State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Dermatologist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Dermatologists earn a median of $328,730 per year ($158.04/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 6.4% through 2034, with about 400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
SOC 29-1213Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $328,730
- Projected growth
- +6.4%
- Openings a year
- 400
- Typical education
- Doctorate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Board Certified Dermatologist, Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor), Dermatologist Physician, Dermatopathologist, Doctor, MD (Medical Doctor).
How much do Dermatologists make?
10th percentile$102,810
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$139,990
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$328,730
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$452,450
Upper quartile
90th percentile$578,560
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $328,730 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $158.04/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $323,530 |
| People employed | 11,370 |
Versus all US occupations
At $328,730, Dermatologists earn 545% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $277,750 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 236% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $578,560 or more while the bottom 10% earn $102,810, a gap of 5.6×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 99% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Minnesota pays the most at $625,790, and still leads at $634,540 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Dermatologists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $625,790 | $634,540 | 260 |
| Washington | $526,170 | $491,688 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $516,230 | $495,589 | 50 |
| Maryland | $442,210 | $421,317 | 120 |
| Delaware | $442,120 | $442,971 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $440,710 | $468,367 | 160 |
| Illinois | $435,750 | $435,933 | N/A |
| Tennessee | $433,630 | $472,004 | 100 |
| Iowa | $424,970 | $484,230 | N/A |
| Arkansas | $422,060 | $485,478 | 40 |
Is Dermatologist a growing career?
Dermatologists6.4%
All US occupations3.1%
+6.4% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Dermatologists to change 6.4% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.1× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 400 openings are projected each year, 3.7% of the 10,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of physicians and surgeons varies by occupation (see table). An increasing number of older adults, who are more likely than younger people to experience health problems and to need complex care, is expected to drive overall employment growth for physicians and surgeons.
In addition, increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, will result in continued reliance on physicians and surgeons by large numbers of people seeking medical care.
How to become a Dermatologist
Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years.
| Typical entry-level education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Internship/residency |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as dermatologists.
- Doctoral Degree56.4%
- Post-Doctoral Training30.6%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)6.1%
- Master's Degree4.7%
- First Professional Degree1.5%
What does a Dermatologist do?
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They often counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.
There are two types of physicians, with similar degrees: M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). Both use the same methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery, but D.O.s place additional emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive medicine, and holistic (whole-person) patient care. D.O.s are most likely to be primary care physicians, although they work in all specialties.
Day-to-day 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 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.
- Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicians and surgeons work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. Many physicians and surgeons work long shifts, which may include irregular and overnight hours or being on call. Physicians and surgeons may travel between their offices and the hospital to care for patients. While on call, a physician may need to address a patient’s concerns over the phone or make an emergency visit to another location, such as a nursing home.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Mistakes carry very serious consequences
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
- Science3.6/5
- Writing3.5/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
Transferable skills
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Coordination3.3/5
- Persuasion3.3/5
- Instructing3.3/5
- Negotiation3.1/5
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Electronic mail software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Dermatologist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.8
Investigativeprimary6.4
Artistic1.9
Socialprimary4.7
Enterprising1.8
Conventional3.8
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Dermatologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Dermatologists make?
Dermatologists earn a median of $328,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 545% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $158.04/hr. The middle half earn between $139,990 and $452,450. The top 10% earn $578,560 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Dermatologist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Dermatologists. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 56.4% hold doctoral degree.
Is Dermatologist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Dermatologist do?
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. A core O*NET task: conduct complete skin examinations. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Dermatologists the most?
The highest state medians for Dermatologists are Minnesota ($625,790), Washington ($526,170), New Hampshire ($516,230) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Dermatologist?
O*NET scores Dermatologists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, INTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.