Working w a ophthalmologist?

[UTaustin90]

How much can ODs expect to get paid when working in a priv practice with a ophthalmologist?


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[Tippytoe]

How much can ODs expect to get paid when working in a priv practice with a ophthalmologist?


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1/3 of what the ophthalmologist is making. So about $80,000 seeing 30+ patients per day.

 

[blazenmadison]

1/3 of what the ophthalmologist is making. So about $80,000 seeing 30+ patients per day.

Have you ever worked with an ophthalmologist?

Every OD that works for an MD I know of (including myself), makes a pretty decent salary with no worries of overhead/practice management and practice at a higher scope of practice than most ODs. You obviously make more money if you own your practice.

Salary is usually in the 115+ range + benefits (vacation/CE/license/etc.).

 

[Jason K]

It really depends on what you're doing for the office and where you practice. ODs who are refraction jockeys and see no pathology in an MD setting are not likely to be taking in 6 figures for salary. Those who have more responsibility might get those kinds of numbers once they're employed for a number of years.

I know about 10 ODs who work for MDs and while a few of them are in that range, once their bonus is added in, most of them are in the 90-100K range for salary.

Starting salary for new ODs in an MD setting is not likely to be much higher than in an OD setting, but MDs are much more likely to able to hire a FT doc. There aren't many OD private offices that can justify the expense of adding a FT doc, especially with benefits. If you're a solo OD and you want to expand, it's too much of gamble to lay out 90-100K for a salaried OD w/benefits.

What's more important to realize is that we're on here discussing the prospects for current students and new grads, not experienced ODs. As the oversupply issue mounts, the value of an OD will continue to drop and hiring MDs and ODs will be able to offer lower and lower salaries. Effectively, the salary values themselves will not necessarily drop, but they will stay the same while inflation climbs and climbs.

Anyone know what the starting salary was in 1995 for a new OD? It's about the same as it is today. Furthermore, the oversupply problem is imeasureably worse now than it was back then. I can only cringe to think what the situation will be like in another 15 or 20 years when all these current newbies are out in practice. It's disturbing to see all the waste that's taking place - not to be discovered until it's far too late to do anything about it.

 

[Tippytoe]

This survey will give you an idea:

http://www.ophthalmologymanagement.com/articleviewer.aspx?articleID=101494
Most of the OD I know working for OMDs are in the "low to average" scale and this is certainly to be the norm in the future with greater oversupply. The avg in this article (from 2008 so it might even be lower now-- is about $85,000). And you will be busting your butt all day long for that money and the "glory" of working for (not with) an OMD.

And while you're on the Ophthalmology Management website, you might as well type in 'optometrist' in the search box and read all the nice stories of OMDs talking about "their OD" like they are talking about their dog or little slave boy.

Not all of the stories come across that way.....but an awful lot do.

In a nutshell, OMDs are against ODs if they aren't working for them. If they can get an OD to be their super tech (ie. have them under their control) and increase their earnings, they think ODs are great. Funny.

 

[hello07]

The ODs that work for ophthalmology practice average salary in the NorthEast is 90-115,000. Don't expect to be paid big buck anymore than what I just mentioned. You will not be sitting around waiting for pts to walk thru the door. You will be constantly busy anywhere from 30-45 pts. You have to be on top of your game work fast and efficiently.
The ODs I've known to work for OMDs -no free ride. You bust your butt w volume. And no, you don't get the big buck 225-300,000 like they do. TRUST ME

 

[Shnurek]

http://www.ophthalmologymanagement.com/articleviewer.aspx?articleID=102179

 

[Dusn]

The ODs that work for ophthalmology practice average salary in the NorthEast is 90-115,000.


I would say that the starting salary of most OMDs working for another OMD in the northeast is about the same or only slightly more (and the slightly higher salary is more than made up for by the having to take all of the hospital call and most of the practice call for the older ophthalmologist).

I don't think the main underlying issue here is an OMD vs OD issue. It's more about owning your own business.

 

[CMM83]

I worked with ophthalmology for two years out of school and enjoyed it. I practiced primary care while one MD was a corneal/cataract specialist and the other a retinal specialist. We complemented each other nicely. I recall making a bit over $100K; M-Th were full days, F was a half day and I did two half-day Saturdays per month. Great learning experience out of school--better than a residency in my opinion.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

I know about 10 ODs who work for MDs and while a few of them are in that range, once their bonus is added in, most of them are in the 90-100K range for salary.

Agreed. Salary will be between $90-110K and that's including bonus etc. But as was already stressed, the volume will have you seeing much more patients than at an OD practice. And be expected to do grunt work for the MD (refractions, retinoscopy, patient counseling, measurements, etc).