Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $421,300 or more. The middle half of ophthalmologists (except pediatric) in Chicago earn between $164,400 and $334,330.
- $54K10th
- $164K25th
- $285KMedian
- $334K75th
- $421K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $258,770 | $21,564 | $124.41 |
| Median | $284,630 | $23,719 | $136.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $164,400 | $13,700 | $79.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $334,330 | $27,861 | $160.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $258,770, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $176,271 a year, or $14,689 a month and $6,780 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $181,206 | $15,101 |
| Working in IL | $176,271 | $14,689 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for ophthalmologists (except pediatric)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $258,770 buys what about $249,790 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 5.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 1.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$268,000
- Lexington, KY$232,570
- Minneapolis, MN$359,290
- Nashville, TN$295,400
- Buffalo, NY$271,700
- Rochester, NY$268,000
Highest-paying cities for ophthalmologists (except pediatric)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($584,430).
- San Jose, CA$584,430
- Minneapolis, MN$359,290
- Los Angeles, CA$355,610
- Atlanta, GA$340,040
- New York, NY$335,290
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Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric salary in Chicago: questions
How much do ophthalmologists (except pediatric) make an hour in Chicago?
$124.41 an hour on average, and $136.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level ophthalmologists (except pediatric) salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $164,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the ophthalmologists (except pediatric) take-home pay in Chicago?
About $176,271 a year ($14,689 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $258,770.
Do ophthalmologists (except pediatric) earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($292,389).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1241; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 15.3%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.97, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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