eye surgery. Career splits: comprehensive ophthalmology (routine + cataract), sub-specialty (retina, cornea, glaucoma, oculoplastics, uveitis, neuro-ophth), refractive surgery (LASIK cash-pay). Path: 4 yrs med school + 1-year internship + 3-year ophthalmology residency + optional 1-2 year fellowship. Compensation: comprehensive $300-450k; retina + oculoplastics $500-750k+; refractive/LASIK cash-only can exceed $1M+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Ophthalmologists
- 1Med school + strong Step scoresVery competitive match.
- 2Ophthalmology Residency (PGY-1 + 3 years)Highly competitive.
- 3Optional Fellowship (Retina, Cornea, Glaucoma, Oculoplastics, Peds, Uveitis, Neuro)1-2 years. Sub-specialty premium.
- 4Board certification (ABO)Required for practice.
- 5First practice: private group, hospital-employed, PE-backed group (VSP, Kaiser, EyeCare Partners)Practice models diverse.
- 6Partnership + practice ownership + ASC equityASC ownership huge income lever.
Career Progression
- β’Progressive surgical training
- β’Board prep
- β’Sub-specialty training
- β’Independent practice
- β’Building patient panel + surgical volume
- β’Established practice + high surgical volume
- β’ASC equity
- β’Complex cases
- β’Business ownership + ASC + multi-office
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 10 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your cataract surgery volume.case
Q2. How do you manage a complex cataract?case
Q3. Tell me about a complication.behavioral
Q4. Why our practice?culture
Q5. How do you balance clinic + surgery day?situational
Resume Template β Attending Ophthalmologist (0-5 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈBoard-eligible Ophthalmologist + Retina Fellowship. 2024 volume: 720 cataract surgeries + 380 retinal procedures + 5,200 clinic visits.
- βΈZero substantiated complications on 720 cataract surgeries over 24 months.
- βΈEstablished retina program at [Practice] increasing intravitreal injection volume 40%.
- βΈPrecept residents on retina rotation.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak surgical case volume during residency.
- βPoor imaging interpretation.
- βBad-mouthing prior program or partners.
- βWeak business awareness (ASC, cosmetic).
- βMissing sub-specialty fellowship for specialty roles.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + productivity (collections).
- βSign-on $50-200k.
- βLoan repayment $100-250k.
- βASC equity (huge lever).
- βSub-specialty differential.
- βMalpractice tail coverage.
- βPartnership 2-3 years + buy-in.
- βCME $10-20k.
Ophthalmologists Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired ophthalmologistss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Ophthalmologists Career Kit β $19
- β All 10 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Ophthalmologists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $450,370 | +50.1% |
| New Hampshire | $404,330 | +34.7% |
| California | $400,150 | +33.3% |
| Florida | $399,440 | +33.1% |
| Iowa | $394,900 | +31.6% |
| Georgia | $382,920 | +27.6% |
| Minnesota | $372,200 | +24.0% |
| New York | $360,050 | +20.0% |
| Nevada | $345,600 | +15.2% |
| Maine | $337,850 | +12.6% |
Ophthalmologists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $700,850 | +133.6% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $433,520 | +44.5% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $429,080 | +43.0% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $412,900 | +37.6% |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $399,020 | +33.0% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $389,450 | +29.8% |
| Worcester, MA | $387,810 | +29.2% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $359,980 | +20.0% |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $337,850 | +12.6% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $332,670 | +10.9% |