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Hospital Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
Dermatologists
Dermatologists diagnose and treat problems of the skin, hair, and nails, from acne and eczema to suspicious moles and melanoma. The work stands out because it mixes careful medical diagnosis with hands-on procedures and cosmetic treatments, so one day can include a routine rash visit and the next a laser procedure or cancer workup. The tradeoff is a long training path and a job where missing something small can have serious consequences, even though the pay is very high.
Also known as Dermatology PhysicianPhysician DermatologistMedical DermatologistGeneral DermatologistClinical Dermatologist
Median Salary
$0
Mean $347,810
U.S. Workforce
~10K
0.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+6.4%
10.9K to 11.6K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Dermatologists sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~10K workers, with a median annual pay of $0 and roughly 0.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 10.9 K in 2024 to 11.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Dermatology Resident and can progress toward Practice Owner / Medical Director. High-value skills usually include Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner), Dermoscopy & Skin Cancer Screening, and Skin Biopsy, Cryotherapy & Excision Procedures, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Service Orientation.
Core Responsibilities
- Check patients' skin closely for rashes, unusual spots, and other changes that need treatment.
- Review medical histories and decide which tests or referrals are needed before making a diagnosis.
- Treat common skin conditions and serious cases such as skin cancer, acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
- Perform in-office procedures such as skin biopsies, freezing lesions, laser treatments, and scar revision.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Check patients' skin closely for rashes, unusual spots, and other changes that need treatment.
02 Review medical histories and decide which tests or referrals are needed before making a diagnosis.
03 Treat common skin conditions and serious cases such as skin cancer, acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
04 Perform in-office procedures such as skin biopsies, freezing lesions, laser treatments, and scar revision.
05 Write detailed notes in the chart and explain treatment plans to patients and other clinicians.
06 Keep up with new research, guidelines, and procedures by reading journals and attending conferences.
Industries That Hire
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Private Dermatology Groups
Schweiger Dermatology Group, Forefront Dermatology, QualDerm Partners
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Academic Medical Centers
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Penn Medicine, UCSF Health
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Aesthetic & Cosmetic Clinics
LaserAway, SkinSpirit, Ideal Image
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Teledermatology Platforms
Teladoc Health, Curology, Hims & Hers
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is exceptional, with a mean annual salary of $347,810, which is far above the U.S. average.
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Demand is steady rather than boom-and-bust, with employment projected to rise from 10.9K to 11.6K by 2034.
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The work combines medical diagnosis with procedures and cosmetic treatments, so the day is rarely repetitive.
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Many problems have visible results, which makes it satisfying to see a rash calm down or a lesion removed successfully.
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The field offers outpatient schedules in many settings, so it can be less chaotic than hospital-based specialties.
Challenges
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The training path is long and expensive: a doctoral or professional degree plus residency is expected, not optional.
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The job market is small, with only about 10,080 workers now and roughly 0.4K annual openings, so opportunities can be competitive.
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A 6.4% projected growth rate is healthy but not explosive, which means the specialty is stable rather than rapidly expanding.
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Missing a skin cancer or misjudging a lesion can have serious consequences, so the clinical risk is high and malpractice exposure matters.
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Insurance rules, prior authorizations, and heavy documentation can eat into patient time and put pressure on independent practices.
Career Progression
Dermatology Resident
0-4 years
$60K-$90K
Trains under supervision, sees patients in teaching clinics, and spends most of the time learning diagnosis, procedures, and case management.
Dermatologist
5-10 years
$330K-$380K
Works independently in an outpatient setting, diagnosing skin conditions, ordering tests, and performing common procedures.
Senior Dermatologist THIS ROLE
10-15 years
$390K-$470K
Handles more complex cases, builds a referral base, and may focus more on procedures, cosmetic work, or mentoring trainees.
Practice Owner / Medical Director
15+ years
$480K-$650K
Runs a clinic or group practice, oversees staffing and operations, and often reserves time for the highest-value or most specialized cases.
Education Paths
Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
The most common education level in the data is a doctoral degree, held by 56.38% of workers in this role, which usually starts with medical school before residency.
Dermatology Residency and Post-Doctoral Training
Another 30.57% are listed at the post-doctoral training level, which reflects the residency and fellowship years needed before independent practice.
Medical License and Board Certification
This is not a degree path, but it is the practical credential route for working independently and keeping privileges in hospitals, clinics, and surgical settings.
Key Skills
Technical
Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner) 78%
Dermoscopy & Skin Cancer Screening 76%
Skin Biopsy, Cryotherapy & Excision Procedures 75%
Laser Dermatology & Resurfacing Devices 73%
Histopathology & Lab Result Interpretation 71%
Phototherapy & Topical Treatment Planning 69%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningService OrientationReading ComprehensionSocial PerceptivenessSpeaking Job Outlook and Trends
+6.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 10.9K to 11.6 K over the next decade, representing 6.4% growth. Around 0.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.