Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
SOC Code: 29-1241
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric carries a 28% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk) and +4.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 12,500 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 28% AI exposure, Ophthalmologists, except pediatric sits 9 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 23% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
73/100
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric, weighted across 2 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage N/A N/A
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth B +4.3%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) B+ 28% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Ophthalmologists, except pediatric in the Medium band.
Credential × growth standing
Graduate credential among the thinner entry shelves
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric is in the Graduate band (113 of 832) with BLS pace Average (378/832). Graduate entry is a minority shelf - pairing it with average growth is the standing that separates this SOC from bachelor-dominated neighbors.
Where Ophthalmologists, except pediatric sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Ophthalmologists, except pediatric sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
28% Among the lowest lower than 77% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric's Medium automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 29-1241) code. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Ophthalmologists, except pediatric be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Ophthalmologists, except pediatric. Public companies with meaningful exposure to this occupation, such as HCA Healthcare, Inc. and Natera, Inc., inherit a share of the same automation risk through their industry classification. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
- 2. Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
- 3. Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
- 4. Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
- 5. Prescribe or administer topical or systemic medications to treat ophthalmic conditions and to manage pain.
- 6. Develop treatment plans based on patients' histories and goals, the nature and severity of disorders, and treatment risks and benefits.
- 7. Perform ophthalmic surgeries such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive, corneal, vitro-retinal, eye muscle, or oculoplastic surgeries.
- 8. Educate patients about maintenance and promotion of healthy vision.
- 9. Document or evaluate patients' medical histories.
- 10. Perform, order, or interpret the results of diagnostic or clinical tests.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Knowledge Areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Psychology
- Economics and Accounting
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Ophthalmologists, except pediatric?
Ophthalmologists, except pediatric has an AI exposure score of 28%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Ophthalmologists, except pediatric is projected to grow by 4.3% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 12,500 workers.
What skills are needed for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric?
Key skills for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric include Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and others. Typical entry-level education is Doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Ophthalmologists, except pediatric earn?
Wage data for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric varies by region, experience, and employer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes median wage estimates in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric?
The typical entry-level education for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric is Doctoral or professional degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Internship/residency. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Ophthalmologists, except pediatric?
Public companies with significant Ophthalmologists, except pediatric workforce shares include HCA Healthcare, Inc., Natera, Inc., Labcorp Holdings Inc., among others. These employers are mapped by industry classification (SIC/NAICS) to BLS occupation-industry employment distributions. See the full employer rankings for AI displacement risk grades.
Employers with High AI Exposure in This Occupation Group
Public companies whose industry occupation mix includes a significant share of Ophthalmologists, except pediatric roles.
| Company | AI Grade | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. | B | 39.2% |
| Natera, Inc. | B | 39.2% |
| Labcorp Holdings Inc. | B | 39.2% |
| Quest Diagnostics Inc | B | 39.2% |
| Exact Sciences Corp | B | 39.2% |
| Tenet Healthcare Corp | B | 39.2% |
| Fresenius Medical Care AG | B | 39.2% |
| Ensign Group, Inc | B | 39.2% |
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Ophthalmologists, except pediatric: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (28% here).
- Acupuncturists · AI exposure 28%
- Advertising and promotions managers · AI exposure 28%
- Agricultural inspectors · AI exposure 28%
- Carpenters · AI exposure 28%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+4.3% here).
- Agricultural technicians · growth +4.3%
- Bus drivers, transit and intercity · growth +4.3%
- Chief executives · growth +4.3%
- Fundraisers · growth +4.3%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 45 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Ophthalmologists, except pediatric's numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Ophthalmologists, except pediatric side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).