Start with the answer
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric pay in Oklahoma and Rhode Island
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric is $215,760 per year in Oklahoma. It is $450,370 per year in Rhode Island. Oklahoma is 52.1% below Rhode Island on the published median.
Both rows use SOC 29-1241 and the same annual wage metric. Median means the middle of each area's published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. The larger median is not proof that one place gives a better job or a better result. It is one wage fact from one source period.
BLS lists Not published wage and salary jobs in Oklahoma and 180 in Rhode Island. Those are survey job counts, not open posts. Read pay, job scale, local share, and price level as separate facts before you make a choice.
Evidence: bls-oews-may-2025 · Rule: same-soc-same-metric-pair · nominal-median-gap · employment-not-openings