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Ophthalmologist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an ophthalmologist is $218,400 per annum, before tax, up $46,500 since 2018.
Pay depends more on how you work than on how long you have worked. Salaried public hospital specialists earn a set rate under the relevant state award, while ophthalmologists in private practice bill Medicare for each consultation and procedure, so income follows surgical volume and case mix. Subspecialty and location shape the mix of work too, and full-time procedural practice bills more than a clinic-only public appointment.
How to negotiate a higher ophthalmologist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time ophthalmologist salary is $218,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Ophthalmologists are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Clinical assessment and treatment and Patient care and support tend to command a premium over general ophthalmologist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Ophthalmologist salary questions
How much do ophthalmologists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an ophthalmologist is $218,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is ophthalmologist pay rising or falling?
The median ophthalmologist salary is up $46,500 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.