Salary AI Book a Demo

General Ophthalmologist Salary in the United States

How much does a General Ophthalmologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Ophthalmologist in the United States is $340,388 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $164.

However, a General Ophthalmologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $408,960
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $319,308 to $376,281
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $300,116
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence General Ophthalmologist Salaries

A General Ophthalmologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects General Ophthalmologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a General Ophthalmologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $329,586
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $331,098
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $332,609
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $334,726
  • Expert (over 8 years): $340,388
Levels Salary
Entry Level General Ophthalmologist$329,586
Intermediate Level General Ophthalmologist$331,098
Senior Level General Ophthalmologist$332,609
Specialist Level General Ophthalmologist$334,726
Expert Level General Ophthalmologist$340,388
View as Graph

How Do General Ophthalmologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract General Ophthalmologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $376,878.
  • California: $375,448.
  • Massachusetts: $370,444.

Top Paying Cities for General Ophthalmologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $429,331
  • San Francisco: $424,631
  • Oakland: $415,682

What Skills Can Increase a General Ophthalmologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 3.98% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Wound Care (Mentioned in 5.42% Job Postings): Decontaminating medical equipment and instruments from harmful microorganisms to avoid transmission of infectious pathogens to patients.
  • Medical Education (Mentioned in 3.18% Job Postings): Medical education is a course of study directed toward imparting knowledge and skills required for the prevention and treatment of diseases to persons seeking to become physicians.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 3.98%
Wound Care 5.42%
Medical Education 3.18%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a General Ophthalmologist's salary.

  • Geriatrics: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Geriatrics $394,850
16%
Collaboration $371,023
9%
Consulting $371,023
9%
Get Latest Data

General Ophthalmologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For General Ophthalmologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, General Ophthalmologist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view General Ophthalmologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a General Ophthalmologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$476,543$229.040%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$391,446$188.015%

How Education impacts a General Ophthalmologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many General Ophthalmologists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a General Ophthalmologist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $319,280 and $346,739).

General Ophthalmologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for General Ophthalmologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.7%
High School 2.7%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 97.3%
View as Graph

General Ophthalmologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a General Ophthalmologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$319,308
Average $340,388/year
$376,281
$26,609
Average $28,366/month
$31,357
$6,141
Average $6,546/week
$7,236
$154
Average $164/hour
$181
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $376,281 $31,357 $7,236 $181
Average $340,388 $28,366 $6,546 $164
25th Percentile $319,308 $26,609 $6,141 $154

Most common benefits for General Ophthalmologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for General Ophthalmologist

Here are companies hiring for General Ophthalmologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next General Ophthalmologist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current General Ophthalmologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about General Ophthalmologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for General Ophthalmologist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for General Ophthalmologist roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst