Vocational Index

Career

Ophthalmologists, except pediatric

Treat eye disease and perform eye surgery.

$300,080
Median pay
+4.5%
Job growth, 2025–35
200
Openings a year
Doctoral or professional degree
Typical education
7–8 years
Typical time after high school

Here's what you actually need to know.

The work

What people in this job do

  • 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.

The outlook

How the forecast changed this year

2024–34 edition+4.3%2025–35 edition+4.5%
Projected 10-year growth in last year's and this year's BLS projections. 300 → 200 openings a year.

The deeper question

What kind of person does this path ask you to become?

What this work centers on

Ideas & analysis
6.2
People & care
5.5
Objects & tools
4.4
Information & systems
3.7
Persuasion & leadership
3.0
Creation & expression
1.7

O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.

The work

Do you want most of your days spent on ideas & analysis, then people & care?

Responsibility

Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?

“Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.”

Development

What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?

Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Writing.

Trade-offs

What does it ask of you in exchange?

7–8 years of education after high school (doctoral or professional degree), for a median of $300,080 a year and 200 openings nationally each year.

Paths in

Degrees that lead here

  • MedicineCIP 51.1201
  • Osteopathic Medicine/OsteopathyCIP 51.1202
  • Ophthalmology Residency ProgramCIP 61.1401
  • Ophthalmology Residency/Fellowship Programs, OtherCIP 61.1499

Paths across

Careers that use similar skills

Ask anything about this career.

“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.

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Sources

  1. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  2. BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  3. O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  4. CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.