Equal Pay in Ophthalmology? Not Yet

A decade of AAMC salary data reveals a persistent gender pay gap in academic ophthalmology—and projects it will never close at senior ranks

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Women academic ophthalmologists earned 85 to 91 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2024, with parity only achievable at the lowest ranks.
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Median total compensation increased across all academic ranks from 2016 to 2024, but only assistant professors exceeded inflation.
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Women were compensated less than men at every rank, with a projected career earnings gap of $1.04 million over 30 years.
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Parity projections suggest women could reach compensation equality at assistant and associate professor ranks in 7.5 and 14.6 years, respectively.
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Commentators argue that gender-based salary inequity is an institutional failure that limits financial capital and generational opportunity.

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