Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.
Also called: Clinical Ophthalmologist · Cornea Specialist · Glaucoma Specialist · Oculoplastic Specialist · Ophthalmic Surgeon · Ophthalmologist
Median pay (national)
$239,200+
$104,240–$239,200+ (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
12,110
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.3%
~300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for ophthalmologists, except pediatric shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $239,200+ versus $104,240 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $239,200+ leaves roughly 0% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.3% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 36 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $239,200, 0% vs the national median), while Utah sits lowest at $168,530 — a 42% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Science
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
- Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
- Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.
- Perform laser surgeries to alter, remove, reshape, or replace ocular tissue.
- Prescribe ophthalmologic treatments or therapies such as chemotherapy, cryotherapy, or low vision therapy.
- Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
- Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
- Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
- Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
- Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
Tools & technology
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Epic Systems
- Allscripts PM
- athenahealth athenaCollector
- Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR
- Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- CareCloud Central
- Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management
- Epic Practice Management
- EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems EyeMD EMR
- GalacTek ECLIPSE
- GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solution
- Greenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITE
- HealthFusion MediTouch
- IOS Health Systems Medios EHR
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics