Healthcare
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$300,080
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$100k – $490k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Education
Typical entry: Doctorate / professional (MD, JD, PhD)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Entry / Junior
$100,180
~2 yrs to advance
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Established
$300,080
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Senior
$394,895
Key skills
A typical day
- •Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
- •Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
- •Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
- •Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
- •Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Healthcare
Explore all- Johns Hopkins University7% admit · $93,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- Duke University6% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.