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Canadian Ophthalmologists Top C$1.18 Million in Gross Billings, Provincial Analysis Finds

  • Writer: nuaxia
    nuaxia
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read

New analysis of physician payment data places ophthalmology among Canada's highest-billing specialties, with median gross billings reaching C$1.18 million in British Columbia.


Ophthalmologists recorded the highest median gross physician billings in British Columbia, reaching C$1.18 million, according to a new analysis of Canadian payment disclosures. While the figures represent gross fee-for-service billings rather than take-home income, the data reinforce ophthalmology's position as one of Canada's highest-billing medical specialties.


Key findings

A new analysis of public physician payment disclosures found that ophthalmology had the highest median gross fee-for-service billings in British Columbia, at C$1,187,999 per physician in 2024. The analysis draws on official payment data from British Columbia and Manitoba to compare physician billings by specialty.

The report also found that ophthalmology consistently ranks among the highest-billing specialties across both provinces, highlighting the specialty's strong reimbursement profile within Canada's fee-for-service healthcare system.

British Columbia versus Manitoba

British Columbia recorded median gross physician billings of C$1,187,999 for ophthalmologists, compared with C$764,171 in Manitoba, according to the latest Open Compensation analysis of provincial physician payment disclosures.

The C$423,828 difference means median ophthalmology billings were approximately 55% higher in British Columbia than in Manitoba. While provincial fee schedules, reimbursement models and clinical activity vary, the findings illustrate how physician billings can differ significantly across Canadian healthcare systems.

It is important to note that these figures represent gross fee-for-service billings before practice overhead, rather than physician salary or take-home income. Practice expenses—including staffing, premises, equipment and other operating costs—will substantially reduce net earnings, meaning the published billings should be viewed as a measure of practice revenue rather than personal compensation.

Why ophthalmology ranks so highly

Ophthalmology combines high patient volumes with a large number of reimbursable diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Routine cataract surgery, intravitreal injections, laser treatments, retinal procedures and advanced imaging all contribute to significant fee-for-service activity. Unlike consultation-heavy specialties, ophthalmologists can often complete multiple billable procedures within a single clinical session, increasing total annual billings.

Gross billings are not take-home pay

It is important to note that the figures reported are gross physician billings, not physician salaries or personal income.

These billings must cover the cost of running a practice, including:

  • Clinical and administrative staff

  • Practice premises

  • Surgical facilities

  • Diagnostic equipment

  • Consumables

  • Professional indemnity and other overheads

Consequently, an ophthalmologist's net income will be substantially lower than the published billing figures.

The analysis also focuses primarily on fee-for-service payments and does not fully reflect physicians working under salaried or alternative funding arrangements.

What this means for ophthalmologists

For ophthalmologists benchmarking their practice or considering opportunities in different provinces, the findings reinforce the specialty's position as one of Canada's highest-grossing fee-for-service disciplines.

However, billing figures should be viewed as an indicator of practice revenue rather than personal earnings. Differences in operating costs, case mix, reimbursement schedules and practice structure all influence how much physicians ultimately retain.

As additional provincial payment data become available, specialty-specific comparisons will provide a clearer picture of how ophthalmology compensation varies across Canada.

Source


The analysis uses physician payment disclosures from the British Columbia Medical Services Plan Blue Book (2024) and Manitoba Health (2024/25). Figures represent gross fee-for-service billings before overhead and should not be interpreted as physician salary or net income.

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