As in past years, the 2024 Ophthalmic Professional 10th Annual Salary Survey reported a wide range of gross annual incomes (Figure 1). Responses from almost 200 survey participants indicated more than a three-fold difference between annual incomes at the bottom and top of the range.
Among the two top job titles responding:
• 0.3% of ophthalmic technicians reported earning between $45,001 and $60,000, and another 37.3% report earning between $60,001 and $80,000.
• 0.8% of administrators/managers reported earning a gross annual income of more than $95,000.
These two job titles are discussed in more detail later in this article.
A broad scope of career journeys
Reflecting the wide range in income levels, the survey results also illustrated the broad scope of the respondents’ career journeys. For example:
• Primary position. This year’s survey reported titles in
13 different categories, (see Figure 2 for the top 5).
• Certification. Respondents reported active certification in 20 different areas, with COA and COT the most frequently reported (see Figure 3 for the top 5).
• Years of experience. More than half (54.3%) of respondents reported working in an ophthalmic-related position for more than 20 years, and only 5.0% reported working 5 years or less in an ophthalmic position (Figure 4).
• Years of working in the current practice. More than a quarter (27.9%) of respondents report working at their present practice for less than 5 years, while 23.3% have worked in their present practices for more than 20 years (Figure 5). Of those working at their current practice for more than 15 years, 40.5% reported an income of more than $75,000, compared to 32.4% of all respondents, according to the survey.
• Location. The South Atlantic region had the most
respondents to the survey (21.8%), followed by East North Central (19.2%) and Mid-Atlantic (13.2%) (Figure 6).
When the ‘same’ salary isn’t the same
As previous OP Salary Surveys also have demonstrated, it is not always easy to draw apples-to-apples comparisons between when discussing compensation. For example, the same total gross annual income at two different practices may differ in terms of total compensation when accounting for such factors as insurance provided, flexible spending accounts, and retirements plans (Figure 7). Most ophthalmic professionals say they received reimbursement for certification, recertification, and continuing education (Figure 8).
In addition, non-monetary benefits — including paid time off, flexible work schedules, and more (Figure 9) — can also impact total compensation.
Insights on training and social media
Most respondents reported they would receive benefits from training and education in practice management skills, which include business, leadership, billing & coding, etc. (Figure 10). In terms of how they receive training and education, 89.3% of respondents report their practices use digital learning (webinars, online courses) (Figure 11).
Spotlighting administrators and technicians
Taking a closer look at job titles, ophthalmic technician and administrator/manager represent the two largest group of respondents, at 34% and 30.9% respectively.
Ophthalmic technicians reported results as follows:
• In the last year, 65.6% report receiving a raise of less than 5%, while 16.4% report receiving no increase.
• 7.6% have worked in ophthalmic-related positions for more than 15 years.
• 9.8% have worked at their current practices for more than 20 years; 49.2% report working at their current practices for 10 years or less.
• 6.8% have held their current positions for 5 years or less, while 40.3% have held their current positions for more than 15 years.
• 1.8% report involvement with the purchasing process. These respondents report purchasing responsibilities in diagnostic equipment (64.1%), pharmaceuticals (44.7%), technology, such as EMR and telemedicine platforms (19.4%), and surgical devices/equipment (14.9%).
• echnicians report they would receive benefits in training in the following areas: diagnostic equipment (56.7%), practice management (47.7%), technology, such as EMR and telemedicine (38.8%), pharmaceuticals (23.8%), and surgical equipment (11.9%).
Looking specifically at the title of administrator/manager, the survey reports the following results:
• 2.1% report either receiving a salary increase of less than 5% or receiving no increase.
• 8.8% have worked in ophthalmic-related positions for more than 15 years.
• hile 32.7% have worked at their current practices for more than 20 years, 45.9% have worked at their current practices for 10 years or less.
• 5.9% have held their current positions for 5 years or less.
• 1.8% are involved in some aspect of purchasing process. These respondents reported purchasing responsibilities in diagnostic equipment (83.61%), technology, such as EMR, telemedicine platforms, etc. (66.5%), pharmaceuticals (55.7%), and surgical devices/equipment (44.2%).
• In terms of areas where they believe they would benefit from more training and education, 73.7% cited practice management, followed by technology (40.9%), pharmaceuticals (29.5%), diagnostic equipment (26.2%) and surgical equipment (21.3%). OP
