Pay, location & work-life context
Ophthalmology Salary Map by State (2026)
Median ophthalmology pay across 5 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $312,500.
Highest median
Minnesota
$517,500
Best real purchasing power
Minnesota
$524,736 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
Illinois
5.7/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Ophthalmology pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $517,500 | $524,736 | $473,050 | 5.6/10 | 9 |
| Washington | $449,685 | $420,215 | $420,215 | 4.3/10 | 14 |
| Illinois | $414,000 | $414,174 | $393,672 | 5.7/10 | 7 |
| New York | $300,000 | $277,981 | $258,939 | 4.5/10 | 12 |
| Maryland | $149,261 | $142,209 | $134,032 | 2.5/10 | 13 |
Common questions
Which state pays ophthalmology physicians the most?
Minnesota currently has the highest median ophthalmology salary at $517,500, based on 9 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax ophthalmology pay?
Minnesota currently leads the take-home view at $473,050 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust ophthalmology salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best ophthalmology lifestyle scores?
Illinois currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (5.7/10, higher is better) for ophthalmology listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Ophthalmology salary page.