Are you interested in a career as an ophthalmologist? As skilled medical professionals, ophthalmologists have to undergo a lot of training to qualify as doctors. You could expect to train for up to complete up to 13 years of education to become an ophthalmologist, becoming a licensed doctor by the end of your training.
If becoming an ophthalmologist is something you’re interested in, then you probably have a lot of questions about the job, what it entails, and of course, what the pay is like. Here we give you the lowdown on an ophthalmologist’s salary to help you find the information you need.
What does an ophthalmologist do?
An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions relating to the eye. An ophthalmologist will have undergone years of training to become a licensed medical professional. Ophthalmologists practice medicine and surgery, allowing them to diagnose and treat eye conditions.
Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists or opticians in that they are licensed doctors, having completed medical school and then undergone further training to become eye specialists. They are able to treat problems related to vision and the eye, as well as being able to prescribe glasses and contact lenses.
A typical day for an ophthalmologist can involve performing checkups and eye exams on patients, prescribing eyewear, diagnosing different eye conditions and even performing surgery. Some ophthalmologists also teach medical students, and this can be a significant part of the job for many.
How much do Ophthalmologists Make?
Ophthalmologists are able to make money in numerous ways. After successfully completing all training, they could be employed by a hospital, a private practice, or even set up their own practice.
Treatments come with various price points. A regular eye test, for example, tends to have a standard rate. If surgery was required for a serious condition, in addition to aftercare, then the cost would be significantly more. There could also be additional payments for working evenings/weekends or being on-call.
According to Indeed, the average salary for an ophthalmologist is $202,315. This will be dependent on experience, as well as other factors such as location. The starting salary for an ophthalmologist can be anywhere from $60k upwards.
Pros and cons of being an Ophthalmologist
Becoming an ophthalmologist takes many years, and because of this, you’ll want to make sure it’s the right role for you before you start your training. Understanding the pros and cons of the job can help you learn more about the daily life of an ophthalmologist.
Pros
- Many of the treatments carried out by ophthalmologists provide quick and effective results to patients.
- Flexibility to work full-time, part-time, shift work and other working patterns.
- Constant need and demand for ophthalmologists.
- Continuing advances in treatments make it an interesting and diverse field of medicine.
Cons
- High demand for services can lead to long days of appointments, and frustrations from patients who’ve had to wait longer than expected to be seen.
- It’s a competitive field, with many applicants battling for places each year.
- It can take many years of education and training to become an ophthalmologist.
- There’s a possibility of becoming dissatisfied with such a specialist area of medicine.
All jobs have their pros and cons, and speaking to working ophthalmologists can be one way of gaining some valuable insight into the role and what you can expect.
Highest paying ophthalmologist locations in the US
If you’re wondering how much money does an ophthalmologist make, then the answer could vary depending on the state you choose to live in. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest paying ophthalmologist locations are:
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Maine
- Montana
- Minnesota
Lowest paying ophthalmologist locations in the US
Meanwhile, the lowest-paying ophthalmologist locations in the US are:
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
- Mississipi
- Vermont
- New York
There are a lot of factors that affect how much you can earn as an ophthalmologist. A self-employed ophthalmologist, for example, could earn a higher salary than someone who works for a public hospital.
Working as an ophthalmologist can be a very rewarding element of medicine. Vision is a very important sense, and with the right care and treatment, an ophthalmologist could help preserve a patient’s vision, or reduce the impact of a condition. Many ophthalmologists deal with older patients on a daily basis, helping to treat conditions such as cataracts or controlling glaucoma.
Understanding how much an ophthalmologist makes can provide you with an insight into what your future career could look like. While the pay can vary, there’s no denying that ophthalmologists have an important role to play in the healthcare industry.