Dermatologist who removes skin cancers with Mohs surgery, examining every edge of the tissue under a microscope during the procedure, then repairs the wound. SalaryDr Mohs surgery compensation data; MGMA 2023 (as cited by Physicians Thrive) puts typical pay at $680,000 a year (2026). BLS does not publish separate figures for dermatologists; it counts them within dermatologist (SOC 29-1213), whose median pay is $328,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1213
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Mohs Surgeon in four numbers
- Median pay
- $328,730a year, or $158.04/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $103KTop 10% $579K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.8%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 40012,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202512.2K
- Projected 203513K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 12.2K Projected 2035 13K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Certificate0.7%
- Associate's6.1%
- Master's4.7%
- Professional degree1.5%
- Doctorate56.4%
- Post-doctoral training30.6%
Highest education held by dermatologists Segment Value Certificate 0.7% Associate's 6.1% Master's 4.7% Professional degree 1.5% Doctorate 56.4% Post-doctoral training 30.6%
Also advertised as: Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, Dermatologic Surgeon, Micrographic Dermatologic Surgeon, Skin Cancer Surgeon.
Pay
How much do Dermatologists make?
Industry-reported pay
$680,000
Median total annual compensation, US Mohs surgeons (physician-reported); an MGMA 2023 median cited by secondary sources is higher.
Source: SalaryDr Mohs surgery compensation data; MGMA 2023 (as cited by Physicians Thrive), 2026 (estimate from several industry sources). This is not a BLS figure: BLS counts dermatologists within dermatologist, whose pay is shown below. SalaryDr: Mohs surgery salary · Physicians Thrive: Mohs surgeon salary guide (MGMA figures)
Every mohs surgeon in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$328,730
Middle half earn $139,990 to $452,450
- 10th
- $102,810
- 25th
- $139,990
- 75th
- $452,450
- 90th
- $578,560
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $102,810 |
| 25th | $139,990 |
| Median | $328,730 |
| 75th | $452,450 |
| 90th | $578,560 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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 $102,760, this is 220% 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 1,741 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.
Pay by state
Which states pay Dermatologists the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Minnesota | $625,790 | $634,540 | 260 |
| 2Washington | $526,170 | $491,688 | 170 |
| 3New Hampshire | $516,230 | $495,589 | 50 |
| 4Maryland | $442,210 | $421,317 | 120 |
| 5Delaware | $442,120 | $442,971 | 40 |
| 6Wisconsin | $440,710 | $468,367 | 160 |
| 7Illinois | $435,750 | $435,933 | N/A |
| 8Tennessee | $433,630 | $472,004 | 100 |
| 9Iowa | $424,970 | $484,230 | N/A |
| 10Arkansas | $422,060 | $485,478 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Mohs Surgeon a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Dermatologists | +6.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Dermatologists to change 6.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 400 openings are projected each year, 3.3% of the 12,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Mohs Surgeon
After medical school, Mohs surgeons complete a dermatology residency and then a one-year ACGME-accredited micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology fellowship, which covers Mohs technique, slide interpretation and reconstruction.
The American Board of Dermatology certifies dermatologists and offers subspecialty certification in micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology. The American College of Mohs Surgery is the main professional society. Fellowship positions are limited and competitive. Dermatology residency itself is among the most competitive matches in medicine, so most Mohs surgeons built a strong record of research, board scores and dermatology rotations during medical school. During residency, they seek extra time in dermatologic surgery before applying for fellowship.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
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 degree6.1%
- Master's Degree4.7%
- First Professional Degree1.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 56.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 30.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 6.1% |
| Master's Degree | 4.7% |
| First Professional Degree | 1.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Mohs Surgeon do?
Mohs surgeons treat skin cancers, especially on the face, ears, hands and other areas where saving healthy tissue matters. In Mohs surgery, the surgeon removes a thin layer of tissue, processes and maps it in an on-site lab, and reads the slides personally while the patient waits. If cancer remains at any edge, they remove more only from that spot, repeating until the margins are clear.
After the cancer is gone, they rebuild the defect with stitches, local flaps or skin grafts. Mohs surgeons also manage high-risk skin cancer patients, such as organ transplant recipients, and work with oncologists, plastic surgeons and head and neck surgeons on more advanced tumors.
Day-to-day tasks
- Remove skin cancers in stages using Mohs micrographic technique
- Map tissue and read frozen sections to check every margin
- Reconstruct surgical defects with layered closures, flaps and grafts
- Evaluate patients with high-risk or recurrent skin cancers
- Oversee an on-site histology lab and its technicians
- Coordinate care for advanced tumors with oncology and plastic surgery colleagues
- Educate patients on sun protection and skin cancer surveillance
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Mohs surgeons work mostly in outpatient dermatology offices with their own surgical suites and labs. Procedures use local anesthesia, so there are rarely overnight emergencies. Days are structured but busy, with several patients moving through surgery, slide reading and repair at once.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Science3.6
- Writing3.5
- Monitoring3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.6 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Coordination3.3
- Persuasion3.3
- Instructing3.3
- Negotiation3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
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.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Mohs Surgeon?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRS) built on O*NET's Dermatologist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Mohs Surgeon |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
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.
- Investigative6.4
- Realistic5.1
- Social4.8
- Conventional3.8
- Artistic1.9
- Enterprising1.8
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Mohs Surgeon
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with dermatologists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Mohs Surgeon$328,730
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Mohs Surgeon | $328,730 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Mohs Surgeon: frequently asked questions
How much do Dermatologists make?
SalaryDr Mohs surgery compensation data; MGMA 2023 (as cited by Physicians Thrive) reports $680,000 (median total annual compensation, US Mohs surgeons (physician-reported); an MGMA 2023 median cited by secondary sources is higher, 2026). BLS does not publish a separate wage for dermatologists. It counts them within dermatologist, whose median pay is $328,730 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $139,990 and $452,450, and the top 10% earn $578,560 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Mohs Surgeon?
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 Mohs Surgeon a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.8% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Mohs Surgeon do?
Mohs surgeons treat skin cancers, especially on the face, ears, hands and other areas where saving healthy tissue matters. A typical task: remove skin cancers in stages using Mohs micrographic technique. 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 Mohs Surgeon?
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, ISTP, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.