Abstract
IMPORTANCE: As multiple studies in medicine have demonstrated disparity in pay between genders, with women consistently paid less than their male counterparts, analysis of this within ophthalmology is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To describe US trends in compensation among academic ophthalmologists. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective economic evaluation using data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Salary Survey from 2016 to 2024. The participants were full-time academic ophthalmology faculty at US medical schools reported by institution. EXPOSURES: Total financial compensation between ranks and gender. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Differences in total financial compensation between ranks and gender. Analyses were planned a priori before data collection began. Analysis of annual median compensation was performed, and the average percentage change per year was calculated and analyzed for men and women. A cents-on-the dollar approach was used to compare gender compensation differences. Cumulative career earnings between genders were compared based on 2024 benchmarks. Forward projections of compensation trends were done to estimate when gender compensation equity might be achieved. RESULTS: This study included the data of an average of 1470 ophthalmologists (approximately 59% men) per year. The annual median compensation for academic ophthalmologists increased across all ranks and kept pace with inflation. Men and women represented at each rank, respectively, included 342 and 206 assistant professors, 178 and 127 associate professors, 276 and 65 professors, and 59 and 9 chairs in 2018 and 313 and 341 assistant professors, 237 and 174 associate professors, 273 and 119 professors, and 55 and 13 chairs in 2024. Women were compensated less than men at all ranks in every year. In 2024, compared with men, women at the assistant professor and chair ranks earned 91 cents-on-the dollar, and women at the associate professor and professor rank earned 85 cents-on-the dollar. This leads to an estimated $1.04 million difference in compensation over a career. Parity could be reached for assistant professors and associate professors but never for professors or chairs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results of this economic evaluation suggest that compensation has roughly kept pace with inflation with some variability between academic rank. Among academic ophthalmologists, women earned less than men on average. These differences could be eliminated over the next decade and a half among the assistant and associate professor rank. If trends continue as they are, parity among the professor and chair ranks will never be attained.