Ophthalmologist Salary in Canada | Breakdown by Province

In 2025, the median ophthalmologist salary in Canada is $419,180 per year. Entry-level positions start at roughly $144,482 per year, while top-tier, experienced ophthalmologists make up to $766,730 per year. Pay scales vary depending on your province and technical skill level.

Ophthalmologists in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

Ophthalmologists in Canada are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgical care of eye diseases and vision disorders. They perform procedures such as cataract surgeries, laser treatments, and retinal repairs while also managing conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. There are roughly 1,400 practising ophthalmologists across the country. Demand remains strong due to an aging population and rising eye health needs, creating favourable job prospects with many opportunities in both urban hospitals and private clinics.

Earnings are among the highest in medicine, with average annual incomes often exceeding 400,000 Canadian dollars and reaching well over 900,000 dollars in some provinces depending on practice type and location. Entry requires a medical degree, a five-year residency in ophthalmology, Royal College certification, and provincial licensing. Work typically takes place in modern clinical and surgical settings with a mix of office consultations, operating room time, and on-call duties, offering intellectually rewarding yet demanding schedules that balance precision surgery with long-term patient relationships.

Licensing

Ophthalmologists in Canada are fully qualified medical doctors (MDs) who specialize in medical and surgical eye care. They are strictly regulated at the provincial level by their respective provincial medical colleges (e.g., the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario) and certified nationally by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

View updated hourly rates for Anesthesiologists across Canada.

Ophthalmologist Salary by Province

OPHTHALMOLOGIST (NOC 31101)
2025	Wages/yr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	144,482	419,180	766,730
Newfoundland and Labrador	143,704	434,053	699,989
Prince Edward Island	73,872	530,709	309,016
Nova Scotia	175,086	418,516	597,217
New Brunswick	175,076	421,734	634,999
Quebec	165,663	397,319	642,495
Ontario	118,538	403,957	749,689
Manitoba	161,289	457,991	826,328
Saskatchewan	N/A	N/A	N/A
Alberta	180,159	508,561	984,111
British Columbia	146,214	441,788	819,593
Yukon Territory	N/A	403,299	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026