Dermatologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $102,810 | $49.43 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $328,730 | $158.04 |
| Mean (average) | $323,530 | $155.55 |
| 90th percentile | $578,560 | $278.15 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Dermatologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 34 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $394,550 | $110,530 | $705,310 | ||
| Arizona | $233,270 | $103,990 | $656,230 | ||
| Arkansas | $422,060 | $139,260 | $545,080 | 40 | 0.45 |
| California | Data unavailable | 740 | 0.55 | ||
| Colorado | $398,810 | $153,340 | $501,410 | 260 | 1.22 |
| Connecticut | $165,040 | $74,480 | $439,400 | ||
| Delaware | $442,120 | $207,450 | $445,800 | 40 | 1.2 |
| Hawaii | Data unavailable | 80 | 1.75 | ||
| Idaho | $281,920 | $124,890 | $612,100 | 60 | 0.89 |
| Illinois | $435,750 | $148,550 | $538,170 | ||
| Indiana | $225,200 | $104,670 | $578,040 | 110 | 0.46 |
| Iowa | $424,970 | $233,890 | $468,740 | ||
| Kentucky | $195,830 | $124,570 | $472,580 | ||
| Maine | Data unavailable | ||||
| Maryland | $442,210 | $161,540 | $468,650 | 120 | 0.6 |
| Michigan | $414,910 | $103,490 | $519,590 | ||
| Minnesota | $625,790 | $79,450 | $728,210 | 260 | 1.22 |
| Mississippi | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.82 | ||
| Nebraska | $359,580 | $103,620 | $588,160 | ||
| Nevada | $419,410 | $115,940 | $461,120 | ||
| New Hampshire | $516,230 | $76,450 | $688,630 | 50 | 0.92 |
| New Jersey | Data unavailable | 350 | 1.13 | ||
| New York | $374,010 | $106,320 | $488,680 | 2,070 | 2.92 |
| North Carolina | $367,350 | $186,700 | $475,970 | 800 | 2.21 |
| Ohio | $373,640 | $67,020 | $426,530 | ||
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 160 | 1.11 | ||
| Pennsylvania | Data unavailable | ||||
| South Carolina | $259,990 | $165,600 | $437,060 | 180 | 1.09 |
| Tennessee | $433,630 | $70,330 | $623,290 | 100 | 0.41 |
| Texas | $218,670 | $98,500 | $534,030 | 780 | 0.76 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.39 | ||
| Virginia | $280,060 | $107,590 | $583,390 | ||
| Washington | $526,170 | $98,650 | $672,840 | 170 | 0.64 |
| Wisconsin | $440,710 | $77,440 | $757,250 | 160 | 0.75 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for dermatologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 4%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dermatologists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Medicine CIP 51.1201
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy CIP 51.1202
- Internal Medicine/Dermatology Combined Specialty Program CIP 61.0109
- Dermatology Residency Program CIP 61.0501
- Dermatopathology Fellowship Program CIP 61.0502
- Pediatric Dermatology Fellowship Program CIP 61.0503
- Dermatology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.0599
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Conduct complete skin examinations.
- Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
- Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
- Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
- Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
- Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
- Record patients' health histories.
- Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
Technology skills
- Cisco Webex (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Allscripts PM
- Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR
- Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- Calendar software
- CareCloud Central
- Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management
- Email software
- Encite Dermatology Electronic Health Records EHR Software
- Epic Practice Management
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Board Certified Dermatologist, Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor), Dermatologist Physician, Dermatopathologist, Doctor, MD (Medical Doctor), Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, Mohs Surgeon, Pediatric Dermatologist, Practicing Dermatologist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dermatologists make?
The national median annual wage for dermatologists was $328,730 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $102,810 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $578,560. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dermatologists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dermatologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dermatologists to change +6.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dermatologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($625,790), Washington ($526,170), New Hampshire ($516,230). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.