How to hire an ophthalmologist

How to hire an ophthalmologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ophthalmologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an ophthalmologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new ophthalmologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an ophthalmologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the ophthalmologist you need to hire. Certain ophthalmologist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An ophthalmologist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, ophthalmologists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of ophthalmologists.

   Type of Ophthalmologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Ophthalmologist	Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests... Show more	$62-203
   Optometrist	A licensed optometrist is primarily responsible for the vision and eye care of clients, treating different conditions such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Their duties mostly revolve around performing eye and vision tests, diagnosing issues, providing consultations, prescribing corrective glasses and lenses, and educating clients on proper eye care methods... Show more	$45-179

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Ophthalmology
   • Surgery
   • Patient Care
   • Glaucoma
   • EMR
   • Diagnosis
   • YAG
   • Private Practice
   • Surgical Procedures
   • OCT
   • DR
   • Visual Fields
   • Exam Rooms

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Process medical and insurance claims, medical billing, CPT 4 and ICD 9 coding.
   • Perform tests: visual acuity, color vision, visual field, eye pressure, dilation, and OCT.
   • Work with EHR program, EMA.
   • Co-Manage cataracts, PRK/LASIK, DSEK, DMEK, and PTK.
   • Assist in diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
   • Comply with HIPAA and various other standard policies.

   More ophthalmologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your ophthalmologist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An ophthalmologist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, ophthalmologists' average salary in hawaii is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level ophthalmologists 70% less than senior-level ophthalmologists.
   • Certifications. An ophthalmologist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an ophthalmologist's salary.

   Average ophthalmologist salary

   $234,030yearly

   $112.51 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level ophthalmologist salary

   $129,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average ophthalmologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$315,367	$152
   2	North Dakota	$282,965	$136
   3	Minnesota	$254,222	$122
   4	Missouri	$246,393	$118
   5	West Virginia	$235,341	$113
   6	Wisconsin	$217,285	$104
   7	Pennsylvania	$214,325	$103
   8	Iowa	$213,383	$103
   9	Illinois	$213,341	$103
   10	New York	$210,604	$101
   11	Ohio	$209,739	$101
   12	Georgia	$207,142	$100
   13	Kansas	$204,544	$98
   14	Michigan	$201,040	$97
   15	Maryland	$200,414	$96
   16	District of Columbia	$199,953	$96
   17	Mississippi	$199,676	$96
   18	Massachusetts	$198,574	$95
   19	Connecticut	$198,260	$95
   20	South Carolina	$194,841	$94

   Average ophthalmologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mayo Clinic	$342,486	$164.66	124
   2	Trinity Health	$289,690	$139.27	183
   3	Hennepin Healthcare	$287,496	$138.22	1
   4	Washington Permanente Medical Group	$281,531	$135.35
   5	Rochester Regional Health	$273,991	$131.73
   6	Kaiser Permanente	$270,759	$130.17	96
   7	HealthPartners	$266,367	$128.06	72
   8	Southern California Medical Center	$262,616	$126.26	178
   9	Cigna	$257,361	$123.73	1
   10	Christiana Care Health Services, Inc.	$254,813	$122.51	6
   11	North Country Hospital	$252,949	$121.61
   12	Spectrum Healthcare Resources	$247,227	$118.86
   13	Northwell Health	$247,127	$118.81	9
   14	Citizens Memorial	$246,194	$118.36
   15	University Hospitals	$232,177	$111.62	5
   16	Henry Ford Health System	$228,687	$109.95	17
   17	National Medical Association	$226,688	$108.98
   18	Private Practice	$224,411	$107.89	40
   19	MCR Health Inc	$224,074	$107.73	2
   20	Barton Associates	$222,832	$107.13	4

4. Writing an ophthalmologist job description

   An ophthalmologist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an ophthalmologist job description:

   Ophthalmologist job description example

   U.S. Vision is looking for an independent Part Time Ophthalmologist to run their own office 3 days a week located in our FORWARD VISION OPTICAL in Claymont, Delaware! This is a brand new location for us, and the doctor's office will include a complete exam lane, a pre-test room and a CL/dry eye treatment room. Anticipated opening is February of 2023.
   
   We have a simple 3 page agreement with no competitive restrictions and a very reasonable rent structure. This opportunity does not require any investment. You set your own fees and the patient records belong to you. We offer a variety of flexible arrangements and schedules to meet your needs. Our staff acts as your ancillary staff, and assists with greeting your patients, completing patient histories, answering phones, scheduling appointments and supporting you in any way they can.
   
   U.S. Vision is one of the largest eyewear companies in the United States. We have been engaged in the retail optical business since 1967. We are the second largest independent operator of optical stores in host retailers in terms of store count, the first in terms of the number of brands, and are located in 42 states.
   
   If you are self-motivated and looking for a private practice opportunity in terms of scheduling flexibility and financial opportunity without the hardships and investment of opening a practice cold, contact us today! Or visit our website for more information. New graduates welcome!
   Requirements
   
   State-issued license to practice ophthalmology / conduct eye examinations
   
   Excellent customer service and organization skills
   
   Advanced time management skills
   
   Ability to diagnose and treat eye-related disorders and conditions
   
   Benefits
   
   Some of the many benefits of associating with U.S. Vision are:
   
   Private Independent Practice: The practice and records belong to you. No U.S. Vision restrictions or interference regarding fees or patient care.
   
   Flexibility: We offer a variety of flexible arrangements and schedules to meet your needs, including part-time. Our agreement is a simple 3 page document with no competitive restrictions.
   
   Local Support: Our staff is your staff (in states where permitted) at no additional charge. Our Optical Center Manager and associates act as your ancillary staff, greeting your patients, completing patient histories, answering phones, scheduling appointments and supporting you in any way they can.
   
   Advertising: We maintain a highly sophisticated advertising and marketing department. All of our advertising includes focus on eye exams and our independent doctors of optometry.
   
   Host Store Impact: We have nurtured relationships with leading department store retailers. We enjoy the inherent credibility and confidence as well as many other benefits such as participation in national marketing programs as well as direct mail access to a loyal credit card base, merchandise discounts and the host store's reputation for consistent quality and service to their customers - your patients.
   
   If you're interested to learn more about this opportunity and how US Vision can help you maintain a thriving practice please apply. Applying to this post does not commit you to this opportunity, its only expressing interest to learn more. You may also contact us at (url removed) or visit us at "careers" for more information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find ophthalmologists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your ophthalmologist job on Zippia to find and attract quality ophthalmologist candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit ophthalmologists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new ophthalmologist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the ophthalmologist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new ophthalmologist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an ophthalmologist?