Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric: Career Profile
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.
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What Tasks Do Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of ophthalmologists, except pediatric span:
- 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.
- Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
- Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
- Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective ophthalmologists, except pediatric rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Clinical Ophthalmologist
- Cornea Specialist
- Cornea and External Disease Physician
- Glaucoma Specialist
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Neuro-Ophthalmologist
- Oculoplastic Specialist
- Ophthalmic Surgeon
Job Outlook
There are roughly 2,543,971 ophthalmologists, except pediatric working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +5.2% over the projection horizon.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $90,102 |
| Hourly median | $43.32 |
| 10th percentile | $56,375 |
| 25th percentile | $73,239 |
| 75th percentile | $106,966 |
| 90th percentile | $123,830 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $218,770 |
| Maryland | $218,490 |
| Wisconsin | $214,690 |
| Louisiana | $212,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $208,060 |
| Oklahoma | $208,000 |
| South Carolina | $206,450 |
| Vermont | $205,130 |
| Alabama | $181,490 |
| South Dakota | $174,160 |
| Utah | $168,530 |
Where Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Earn the Most
Pay for ophthalmologists, except pediatric shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $53,220 | 2.2% | 0.53 |
| Great Lakes | $42,633 | 16.0% | 0.94 |
| Middle Atlantic | $41,098 | 18.4% | 1.11 |
| Southeast | $14,746 | 20.7% | 1.41 |
| Plains States | $10,662 | 5.6% | 1.01 |
| New England | $10,256 | 9.1% | 1.97 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $224,340 | 90 |
| Columbus, OH | OH | $222,280 | |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $218,490 | 230 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $215,060 | 100 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | WI | $214,690 | 110 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $213,490 | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $211,550 | |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | MO | $210,990 |
Which Industries Hire Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Most ophthalmologists, except pediatric work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,800 | n/a |
| Retail Trade | 150 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 120 | $80,000 |
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric work in the following industries:
Software Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Use
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of ophthalmologists, except pediatric reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
Education and Training
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Optometrists (Primary-Short)
- Podiatrists (Supplemental)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Short)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for ophthalmologists, except pediatric typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
2 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric).
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