Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$300,080
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$144.27
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$489,710
entry level starts ~$100,180
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 9,000 employed

How much does an Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric make?

An Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric earns a median annual salary of $300,080 in the United States, which works out to roughly $144.27 per hour for full-time work. Most Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric earn between $100,180 at the entry level and $489,710 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $173,650 and $421,530 a year.

That is $238,690 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric salary range by percentile

Half of all Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric earn between $173,650 and $421,530 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$100,180$48.16
25th percentile (early career)$173,650$83.49
50th percentile (median)$300,080$144.27
75th percentile (experienced)$421,530$202.66
90th percentile (top earners)$489,710$235.44

Highest-paying states for Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Rhode Island leads the country for Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric pay at $450,370 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($404,330) and California ($400,150). At the other end, Kentucky posts the lowest median at $101,940 — a gap of $348,430 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Rhode Island$450,370$216.52+50%
2New Hampshire$404,330$194.39+35%
3California$400,150$192.38+33%
4Florida$399,440$192.04+33%
5Iowa$394,900$189.86+32%

Workforce and education

About 9,000 people work as Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric make in the United States?
The median Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric salary in the United States is $300,080 per year, or about $144.27 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $100,180, while the top 10% of earners make $489,710 or more.
How does Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric median of $300,080 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric the most?
Rhode Island is the highest-paying state for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric, with a median salary of $450,370 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric?
Becoming an Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric work in the United States?
About 9,000 people were employed as Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.