Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric (SOC 29-1241) earn a median $300,080 a year ($144.27 an hour) in the United States, with 8,950 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Rhode Island.
What ophthalmologists, except pediatric do
Ophthalmologists diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye, and may also provide vision services such as glasses and contacts. They perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders, and diagnose or treat injuries and diseases of the eye and structures such as the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva and eyelids. They prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications for ophthalmic conditions and pain, and develop treatment plans from the patient's history and goals, the severity of the disorder and the risks and benefits of treatment. Surgeries include cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitreo-retinal, eye muscle and oculoplastic procedures. They provide or direct postoperative care, plan ophthalmologic services, and educate patients on keeping their vision healthy. O*NET alternate titles such as cornea specialist, glaucoma specialist, neuro-ophthalmologist and oculoplastic specialist show the subspecialties. Many respondents report post-doctoral training. Optometrists and pediatric surgeons are excluded by the SOC and have codes of their own.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report postdoctoral training as the typical level of education for this occupation (42 percent).
Also called: Clinical Ophthalmologist, Cornea and External Disease Physician, Cornea Specialist, Glaucoma Specialist, Medical Doctor (MD).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $48.16 | $83.49 | $144.27 | $202.66 | $235.44 | $146.47 | 8,950 |
| Annual | $100,180 | $173,650 | $300,080 | $421,530 | $489,710 | $304,650 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where ophthalmologists, except pediatric earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $58.97 | $84.88 | $216.52 | $216.53 | $220.71 | $161.84 | 180 | 0.36 | 6.18 |
| Annual | $122,660 | $176,540 | $450,370 | $450,370 | $459,080 | $336,620 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $35.75 | $146.72 | $194.39 | $210.21 | $210.21 | $166.44 | 50 | 0.07 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $74,360 | $305,180 | $404,330 | $437,240 | $437,240 | $346,190 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $47.61 | $89.52 | $192.38 | $208.43 | $240.06 | $167.16 | 820 | 0.05 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $99,040 | $186,200 | $400,150 | $433,530 | $499,330 | $347,690 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $78.79 | $146.12 | $192.04 | $250.77 | $307.68 | $188.01 | 580 | 0.06 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $163,880 | $303,920 | $399,440 | $521,590 | $639,960 | $391,060 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $23.32 | $39.91 | $189.86 | $229.88 | $232.38 | $169.41 | 90 | 0.06 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $48,510 | $83,010 | $394,900 | $478,150 | $483,360 | $352,380 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $45.11 | $104.73 | $173.10 | $216.88 | $230.18 | $169.90 | 960 | 0.10 | 1.73 |
| Annual | $93,820 | $217,830 | $360,050 | $451,110 | $478,760 | $353,390 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $47.61 | $89.52 | $192.38 | $208.43 | $240.06 | $167.16 | 820 | 0.05 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $99,040 | $186,200 | $400,150 | $433,530 | $499,330 | $347,690 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $25.95 | $76.64 | $136.84 | $160.74 | $202.55 | $125.24 | 620 | 0.10 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $53,970 | $159,410 | $284,630 | $334,330 | $421,300 | $260,500 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $78.79 | $146.12 | $192.04 | $250.77 | $307.68 | $188.01 | 580 | 0.06 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $163,880 | $303,920 | $399,440 | $521,590 | $639,960 | $391,060 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $55.40 | $109.04 | $156.35 | $166.78 | $202.15 | $142.92 | 450 | 0.12 | 2.14 |
| Annual | $115,240 | $226,790 | $325,200 | $346,910 | $420,470 | $297,280 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $97.08 | $321.39 | $336.95 | $336.95 | $336.95 | $280.98 | 60 | 0.05 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $201,930 | $668,500 | $700,850 | $700,850 | $700,850 | $584,430 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $45.29 | $104.19 | $208.42 | $208.43 | $217.87 | $170.96 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $94,190 | $216,720 | $433,520 | $433,530 | $453,160 | $355,610 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $49.39 | $49.39 | $206.29 | $228.76 | $237.03 | $152.85 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $102,730 | $102,730 | $429,080 | $475,820 | $493,020 | $317,930 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $79.06 | $95.00 | $198.51 | $225.66 | $225.83 | $163.48 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $164,440 | $197,590 | $412,900 | $469,380 | $469,720 | $340,040 | ||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $58.97 | $84.90 | $191.84 | $216.53 | $220.71 | $159.41 | 200 | 0.28 | 4.92 |
| Annual | $122,660 | $176,590 | $399,020 | $450,370 | $459,080 | $331,560 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $25.95 | $79.04 | $136.84 | $160.74 | $202.55 | $124.41 | 510 | 0.11 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $53,970 | $164,400 | $284,630 | $334,330 | $421,300 | $258,770 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $55.40 | $109.04 | $156.35 | $161.34 | $199.81 | $141.84 | 330 | 0.12 | 2.15 |
| Annual | $115,240 | $226,790 | $325,200 | $335,580 | $415,600 | $295,020 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 300 | 0.11 | 1.85 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $65.44 | $105.23 | $173.07 | $173.07 | $241.43 | $156.27 | 210 | 0.05 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $136,120 | $218,870 | $359,980 | $359,990 | $502,180 | $325,030 | ||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $58.97 | $84.90 | $191.84 | $216.53 | $220.71 | $159.41 | 200 | 0.28 | 4.92 |
| Annual | $122,660 | $176,590 | $399,020 | $450,370 | $459,080 | $331,560 | ||||
Top industries employing ophthalmologists, except pediatric
Offices of Physicians employ 75.4% of ophthalmologists, except pediatric nationally (6,750 jobs) at a median $303,920 a year ($146.12 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (8.4%) and Offices of Other Health Practitioners (7.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 6,750 | 75.4% | $303,920 | $146.12 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 750 | 8.4% | $246,010 | $118.27 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 650 | 7.3% | $222,710 | $107.07 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 300 | 3.4% | $458,580 | $220.47 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 260 | 2.9% | $225,210 | $108.27 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (8,950). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $219,810 for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in May 2022 and $300,080 in May 2025, with employment of 12,580 and 8,950.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | # | # | 11,610 |
| May 2022 | $219,810 | $105.68 | 12,580 |
| May 2023 | # | # | 11,530 |
| May 2024 | # | # | 12,110 |
| May 2025 | $300,080 | $144.27 | 8,950 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
34 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island profile | $216.52 | $450,370 | $122,660 | $459,080 | 180 | 0.36 | 6.18 |
| 2 | New Hampshire profile | $194.39 | $404,330 | $74,360 | $437,240 | 50 | 0.07 | 1.27 |
| 3 | California profile | $192.38 | $400,150 | $99,040 | $499,330 | 820 | 0.05 | 0.78 |
| 4 | Florida profile | $192.04 | $399,440 | $163,880 | $639,960 | 580 | 0.06 | 1.02 |
| 5 | Iowa profile | $189.86 | $394,900 | $48,510 | $483,360 | 90 | 0.06 | 1.02 |
| 6 | Georgia profile | $184.10 | $382,920 | $148,190 | $469,730 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.44 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $178.94 | $372,200 | $143,260 | $488,550 | 180 | 0.06 | 1.04 |
| 8 | New York profile | $173.10 | $360,050 | $93,820 | $478,760 | 960 | 0.10 | 1.73 |
| 9 | Nevada profile | $166.15 | $345,600 | $84,990 | $476,390 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Maine profile | $162.43 | $337,850 | $162,230 | $447,130 | 90 | 0.14 | 2.48 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $160.79 | $334,450 | $172,330 | $478,800 | 210 | 0.11 | 1.88 |
| 12 | Massachusetts profile | $156.35 | $325,200 | $115,240 | $420,470 | 450 | 0.12 | 2.14 |
| 13 | Texas profile | $155.30 | $323,010 | $90,370 | $487,890 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | Alabama profile | $146.73 | $305,200 | $173,050 | $465,770 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Washington profile | $146.56 | $304,830 | $84,480 | $509,040 | 180 | 0.05 | 0.87 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $146.29 | $304,290 | $91,460 | $457,660 | 310 | 0.05 | 0.87 |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $138.49 | $288,050 | $173,810 | $446,100 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.61 |
| 18 | Illinois profile | $136.84 | $284,630 | $53,970 | $421,300 | 620 | 0.10 | 1.77 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $130.42 | $271,270 | $168,550 | $545,790 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.46 |
| 20 | Arkansas profile | $124.67 | $259,320 | $124,690 | $421,600 | 30 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| 21 | Vermont profile | $124.48 | $258,910 | $166,850 | $344,880 | 30 | 0.11 | 1.83 |
| 22 | Tennessee profile | $111.08 | $231,040 | $122,550 | $570,020 | 230 | 0.07 | 1.23 |
| 23 | Missouri profile | $109.81 | $228,410 | $215,990 | $622,380 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Oklahoma profile | $103.73 | $215,760 | $215,760 | $215,760 | ** | ** | ** |
| 25 | South Carolina profile | $102.96 | $214,160 | $173,810 | $421,530 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.75 |
| 26 | Wisconsin profile | $102.83 | $213,890 | $100,670 | $440,140 | 250 | 0.08 | 1.47 |
| 27 | South Dakota profile | $101.92 | $211,990 | $208,110 | $215,770 | 130 | 0.29 | 5.03 |
| 28 | Maryland profile | $101.81 | $211,770 | $100,180 | $360,960 | 260 | 0.10 | 1.65 |
| 29 | Utah profile | $90.62 | $188,490 | $59,240 | $480,640 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
| 30 | Michigan profile | $86.41 | $179,720 | $80,730 | $469,050 | 150 | 0.04 | 0.61 |
| 31 | Virginia profile | $85.29 | $177,410 | $142,730 | $539,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| 32 | Indiana profile | $81.06 | $168,600 | $132,880 | $489,710 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.86 |
| 33 | Louisiana profile | $74.64 | $155,250 | $118,980 | $230,730 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| 34 | Kentucky profile | $49.01 | $101,940 | $33,650 | $451,590 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.62 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1240), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1241 Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric.
#- Equal to or greater than the top code (BLS publishes no wage above it).
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1241, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1241.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.