Market & Income

[Raheem]

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Does anyone know where I can find reliable information about the job market and income prospets for ophthalmologists? I am strongly considered the field, but I definitely need to learn more about my prospects before I apply next year.

Its been pretty difficult to find any information on the business/financial side of this specialty. I am particularly worried because I even know a woman who just took a job as a general ophthalmologist starting at $90,000(!).

I'd really appreciate any help you guys could offer...

 

[rotty1021]

Raheem, an experienced Opthalmologist told me to avoid Optho due to lousy income prospects in the future. He claims that insurance company battles are abundant in private practice Optho and this is making the field's incomes dwindle. I'm not sure if he was just fed up with the whole insurance system, or if he was telling the truth. The AAO listed some starting jobs in Optho; look there for job prospects. http://www.aao.org

 

[scrub monkey]

one of the residents i talked to said that starting income for a general ophthalmologist is around 100k in most cities. this was a bit surprising for me too since i thought ophthalmology paid a little better.

 

[medstud721]

Here are the facts presented at this years American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

All salaries you are hearing are "base" salaries--that's only part of the story for the field of ophthalmology. Because it is very rare to "hang a shingle" in this field, many people join preexisting practices and are paid base salary(guarantee) + bonus(relatively easily to obtain based on production)

Average BASE starting salary for general ophthalmologist:
$150,000 stand dev. $41,000
Average bonus for 1st year ophthalmologist
$30,000 stand dev $10,000

Thus, a "decent" general ophthalmologist can make $180,000 to $200,000 first year out no sweat.

Average salary at five years(general ophthalmology)

$272,000 standard dev. $100,000

Retina specialist

$547,000 standard dev $220,000

Most ophthalmologists I've talked to have confidence that optho will continue to be a great field in the years to come--baby boomers, refractive, etc and are happy folks(my brother is one of them).

Also, remember the average ophthalmologist has almost no call and works 4 and a half days a week

I'll take $300,000 for that!

medstud(prior ENT resident now ophtho)