Ophthalmologist Salary in the US (2023): Medscape Report Breakdown
Per the Medscape Ophthalmologist Compensation Report 2023, the average annual compensation for U.S. ophthalmologists is $338,000 (including salary, bonus, profit-sharing).
Regional Breakdown
| Region | Average Compensation |
|---|
| Northeast | $371,000 |
| West | $351,000 |
| North Central | $328,000 |
| South Central | $324,000 |
| Southeast | $324,000 |
Key Compensation Drivers
- Subspecialty: Retina/vitreous, cornea/refractive, oculoplastics > comprehensive/general.
- Practice Model: Private practice owners > hospital-employed > academic.
- Surgical Volume: High-volume cataract/LASIK/retina surgeons earn significantly more.
- Ancillary Revenue: Optical shop, ASC ownership, premium IOLs, dry eye clinic, aesthetics.
- Experience: Steady increase first 15–20 years; plateaus/declines near retirement.
Comparison to Other Specialties
- Ophthalmology ranks **mid-high** among 29+ specialties (Medscape 2023: #12 of 29).
- Above: Plastics, Ortho, Cardiology, Derm, Urology, GI, Radiology, Anesthesia.
- Below: ENT, General Surgery, OB/GYN, Neurology, IM, FM, Peds.
Trends
- Consolidation into large groups/PE-backed platforms.
- Increasing ASC ownership (facility fees).
- Tele-ophthalmology growth (screening, follow-up).
- AI-assisted diagnostics (diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma) – efficiency gains.
Data Limitations
- Self-reported, ~1,000 respondents.
- Excludes non-clinical income (consulting, royalties, investments).
- Pre-tax, pre-practice overhead for owners.
Use for benchmarking; individual contracts vary widely based on negotiation, location, and productivity.
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