Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologist Job Description

The job description of an ophthalmologist is one who cares for a patient’s eyes. They normally perform eye exams to ensure the health of the eyes. They need to be able to identify irregularities, treat injuries, and prescribe both glasses and contact lenses for patients. The career field of ophthalmology also includes those doctors who do corrective surgery. Some even go on to do delicate and complex eye surgeries. The term ophthalmologist also covers specialists in certain areas such as Glaucoma, cornea problems, neuroophthalmology, ophthalmic plastic surgery, ophthalmic pathology, and pediatric ophthalmology.

Ophthalmologist Salary Statistics as of 2015

Average annual salary for a Ophthalmologist is $195987 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest salary recorded was $338322. The lowest salary was $97591. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Median hourly wage for a Ophthalmologist is $97.46 based on statistics in the U.S. as of 2015. The highest hourly rate recorded was $168.24. The lowest hourly rate recorded was $48.53. These figures will vary on a state to state basis as these are averages across all 50 states.

Bonuses for a Ophthalmologist are based on the years of experience using statistics from the U.S. as of 2015. The average bonus recorded was $0 from people with 15+ years of experience. The average bonus recorded was $4000 from people with under 1 year of experience.

These are the highest paying states for a Ophthalmologist. These numbers are based of the median annual salary as of 2015.
California – $147,395 – $305,209
Illinois – n/a
Maryland – $171,961 – $264,515
New Jersey – n/a
New York – $126,000 – $250,000
Ohio – $75,000 – $155,000
Virginia – n/a

These are the highest paying cities for a Ophthalmologist. These numbers are based of the median annual salary as of 2015.
Baltimore, Maryland –
Toledo, Ohio –
Chicago, Illinois –
Los Angeles, California –
New York, New York –
Boston, Massachusetts –
Washington, District of Columbia –

This chart outlines the average annual salary of a Ophthalmologist from the past 5 years. In 2015 the average annual salary was $195987 while in 2007 it was just $181754.9

How To Become a Ophthalmologist

The requirements to enter this field of work include earning a degree in medicine at an accredited school and becoming licensed to practice. Two to four years of experience in the field of ophthalmology is usually needed before starting one’s own practice. An ophthalmologist needs to be familiar with standard procedures, concepts, and practices used. During an ophthalmologists career they may need to report regularly to a medical director.

Job Outlook

Current and future job demand for careers in the field of ophthalmology is rising. This can help increase what can be expected as the ophthalmologist salary. There are a few factors that are contributing to this. The main one is that people are living longer. As people age they can experience more problems with their eyes. Many eye concerns are with aging eyes. This increases the need for doctors experienced with these types of problems. Another factor is that more and more insurance companies are including eye care in their policies. This makes it possible for more people to afford going in for regular eye exams. The popularity of many forms of laser eye surgery has also added to the demand for more ophthalmologists. The United States currently has only 19 optometry schools. This really limits the amount of graduates each year in this nation. With so few graduates, there are not enough people to go into the ophthalmology field and fill the need.