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Ophthalmologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$300,080median pay per year, or $144.27 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $100,180lowest 10% earn less
  2. $173,65025th percentile
  3. $300,080median
  4. $421,53075th percentile
  5. $489,710top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for ophthalmologists was $300,080 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.5%[2]
Openings per year
200[5]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[6]

How much do ophthalmologists make?

BLS counts these workers as Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. In May 2025 their median pay was $300,080 a year, or $144.27 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The mean was $304,650 a year[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $100,180 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $489,710[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $100,180 $48.16
25th percentile[3][9] $173,650 $83.49
Median[1] $300,080 $144.27
75th percentile[3][9] $421,530 $202.66
90th percentile[3][9] $489,710 $235.44

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, and the value of benefits such as health insurance[10]. In 2025, 5.7% of ophthalmologists were self-employed[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 34 states with published data, Rhode Island had the highest median at $450,370, followed by New Hampshire at $404,330 and California at $400,150[12]. Kentucky was the last state listed, at $101,940[12].

New York had the most jobs at 960[13]. California had 820 and Illinois had 620[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Providence-Warwick, RI-MA had the highest median at $399,020[14]. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX followed at $359,980[14]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the most jobs at 510, then Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at 330[15].

Show median pay in 34 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Rhode Island[12]$450,370180
New Hampshire$404,33050
California$400,150820
Florida$399,440580
Iowa$394,90090
Georgia$382,920120
Minnesota$372,200180
New York$360,050960
Nevada$345,600n/a
Maine$337,85090
Oregon$334,450210
Massachusetts$325,200450
Texas$323,010n/a
Alabama$305,200n/a
Washington$304,830180
Pennsylvania$304,290310
Colorado$288,050100
Illinois$284,630620
Ohio$271,270150
Arkansas$259,32030
Vermont$258,91030
Tennessee$231,040230
Missouri$228,410n/a
Oklahoma$215,760n/a
South Carolina$214,160100
Wisconsin$213,890250
South Dakota$211,990130
Maryland$211,770260
Utah$188,49030
Michigan$179,720150
Virginia$177,410n/a
Indiana$168,600160
Louisiana$155,25030
Kentucky$101,94070

How to become an ophthalmologist

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the entry education, with no work experience needed and internship or residency as the usual training[6]. The training details below come from a BLS profile of physicians and surgeons, which covers a wider group than ophthalmologists[16].

1) Earn a bachelor's degree[17]. Medical schools do not ask for one particular undergraduate major[18]. 2) Complete medical school[18]. It leads to an M.D. or D.O. degree[18]. Medical school takes 4 more years[17]. 3) Complete a residency[19]. Residencies typically last 3 to 9 years, depending on the specialty[19]. 4) Get a state license[20]. All states require one, and the rules vary by state. Candidates need a degree from an accredited medical school and completed residency training, and licensure includes passing national exams[20][21]. 5) Consider board certification[22]. It is not required, but it may improve job options. It takes a completed residency and a specialty exam[22].

Some doctors add a fellowship of 1 to 3 years to subspecialize[19]. O*NET gives an example for surgeons of four years of college plus five to seven years of specialized medical training[23].

What ophthalmologists do

O*NET says ophthalmologists diagnose eye disorders and diseases and perform surgery to treat them. They may also provide vision services such as glasses and contacts[24]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

The BLS profile for physicians and surgeons says they work in clinical settings such as physicians' offices and hospitals, and in nonclinical settings such as government agencies, nonprofits and insurance companies[26]. In group practices or healthcare organizations, doctors can coordinate care but have less independence than solo practitioners[27].

Physicians may stand for long periods, and conditions differ by specialty[28]. The profile says full-time work is typical, some doctors work more than 40 hours a week, and long shifts can include irregular or overnight hours and time on call[29]. This text describes the wider group, not ophthalmologists alone[16].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of ophthalmologists to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,700 to 10,200 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[30]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS projects about 200 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.6% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is far above the all-occupations median, and the projected growth is a little above the all-occupations rate[1][4][2][30]. The path is long. It runs through a bachelor's degree, 4 years of medical school and a residency of 3 to 9 years for physicians in general[17][19]. The field is small, with about 200 openings a year[5]. Pay also varies widely, from $100,180 at the 10th percentile to $489,710 at the 90th[3]. O*NET lists Optometrists as a related occupation, with a median of $136,570[32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an ophthalmologist make an hour?
The median was $144.27 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $48.16 and the 90th percentile was $235.44[1][9].
How much does an ophthalmologist make a year?
The median was $300,080 a year and the mean was $304,650[1][7]. These figures leave out the self-employed[10].
What degree do you need to be an ophthalmologist?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree[6]. The wider physicians and surgeons profile says an M.D. or D.O. degree after a bachelor's degree[18].
How long does it take to become an ophthalmologist?
The facts do not give a figure for ophthalmology alone. The wider physicians and surgeons profile lists 4 years of medical school and a residency of 3 to 9 years, depending on the specialty[17][19].
Which state pays ophthalmologists the most?
Rhode Island had the highest median, at $450,370, followed by New Hampshire and California[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric in the US was $300,080 per year and $144.27 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,700 to 10,200 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: 10th percentile $100,180, 25th percentile $173,650, 75th percentile $421,530, 90th percentile $489,710. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 200 openings for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric was $304,650 per year and $146.47 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: 10th percentile $48.16, 25th percentile $83.49, 75th percentile $202.66, 90th percentile $235.44. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 5.7% of Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric jobs: New York 960; California 820; Illinois 620; Florida 580; Massachusetts 450. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric (areas with at least 100 jobs): Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $399,020; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $359,980; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $325,200; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $320,450; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $284,630; Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $232,300; Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $210,490; Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $168,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 510 (median $284,630); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 330 (median $325,200); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 300 (median $239,200 or more); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 210 (median $359,980); Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 200 (median $399,020); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 180 (median $320,450). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicians and Surgeons" covers Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 29-1241.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.