Ophthalmologist Salary in 2025: Average Pay, Factors, and How to Increase It

The average ophthalmologist salary is $409,000, according to Medscape Ophthalmologist Compensation Report 2025.

As with any job in healthcare, exact salaries depend on a range of factors, but we’ve compiled some info as a starting point.

This article will explore the many factors that can affect your annual salary and offer some tactics for ensuring that your income is above the national average.

Average Ophthalmologist Salary by Source

Depending on where you look for compensation data, ophthalmologist salary data ranges from the high $200,000s to over $400,000.

We’ve already mentioned that Medscape’s average is $409,000.

Let’s have a look at other sources:

• Salary.com: $340,124
• Indeed: $305,382
• ZipRecruiter: $286,030
• Payscale: $270,826
• Marit Health: $410,044
• Physician Side Gigs: $484,000

According to these four sources, the average base salary in the US is around $322,000 per year.

Ophthalmologists have mixed opinions about their careers. To start, only 25% said that they do extra work to supplement their income.

Yet, only 28% of ophthalmologists feel fairly compensated. Despite that, 75% said that their salary matches or exceeds what they need to care for their family.

Factors That Affect Ophthalmologist Salary

With such a wide salary range, you may be wondering what factors affect the expected salary of an ophthalmologist.

Years of Experience

Medscape’s 2025 Residents Salary & Debt Report shows that the average pay for a medical resident is $68,000 in the first year.

This number jumps slightly each year and ends up being $79,000 in the last year.

Once you finish the residency, you should expect your salary range to increase the more years you spend on the job.

Years of experience have one of the strongest impacts on ophthalmologist salary growth.

Location

Just as where you live impacts your cost of living, it can also increase your hourly wage.

When it comes to medical job titles, the demand for your specialty in a certain location can also increase your average base salary.

In certain states, ophthalmologists earn more on average than in other states.

Top-Paying States

According to ZipRecruiter, the best-paid ophthalmologists live in these states:

• Washington
• District of Columbia
• New York
• Massachussets
• Alaska

Granted, the average salaries they list are lower than some of the compensation data gathered from other sources, yet definitvely higher than the overall average nationwide from the same source

But at the very least, it offers an idea of where to look for the best pay.

Lowest-Paying States

That same table lists these states as the lowest-paying states for ophthalmologists:

• Louisiana
• Georgia
• Arkansas
• West Virginia
• Florida

Related: Ophthalmologist Salary by Country

How Practice Type Impacts Ophthalmologist Salary

According to Physician Side Gigs, ophthalmologists who work for an academic hospital earn $384,000 on average.

Physicians working for a group practice that is not backed by private equity earn an average of $544,000.

Physicians working for a private equity backed group practice earn the most, at an average of $692,000. This is an average of 27% more for the PE-backed group vs the non-PE group practice.

Regardless, this data confirms that you can make more money by working in private practice.

But starting a practice is a big decision and should be weighed very carefully (although we have a guide to starting your own ophthalmology practice that will help).

Hospitals have the highest demand for many medical specialties and are usually the easiest places to start out.

The amount they pay doctors depends on their overall revenue.

According to a 2025 study published in the Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons, nonsurgical physicians employed by hospitals earn around $209,000 annually, while those in private practice earn up to 35% more, averaging $282,000 per year.

Surgical specialists in hospital settings earn about $319,000, whereas those working in outpatient clinics average $385,000, the highest mean among all practice settings.

While this study did not analyze ophthalmologists specifically,it supports the pattern that ophthalmologist salary is typically higher in outpatient or private-practice settings.

Additional Ways to Increase Your Income as an Ophthalmologist

Here are strategies to help increase your ophthalmologist salary beyond your base pay.

Here are some strategies:

Buy an Office Building

If you are self-employed, create a passive income stream by purchasing a medical office building and renting out the extra spaces.

Not only will you earn money, but you will also save money on rental payments.

Practice a Subspeciality

You may find that you can charge more if you develop a niche or specialize in one of the subspecialties of ophthalmology, such as pediatrics or oculoplastics.

The average ophthalmologist is considered a “comprehensive ophthalmologist.”

These physicians provide general eye care and treat common conditions like glaucoma and cataracts.

Ophthalmology subspecialists attend an extra year of fellowship where they learn procedures specific to certain parts of the eye (cornea, retina, etc).

Having the skills to treat less common eye conditions could help you increase your salary.

Embrace Bonuses

Every ophthalmologist should take advantage of bonus opportunities. According to Medscape, the average incentive bonus for an ophthalmologist is around $100,000 per year, this is up from $87,000 as reported the previous year.

You can even get a hefty one-time signing bonus through a new employment contract.

Of course, you may have to do some negotiating to get this type of offer.

Learn how to do this through our guide: How to Ask For a Signing Bonus

How to Negotiate Your Ophthalmology Employment Contract

Speaking of negotiations, one of the best ways to ensure that your annual salary meets your expectations is to negotiate your employment contract to reflect those numbers.

Of course, you can’t expect negotiations to go exactly as you please—there must be some compromise.

One way to ensure that you are getting a fair deal from your employment contract is to have your contract reviewed by a professional team of lawyers and accountants.

These professionals can protect you from unfair contract terms.

They will ensure the contract is complete and that all terms are clearly defined:

• Yearly salary, benefits, and bonuses
• Duties, on-call hours, and any other responsibilities
• Potential partnership agreements
• Effective dates
• Restrictive covenants
• Details of termination
• Malpractice insurance requirements

It’s important to have your employment contract reviewed whenever any changes are made to them.

This includes when you are entering or renewing a contract, of course.

It also includes leaving a contract, renegotiating a contract, changing your compensation and benefits package, or becoming a partner in the company.

We want to ensure that you receive fair compensation. Learn about our contract review and negotiation services here.

Ophthalmologists and Their Student Loan Debt

Ophthalmologists carry a heavy burden of student loan debt. The steps to financial independence include paying these loans off as quickly and efficiently as possible.

There are several options that any physician can take advantage of, the most popular being employer-sponsored loan forgiveness.

This can be very helpful for cutting down your debt and working your way towards an early retirement.

If you aren’t lucky enough to find an employer that offers this incentive, you still have options that can significantly reduce your student loan debt or at least make it more affordable to pay them each month.

Learn all about how to do this in our Full Breakdown of Medical School Student Loans.

Disability Insurance to Protect Your Ophthalmologist Salary

As you begin to reach milestones in your medical career, you need to take steps to protect your ophthalmologist’s salary and ensure that all your hard work is rewarded.

Unfortunately, as much as we try to stay safe and care for our health, illness and injury can befall us all.

This is where a strong disability insurance policy saves the day.

In the event that a disability prevents you from earning an income, your policy will allow you to pay your bills and maintain the quality of living you’re accustomed to.

However, disability policies include many definitions and clauses, and they all have different terms.

Before you buy, make sure you understand the different types of disability insurance so you can pick the right one for you.

Learn more in our Full Guide to Disability Insurance.

As you inspect your patients’ corneas and retinas, it’s also important to review your career path and ensure to update your knowledge you are reach your earning potential.

Work With Physicians Thrive

As you gain experience and skills, your income should increase accordingly.

But wherever you are in your career, there are steps you can take to increase your salary. There’s no sense in earning less than you deserve or putting your hard-earned money at risk.

To see how the field is evolving and what opportunities lie ahead, explore our latest insights in The Future of Ophthalmology.

With a team of financial advisors on your side, you don’t have to worry about it.

Our team helps ensure your ophthalmologist salary reflects your skills, experience, and value.

Contact us today.

Subscribe to our email newsletter for expert tips about finances, insurance, employment contracts, and more!