Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between ophthalmic photographers and freelance photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an ophthalmic photographer and a freelance photographer. Additionally, an ophthalmic photographer has an average salary of $51,409, which is higher than the $42,949 average annual salary of a freelance photographer.
The top three skills for an ophthalmic photographer include patients, patient care and visual fields. The most important skills for a freelance photographer are adobe photoshop, aperture, and adobe lightroom.
| Ophthalmic Photographer | Freelance Photographer | |
| Yearly salary | $51,409 | $42,949 |
| Hourly rate | $24.72 | $20.65 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 2,781 | 1,766 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An Ophthalmic Photographer utilizes specialized imaging equipment to take detailed eye photos, which plays a significant role in helping ophthalmologists in diagnosing and treating eye disorders. Aside from operating the camera and microscope, they also assist the clients during the procedure, helping them understand the process and instructing them on what to do, all while making them feel comfortable every step of the way. Moreover, an Ophthalmic Photographer processes the images, developing them according to standards and protocols.
A freelance photographer produces photos while under a specific short-term contract. They are primarily responsible for coordinating with the client to learn any requests or preferences, bringing necessary devices and lighting equipment, securing the best location and setting, handling any obstruction during the photoshoot, and delivering high-quality results in a short amount of time. Moreover, a photographer must maintain a healthy working environment with clients or models by building rapport, which will also help establish a client base.
Ophthalmic photographers and freelance photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Ophthalmic Photographer | Freelance Photographer | |
| Average salary | $51,409 | $42,949 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $72,000 | Between $29,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an ophthalmic photographer and a freelance photographer in terms of educational background:
| Ophthalmic Photographer | Freelance Photographer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | Duke University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between ophthalmic photographers' and freelance photographers' demographics:
| Ophthalmic Photographer | Freelance Photographer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.0% Female, 60.0% | Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |