Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary in the U.S.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric in the U.S. earn a median of $300,080 a year ($144.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $489,710 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $304,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,180 | $48.16 |
| 25th percentile | $173,650 | $83.49 |
| Median | $300,080 | $144.27 |
| 75th percentile | $421,530 | $202.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $489,710 | $235.44 |
| Average (mean) | $304,650 | $146.47 |
Half of ophthalmologists, except pediatric earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $25,006.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $12,503.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $11,541.54 |
| Weekly | $5,770.77 |
| Hourly | $144.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $450,370 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $404,330 | 50 |
| California | $400,150 | 820 |
| Florida | $399,440 | 580 |
| Iowa | $394,900 | 90 |
| Georgia | $382,920 | 120 |
| Minnesota | $372,200 | 180 |
| New York | $360,050 | 960 |
| Nevada | $345,600 | n/a |
| Maine | $337,850 | 90 |
| Oregon | $334,450 | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $325,200 | 450 |
| Texas | $323,010 | n/a |
| Alabama | $305,200 | n/a |
| Washington | $304,830 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $304,290 | 310 |
| Colorado | $288,050 | 100 |
| Illinois | $284,630 | 620 |
| Ohio | $271,270 | 150 |
| Arkansas | $259,320 | 30 |
| Vermont | $258,910 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $231,040 | 230 |
| Missouri | $228,410 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $215,760 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $214,160 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $213,890 | 250 |
| South Dakota | $211,990 | 130 |
| Maryland | $211,770 | 260 |
| Utah | $188,490 | 30 |
| Michigan | $179,720 | 150 |
| Virginia | $177,410 | n/a |
| Indiana | $168,600 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $155,250 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $101,940 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for ophthalmologists, except pediatric
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $700,850 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $433,520 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $429,080 | n/a |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $412,900 | 60 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $399,020 | 200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $389,450 | n/a |
| Worcester, MA | $387,810 | 30 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $359,980 | 210 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $337,850 | 60 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $332,670 | n/a |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $325,200 | 330 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $320,450 | 180 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $302,410 | n/a |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $298,430 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $284,630 | 510 |
Metro areas with the most ophthalmologists, except pediatric
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 510 | $284,630 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 330 | $325,200 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 300 | $239,200+ |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 210 | $359,980 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 200 | $399,020 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 180 | $320,450 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 130 | $210,490 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 120 | $232,300 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 110 | $168,600 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 80 | $218,380 |
| Rapid City, SD | 70 | $211,990 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 60 | $412,900 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 60 | $337,850 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 60 | $700,850 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 40 | $260,000 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1241. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ophthalmologists, except pediatric make in the U.S.?
The median salary for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in the U.S. is $300,080 a year, or $144.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $489,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ophthalmologists, except pediatric make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of ophthalmologists, except pediatric in the U.S. earn at least $489,710 a year. The top 25% earn $421,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for ophthalmologists, except pediatric in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,180 a year, and a quarter of ophthalmologists, except pediatric earn $173,650 or less.
How many ophthalmologists, except pediatric work in the U.S.?
About 8,950 ophthalmologists, except pediatric are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.