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Ophthalmic Salary in the United States

How much does an Ophthalmic make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ophthalmic in the United States is $335,502 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $161.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $403,090
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $314,726 to $370,880
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $295,811
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Ophthalmic Salaries

An Ophthalmic'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 Ophthalmic Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Ophthalmic'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): $324,856
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $326,346
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $327,836
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $329,921
  • Expert (over 8 years): $335,502
Levels Salary
Entry Level Ophthalmic$324,856
Intermediate Level Ophthalmic$326,346
Senior Level Ophthalmic$327,836
Specialist Level Ophthalmic$329,921
Expert Level Ophthalmic$335,502
View as Graph

How Do Ophthalmic 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 Ophthalmics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $371,468.
  • California: $370,059.
  • Massachusetts: $365,127.

Top Paying Cities for Ophthalmics

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: $423,169
  • San Francisco: $418,535
  • Oakland: $409,715

What Skills Can Increase an Ophthalmic'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 an Ophthalmic'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 $389,182
16%
Collaboration $365,697
9%
Consulting $365,697
9%
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Ophthalmic Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ophthalmic 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, Ophthalmic positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Ophthalmic as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Ophthalmic

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$469,703$226.040%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$385,827$185.015%

How Education impacts an Ophthalmic's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ophthalmics 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 an Ophthalmic with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $319,280 and $346,739).

Ophthalmic Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ophthalmic
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

Ophthalmic Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ophthalmic'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
$314,726
Average $335,502/year
$370,880
$26,227
Average $27,959/month
$30,907
$6,052
Average $6,452/week
$7,132
$151
Average $161/hour
$178
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $370,880 $30,907 $7,132 $178
Average $335,502 $27,959 $6,452 $161
25th Percentile $314,726 $26,227 $6,052 $151

Most common benefits for Ophthalmic

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

Common company salaries for Ophthalmic

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

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FAQ about Ophthalmic

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Ophthalmic?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Ophthalmic 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.

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