Prevailing Wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
The prevailing wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric is set by DOL using the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey across hundreds of U.S. metro areas. Whether your offer is for a Clinical Ophthalmologist, Cornea Specialist, or Ophthalmic Surgeon position, DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level ophthalmologists completing or recently finishing residency or fellowship. These positions involve limited independent judgment, with work performed under close supervision within well-defined protocols. Typical candidates have fewer than two years of post-training practice.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for ophthalmologists in sponsored positions. It applies to qualified practitioners with some independent practice experience, handling routine cases with moderate complexity. Most general ophthalmology roles at hospitals, health systems, and group practices file at this level.
Level 3 applies to experienced ophthalmologists who exercise significant independent judgment, manage complex cases, and may hold subspecialty expertise such as glaucoma or oculoplastics. These professionals often lead clinical programs or supervise residents and fellows.
Level 4 represents fully competent senior ophthalmologists at the top of the occupation. This includes Glaucoma Specialists or cornea subspecialists directing departments, setting clinical standards, or holding named academic appointments with significant institutional responsibility.
Prevailing Wage for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your subspecialty title matches your SOC filing
Titles like Cornea Specialist or Oculoplastic Specialist are sometimes filed under surgical subspecialty SOC codes rather than 29-1241, which changes the prevailing wage floor entirely. Verify your employer's LCA lists SOC 29-1241 before signing.
Exclude signing bonuses before comparing to the floor
Ophthalmology recruitment packages often include large signing bonuses and relocation allowances. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary only, so a competitive total package may still fall short of the required annual floor.
Account for worksite city when reviewing group practice offers
Multi-site ophthalmology groups frequently rotate physicians across clinics in different metro areas. DOL requires the prevailing wage to reflect the actual primary worksite on the LCA, so a regional group's posted salary may not clear the floor in all locations.
Search Migrate Mate to see which health systems sponsor ophthalmologists
Academic medical centers and large integrated health systems dominate historical H-1B sponsorship for ophthalmologists. Migrate Mate shows employer-level sponsorship counts, so you can identify which hospital groups and surgical practices have actually sponsored this role before.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1241.00 alongside Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Clinical Ophthalmologist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Ophthalmologist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Ophthalmologist positions fall under SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Cornea Specialist Prevailing Wage
Cornea Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cornea Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Glaucoma Specialist Prevailing Wage
Glaucoma Specialist Prevailing Wage
Glaucoma Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Oculoplastic Specialist Prevailing Wage
Oculoplastic Specialist Prevailing Wage
Oculoplastic Specialist positions fall under SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Ophthalmic Surgeon Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmic Surgeon Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Ophthalmic Surgeon for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ophthalmologist Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmologist Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Ophthalmologist Specialist Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmologist Specialist Prevailing Wage
Ophthalmologist Specialist positions fall under SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Physician Prevailing Wage
Physician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Physician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Retina Specialist Prevailing Wage
Retina Specialist Prevailing Wage
Retina Specialist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Surgical Ophthalmologist Prevailing Wage
Surgical Ophthalmologist Prevailing Wage
Surgical Ophthalmologist positions fall under SOC 29-1241.00 (Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for ophthalmologists?
DOL uses Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected from employers across U.S. metro areas. For SOC 29-1241, OFLC converts the BLS wage distribution into four wage levels based on percentile thresholds. Employers sponsoring ophthalmologists on H-1B or permanent residence must pay at least the level that matches the position's actual requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision, Level 2 is qualified with moderate independence, Level 3 is experienced with substantial independent judgment, and Level 4 is fully competent at a senior or leadership scope. The level should reflect the actual duties and experience requirements in the job description, not just the candidate's credentials. If your role involves subspecialty leadership or teaching, Level 3 or 4 is typical.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same ophthalmologist role vary so much by city?
OFLC calculates prevailing wages from regional OES survey data, so wages reflect local employer pay practices in each metro area. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, which locks in that metro's wage floor regardless of where the employer is headquartered. Dense physician markets with large academic medical centers tend to report higher surveyed wages than smaller or rural metros, producing significant city-to-city variation.
What happens if an ophthalmologist's job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. Without a certified LCA, USCIS cannot approve the H-1B petition. For green card sponsorship via PERM, the offered wage must also meet the prevailing wage determination issued by OFLC. An employer must either increase the offered salary or reclassify the position before proceeding.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an ophthalmologist position in a specific U.S. city?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 29-1241 by metro area and wage level. Enter the worksite ZIP code or metro area, select the SOC code, and the tool returns all four level wages for that location. Cross-check the wage level your employer listed on the LCA against the position's actual duties. Migrate Mate can also help you identify which employers have historically sponsored ophthalmologists so you can prioritize offers from established sponsors.
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