According to Ophthalmic Practice Management Consultant John Pinto, the typical general ophthalmologists salary and benefits package during an initial 2-year associateship looks something like this:

• Base compensation:
$80,000 to $130,000. (This can range somewhat lower in highly competitive markets and higher for exceptional candidates.)
• Bonus compensation:
At the end of each full quarter worked, for collections above two or three times base salary, a bonus of 15% to 35% of excess collections is paid.
• Benefits:
Interview and moving travel costs; malpractice insurance, including one-half to full tail coverage upon departure in the second or subsequent years; 3 to 4 weeks of combined education and vacation the first year, 5 to 6 weeks in the second year; $2,000 to $5,000 in educational fees and materials allowance; reimbursement for all reasonable receipted practice promotion and outreach expenses; health insurance benefits per current staff policy; ability to take any other reasonable professional expenses out as pretax draws against salary, so long as such pretax draws are approved "as-qualified" draws by the practice�s accounting firm.