How much does an ophthalmologist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $144.27 an hour or $25,010 a month.
- Hourly
- $144.27
- Average (mean)
- $304,700
- Jobs
- 8,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $100,200 | $48.16 | |
| 25th | $173,700 | $83.49 | |
| Median | $300,100 | $144.27 | |
| 75th | $421,500 | $202.66 | |
| 90th | $489,700 | $235.44 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Rhode Island | $450,400 |
| New Hampshire | $404,300 |
| California | $400,200 |
| Florida | $399,400 |
| Iowa | $394,900 |
| Georgia | $382,900 |
| Minnesota | $372,200 |
| New York | $360,100 |
| Nevada | $345,600 |
| Maine | $337,900 |
| Oregon | $334,500 |
| Massachusetts | $325,200 |
| Texas | $323,000 |
| Alabama | $305,200 |
| Washington | $304,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $304,300 |
| Colorado | $288,100 |
| Illinois | $284,600 |
| Ohio | $271,300 |
| Arkansas | $259,300 |
| Vermont | $258,900 |
| Tennessee | $231,000 |
| Missouri | $228,400 |
| Oklahoma | $215,800 |
| South Carolina | $214,200 |
| Wisconsin | $213,900 |
| South Dakota | $212,000 |
| Maryland | $211,800 |
| Utah | $188,500 |
| Michigan | $179,700 |
| Virginia | $177,400 |
| Indiana | $168,600 |
| Louisiana | $155,300 |
| Kentucky | $101,900 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $700,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $433,500 |
| San Francisco, CA | $429,100 |
| Atlanta, GA | $412,900 |
| Providence, RI | $399,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $389,500 |
| Worcester, MA | $387,800 |
| Dallas, TX | $360,000 |
| Portland, ME | $337,900 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $332,700 |
| Boston, MA | $325,200 |
| Houston, TX | $320,500 |
| New York, NY | $302,400 |
| Allentown, PA | $298,400 |
| Chicago, IL | $284,600 |
In other countries
Ophthalmologist belongs to the international group "Generalist medical practitioners".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Anesthesiologist$391,500
- Cardiologist$496,000
- Dermatologist$328,700
- Emergency Medicine Physician$335,600
- Family Medicine Physician$244,200
- General Internal Medicine Physician$256,600
- Neurologist$248,600
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist$292,900
- Pediatrician$210,000
- Physician$312,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does an ophthalmologist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $144.27 ($300,100 a year).
How much does an ophthalmologist make a month?
About $25,010 a month before tax, based on a median of $300,100 a year.
How much does an ophthalmologist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $100,200 or less a year ($48.16 an hour); the top 10% make $489,700 or more.
Which state pays ophthalmologists the most?
Rhode Island, with a median of $450,400 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($404,300) and California ($400,200).
Which city pays ophthalmologists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $700,900 a year.
How many ophthalmologists are there in the United States?
About 8,950 people work as ophthalmologists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.