Dermatologists
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
Also called: Board Certified Dermatologist · Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor) · Dermatologist Physician · Dermatopathologist · Doctor · MD (Medical Doctor)
Median pay (national)
$239,200+
$118,540–$239,200+ (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
10,080
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+6.4%
~400 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for dermatologists shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $239,200+ versus $118,540 at the bottom 10% — 2.0x. The median of $239,200+ leaves roughly 0% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +6.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 32 states with released data, New York pays the most for this role (median $239,200, 0% vs the national median), while Texas sits lowest at $172,510 — a 39% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Science
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Record patients' health histories.
- Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology.
- Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals.
- Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions.
- 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.
- Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
Tools & technology
- Cisco Webex
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Zoom
- Allscripts PM
- athenahealth athenaCollector
- Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR
- Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- Calendar software
- CareCloud Central
- Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management
- doc2MD
- Encite Dermatology Electronic Health Records EHR Software
- Epic Practice Management
- GalacTek ECLIPSE
- GE Healthcare Centricity Practice Solution
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
- Biology
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Psychology