Best states for an ophthalmologist

Q: What is the best state for ophthalmologists?

The best state to be an ophthalmologist is West Virginia based on ophthalmologist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for ophthalmologists?

The highest paying state for ophthalmologists is Hawaii based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for ophthalmologists?

The worst state for ophthalmologists is Hawaii, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Ophthalmologist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for ophthalmologists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for ophthalmologists.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of ophthalmologists in America is $423,000.

We figured that the best places for ophthalmologist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that West Virginia is the best state for ophthalmologist jobs, whereas Hawaii is the worst.

10 best states for ophthalmologists in 2025

1. West Virginia
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 20
Average annual salary: $192,126
Lowest 10 percent earn: $135,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $273,000
Location Quotient:
1.52
Ophthalmologist jobs in West Virginia
2. Minnesota
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 70
Average annual salary: $196,146
Lowest 10 percent earn: $138,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $277,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Ophthalmologist jobs in Minnesota
3. Nebraska
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 35
Average annual salary: $189,693
Lowest 10 percent earn: $131,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $273,000
Location Quotient:
1.82
Ophthalmologist jobs in Nebraska
4. Alaska
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $208,993
Lowest 10 percent earn: $152,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $287,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Ophthalmologist jobs in Alaska
5. Wyoming
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $190,121
Lowest 10 percent earn: $131,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $274,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Ophthalmologist jobs in Wyoming
6. Kentucky
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 31
Average annual salary: $193,474
Lowest 10 percent earn: $136,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $274,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Ophthalmologist jobs in Kentucky
7. South Dakota
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $191,095
Lowest 10 percent earn: $132,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $274,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Ophthalmologist jobs in South Dakota
8. North Dakota
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 5
Average annual salary: $201,062
Lowest 10 percent earn: $143,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $281,000
Location Quotient:
0.62
Ophthalmologist jobs in North Dakota
9. Montana
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $195,102
Lowest 10 percent earn: $136,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $277,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Ophthalmologist jobs in Montana
10. Iowa
Total ophthalmologist jobs: 37
Average annual salary: $181,425
Lowest 10 percent earn: $123,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $266,000
Location Quotient:
1.18
Ophthalmologist jobs in Iowa

Ophthalmologist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an ophthalmologist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an ophthalmologist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	West Virginia	$192,126	$135,000	1,815,857	20
2	Minnesota	$196,146	$138,000	5,576,606	70
3	Nebraska	$189,693	$131,000	1,920,076	35
4	Alaska	$208,993	$152,000	739,795	7
5	Wyoming	$190,121	$131,000	579,315	6
6	Kentucky	$193,474	$136,000	4,454,189	31
7	South Dakota	$191,095	$132,000	869,666	9
8	North Dakota	$201,062	$143,000	755,393	5
9	Montana	$195,102	$136,000	1,050,493	9
10	Iowa	$181,425	$123,000	3,145,711	37
11	Colorado	$192,105	$134,000	5,607,154	55
12	Missouri	$193,728	$136,000	6,113,532	36
13	Wisconsin	$177,867	$120,000	5,795,483	95
14	Pennsylvania	$181,131	$124,000	12,805,537	94
15	Indiana	$178,326	$120,000	6,666,818	56
16	Utah	$182,462	$124,000	3,101,833	23
17	Ohio	$181,189	$123,000	11,658,609	47
18	Alabama	$177,930	$120,000	4,874,747	36
19	Idaho	$181,915	$123,000	1,716,943	11
20	Oregon	$179,116	$120,000	4,142,776	37
21	Washington	$188,162	$129,000	7,405,743	39
22	Vermont	$173,282	$115,000	623,657	14
23	Georgia	$178,994	$122,000	10,429,379	74
24	South Carolina	$174,883	$118,000	5,024,369	55
25	New York	$177,260	$120,000	19,849,399	155
26	Kansas	$174,681	$117,000	2,913,123	26
27	Oklahoma	$178,689	$121,000	3,930,864	13
28	Illinois	$179,823	$122,000	12,802,023	84
29	Connecticut	$175,003	$118,000	3,588,184	53
30	Mississippi	$176,570	$119,000	2,984,100	13
31	Maryland	$176,633	$119,000	6,052,177	76
32	Michigan	$176,077	$118,000	9,962,311	40
33	New Hampshire	$173,905	$116,000	1,342,795	15
34	Louisiana	$168,686	$112,000	4,684,333	44
35	Massachusetts	$174,333	$117,000	6,859,819	82
36	Tennessee	$169,845	$113,000	6,715,984	45
37	North Carolina	$170,664	$114,000	10,273,419	80
38	Maine	$165,885	$108,000	1,335,907	20
39	New Mexico	$160,101	$103,000	2,088,070	43
40	Delaware	$176,228	$119,000	961,939	6
41	Rhode Island	$174,480	$117,000	1,059,639	3
42	Virginia	$170,633	$114,000	8,470,020	76
43	Arizona	$157,957	$102,000	7,016,270	71
44	District of Columbia	$176,608	$119,000	693,972	4
45	Florida	$161,702	$105,000	20,984,400	163
46	Arkansas	$167,934	$111,000	3,004,279	14
47	California	$167,673	$110,000	39,536,653	231
48	New Jersey	$169,392	$112,000	9,005,644	49
49	Nevada	$166,982	$109,000	2,998,039	9
50	Texas	$158,511	$102,000	28,304,596	149
51	Hawaii	$123,943	$70,000	1,427,538	0

Highest paying states for ophthalmologists

Rank	State	Avg. Ophthalmologist Salary
1	West Virginia	$192,126
2	Minnesota	$196,146
3	Nebraska	$189,693
4	Alaska	$208,993
5	Wyoming	$190,121
6	Kentucky	$193,474
7	South Dakota	$191,095
8	North Dakota	$201,062
9	Montana	$195,102
10	Iowa	$181,425
11	Colorado	$192,105
12	Missouri	$193,728
13	Wisconsin	$177,867
14	Pennsylvania	$181,131
15	Indiana	$178,326
16	Utah	$182,462
17	Ohio	$181,189
18	Alabama	$177,930
19	Idaho	$181,915
20	Oregon	$179,116
21	Washington	$188,162
22	Vermont	$173,282
23	Georgia	$178,994
24	South Carolina	$174,883
25	New York	$177,260
26	Kansas	$174,681
27	Oklahoma	$178,689
28	Illinois	$179,823
29	Connecticut	$175,003
30	Mississippi	$176,570
31	Maryland	$176,633
32	Michigan	$176,077
33	New Hampshire	$173,905
34	Louisiana	$168,686
35	Massachusetts	$174,333
36	Tennessee	$169,845
37	North Carolina	$170,664
38	Maine	$165,885
39	New Mexico	$160,101
40	Delaware	$176,228
41	Rhode Island	$174,480
42	Virginia	$170,633
43	Arizona	$157,957
44	District of Columbia	$176,608
45	Florida	$161,702
46	Arkansas	$167,934
47	California	$167,673
48	New Jersey	$169,392
49	Nevada	$166,982
50	Texas	$158,511
51	Hawaii	$123,943

Ophthalmologist best states FAQs

What is the best state for ophthalmologists?

What is the highest paying state for ophthalmologists?

What is the worst state for ophthalmologists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Ophthalmologist
Best states for Ophthalmologists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total ophthalmologist jobs:	20
Average annual salary:	$192,126
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$135,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$273,000
Location Quotient:	1.52

Best states for an ophthalmologist

10 best states for ophthalmologists in 2025

1. West Virginia

2. Minnesota

3. Nebraska

4. Alaska

5. Wyoming

6. Kentucky

7. South Dakota

8. North Dakota

9. Montana

10. Iowa