How much do dermatologists make?
Answer
Dermatologists in the US earned a median of $328,730 a year ($158.04 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $139,990 to $452,450.
- Median annual pay
- $328,730
- Mean $323,530
- Median hourly pay
- $158.04
- Mean $155.55
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $103K–$579K
- $102,810 to $578,560
- US jobs
- 11,370
- +6.8% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a dermatologist: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Minnesota
Dermatologist pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$102,810
- 25th percentile$139,990
- Median$328,730
- 75th percentile$452,450
- 90th percentile$578,560
Half of all dermatologists earned more than $328,730 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $102,810; the top 10% made over $578,560. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $139,990 to $452,450.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $102,810 | $49.43 | $8,568 |
| 25th | $139,990 | $67.30 | $11,666 |
| Median (50th) | $328,730 | $158.04 | $27,394 |
| 75th | $452,450 | $217.52 | $37,704 |
| 90th | $578,560 | $278.15 | $48,213 |
| Mean (average) | $323,530 | $155.55 | $26,961 |
Dermatologist salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Minnesota $625,790
- 2. Washington $526,170
- 3. New Hampshire $516,230
- 4. Maryland $442,210
- 5. Delaware $442,120
Lowest-paying states
- 26. Connecticut $165,040
- 25. Kentucky $195,830
- 24. Texas $218,670
- 23. Indiana $225,200
- 22. Arizona $233,270
Best after cost of living: Minnesota. Its median of $625,790 is worth about $634,540 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $394,550 | 14 | $444,198 | 8 | $189.69 | — | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Arizona | $233,270 | 22 | $231,701 | 23 | $112.15 | — | — |
| Arkansas | $422,060 | 10 | $485,478 | 4 | $202.91 | 40 | 0.03 |
| California | — | — | — | — | — | 740 | 0.04 |
| Colorado | $398,810 | 13 | $386,999 | 17 | $191.74 | 260 | 0.09 |
| Connecticut | $165,040 | 26 | $159,290 | 26 | $79.34 | — | — |
| Delaware | $442,120 | 5 | $442,971 | 9 | $212.56 | 40 | 0.09 |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Florida | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — | — | 80 | 0.13 |
| Idaho | $281,920 | 19 | $295,223 | 19 | $135.54 | 60 | 0.07 |
| Illinois | $435,750 | 7 | $435,933 | 10 | $209.49 | — | — |
| Indiana | $225,200 | 23 | $241,297 | 22 | $108.27 | 110 | 0.03 |
| Iowa | $424,970 | 9 | $484,230 | 5 | $204.31 | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | $195,830 | 25 | $217,205 | 25 | $94.15 | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Maine | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | — | — |
| Maryland | $442,210 | 4 | $421,317 | 12 | $212.60 | 120 | 0.04 |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Michigan | $414,910 | 12 | $431,223 | 11 | $199.48 | — | — |
| Minnesota | $625,790 | 1 | $634,540 | 1 | $300.86 | 260 | 0.09 |
| Mississippi | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 70 | 0.06 |
| Missouri | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | $359,580 | 18 | $399,077 | 15 | $172.88 | — | — |
| Nevada | $419,410 | 11 | $419,498 | 13 | $201.64 | — | — |
| New Hampshire | $516,230 | 3 | $495,589 | 2 | $248.19 | 50 | 0.07 |
| New Jersey | — | — | — | — | — | 350 | 0.08 |
| New Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| New York | $374,010 | 15 | $346,559 | 18 | $179.81 | 2,070 | 0.21 |
| North Carolina | $367,350 | 17 | $389,447 | 16 | $176.61 | 800 | 0.16 |
| North Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ohio | $373,640 | 16 | $402,742 | 14 | $179.64 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Oregon | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 160 | 0.08 |
| Pennsylvania | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | $259,990 | 21 | $277,326 | 20 | $124.99 | 180 | 0.08 |
| South Dakota | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | $433,630 | 8 | $472,004 | 6 | $208.48 | 100 | 0.03 |
| Texas | $218,670 | 24 | $225,301 | 24 | $105.13 | 780 | 0.06 |
| Utah | $239,200+ | — | — | — | $115.00+ | 50 | 0.03 |
| Vermont | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Virginia | $280,060 | 20 | $277,002 | 21 | $134.65 | — | — |
| Washington | $526,170 | 2 | $491,688 | 3 | $252.97 | 170 | 0.05 |
| West Virginia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | $440,710 | 6 | $468,367 | 7 | $211.88 | 160 | 0.05 |
| Wyoming | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (20 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for dermatologists
31 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $239,200+ | — | 60 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $239,200+ | — | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $239,200+ | — | 70 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $239,200+ | — | — |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $239,200+ | — | 90 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $239,200+ | — | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $641,210 | $576,975 | — |
| Toledo, OH | $460,070 | $503,056 | — |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $457,770 | $492,941 | 80 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,040 | $374,000 | $332,258 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 370 | $207,000 | $209,877 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 180 | $276,170 | $283,694 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 160 | — | — |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 130 | $266,290 | $279,218 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 100 | — | — |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 100 | — | — |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 90 | $239,200+ | — |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 80 | $232,910 | $225,929 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 80 | $457,770 | $492,941 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves dermatologist pay: employers and settings
Practice setting drives most of the difference in dermatologist pay. Offices of physicians, which employ 89.4% of dermatologists, pay a median of $331,380; general hospitals pay $123,900; colleges and universities pay $102,810. Government jobs are few and pay far less: $91,020 in state government and $81,870 in local government.
State medians vary enormously. Minnesota leads at $625,790, followed by Washington at $526,170, New Hampshire at $516,230, Maryland at $442,210, and Delaware. Minnesota also comes out best after living costs, at $634,540. Texas is at $218,670, Kentucky at $195,830, and Connecticut lowest at $165,040. With only 11,370 dermatologists nationally, state figures rest on small samples.
The spread runs from $102,810, the 10th percentile, to $578,560, the 90th. Those percentiles describe the spread across all dermatologists, not career stages. The setting figures above show where the lower end sits: hospitals, universities and government pay well below physician offices.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 89.4% | $331,380 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 5.7% | $123,900 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 2% | $102,810 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1.5% | $239,200+ |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 11,100 | $331,380 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 210 | $91,020 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 50 | $81,870 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
What dermatologists do
A dermatologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats conditions of the skin, hair and nails. The caseload runs from acne, eczema, psoriasis and hair loss to skin infections, autoimmune rashes and, above all, skin cancer. Dermatologists perform full-body skin checks, biopsy suspicious moles, freeze or cut out precancers and small cancers, prescribe topical and systemic drugs including biologics, and in many practices offer cosmetic procedures such as injectables and laser treatments.
Almost nine in ten work in physician offices, often group practices with medical assistants, nurses and physician assistants. A small share work in hospitals and academic medical centers, where they see severe drug reactions and blistering diseases in inpatients, teach residents and do research. Some subspecialize: Mohs surgeons remove skin cancers in stages, dermatopathologists read skin biopsies under the microscope, and pediatric dermatologists focus on children. The work is mostly scheduled clinic visits, so dermatologists take less overnight call than many specialties, but days are fast and high-volume.
A typical day
- Examine patients' skin from scalp to feet and look closely at moles with a dermatoscope
- Take shave or punch biopsies and read the pathology reports that come back
- Freeze precancerous spots and cut out skin cancers in the office
- Prescribe creams, pills, light therapy or injectable biologics for eczema, psoriasis and acne
- Monitor patients on drugs such as isotretinoin with regular lab tests
- Perform cosmetic procedures like botulinum toxin injections, fillers or laser treatments in some practices
- Teach patients sun protection and how to check their own skin between visits
Also called: board certified dermatologist, dermatologist md (dermatologist medical doctor), dermatologist physician, dermatopathologist, doctor, md (medical doctor), mohs micrographic surgeon, mohs surgeon.
How to become a dermatologist
Full guideTo become a dermatologist, you earn a bachelor's degree, complete 4 years of medical school (MD or DO), pass the USMLE or COMLEX exams, finish a 1-year clinical internship and a 3-year dermatology residency, and get a state medical license. That is about 12 years after high school.
- Typical time
- 12-13 years
- Fastest: About 12 years
- Minimum education
- MD or DO degree, a 1-year ACGME clinical internship and a 3-year ACGME-accredited dermatology residency
- License
- Required in all 50 states and DC (state medical license)
- Typical training cost
- $212K–$213K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a dermatologist: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 12-13 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $212K–$213K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $328,730
- $277,750 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 65–65%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($277,750 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in less than a year after training ends (12-13 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for dermatologists
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +6.8%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 12,200
- 13,000 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 400
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 4%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects dermatologist jobs to grow 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, from 12,200 to 13,000, about twice the 3.5% average for all occupations and faster than physicians overall. BLS ties growth for physicians to an aging population and rising rates of chronic illness, including cancer. Because the field is small, that adds up to only about 400 openings a year, many of them replacing dermatologists who retire or leave the field.
Related careers and their pay
- Orthopedic Surgeon$358,550
- Cardiologist$496,010
- Neurologist$248,560
- Pediatrician$210,040
- OB-GYN$292,910
- Chiropractor$79,200
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Optometrist$136,570
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Dermatologist salary FAQ
How much do dermatologists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for dermatologists was $158.04 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49.43 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $278.15. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays dermatologists the most?
Minnesota has the highest median pay for dermatologists, $625,790 a year, followed by Washington ($526,170) and New Hampshire ($516,230). After adjusting for each state's price level, Minnesota comes out ahead at about $634,540 in national-average dollars.
Do dermatologists make $200,000 a year?
Most do: based on the BLS percentiles, between 50% and 75% of dermatologists earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $328,730, and the top 10% earn more than $578,560. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
Is a dermatologist a doctor?
Yes. Every dermatologist is a physician with an MD or DO degree who completed a year of general clinical training and then a three-year dermatology residency. Board-certified dermatologists have also passed the American Board of Dermatology's exams. Skin care providers such as estheticians are not physicians and cannot diagnose disease, prescribe drugs or perform surgery; see our esthetician page for that career.
What do dermatologists treat most often?
Skin cancer screening and treatment make up a large share of visits, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and the precancerous spots called actinic keratoses. Other common conditions are acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, warts, hair loss and nail infections. Many practices also offer cosmetic care, such as treatments for wrinkles, sun damage and scars.
Do dermatologists work long hours?
Dermatology has a reputation for more predictable hours than many specialties because most care is scheduled outpatient visits rather than emergencies. Overnight call is usually light. The workday can still be intense, with many short visits, procedures and charting, and practice owners also run a business. Hospital and academic dermatologists may cover inpatient consultations and teach residents.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 29-1213
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (29-1213.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Physicians and Surgeons, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- MCAT Scheduling Fees, Association of American Medical Colleges · checked October 28, 2026
- Supporting Applicants through the 2027 AMCAS Application Cycle, Association of American Medical Colleges · checked October 28, 2026
- Apply for Exams, United States Medical Licensing Examination (FSMB and NBME) · checked October 28, 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners · checked October 28, 2026
- ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Dermatology, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education · checked October 28, 2026
- General Exam Information and APPLIED Exam Requirements, American Board of Dermatology · checked October 28, 2026
- APPLIED Exam and Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology, American Board of Dermatology · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- APPLIED Exam Requirements, American Board of Dermatology · checked October 28, 2026
- Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology, American Board of Dermatology · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.