Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric vs Orthodontists: Similar Median Pay, Different Work

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric vs Orthodontists: what changes?

Consider Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric if you want to diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. Consider Orthodontists if you would rather examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Both list doctoral or professional degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric and Orthodontists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

National median pay (2025): $300,080
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric brief

Orthodontists

National median pay (2025): $289,140
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Orthodontists brief

How the national numbers differ

Orthodontists has the edge on projected growth

Orthodontists is at 6% projected growth, compared with 4.5% projected growth for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric.

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric has the edge on median pay

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric is at $300,080, compared with $289,140 for Orthodontists.

48.4/ 100

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

51.3/ 100

Orthodontists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric vs Orthodontists

Dimension	Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric	Orthodontists
Median pay (2025)	$300,080	$289,140
Pay percentile	98.9 percentile	98.6 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	4.5%	6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	200	200
2025 employment	9,700	7,100
How you qualify	Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements	Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 5
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.	Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric brief Read Orthodontists brief

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric vs Orthodontists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Orthodontists

How the national numbers differ

Orthodontists has the edge on projected growth

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric has the edge on median pay

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric vs Orthodontists

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