Dermatologists Career, Salary and Skills
Dermatologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $328,730 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 11,370. Wage data is published for 49 locations.
Occupation description
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
O*NET code
29-1213.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$328,730
Hourly median
$158.04
Employment
11,370
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Service Orientation | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.88 |
| Speaking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Science | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.
- 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.
- Refer patients to other specialists, as needed.
- Instruct interns or residents in diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases.
- Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin.
- Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions.
- Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.
Technology
- Vitera Healthcare Solutions Vitera Intergy
- WRSHealth EMR
- 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
- Cisco Webex
- doc2MD
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
Dermatologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Dermatologists Salary in NYMedian $374,010 · Employment 2,070
- Dermatologists Salary in New York, NYMedian $374,000 · Employment 2,040
- Dermatologists Salary in NCMedian $367,350 · Employment 800
- Dermatologists Salary in TXMedian $218,670 · Employment 780
- Dermatologists Salary in Houston, TXMedian $207,000 · Employment 370
- Dermatologists Salary in COMedian $398,810 · Employment 260
- Dermatologists Salary in MNMedian $625,790 · Employment 260
- Dermatologists Salary in SCMedian $259,990 · Employment 180
- Dermatologists Salary in Charlotte, NCMedian $276,170 · Employment 180
- Dermatologists Salary in WAMedian $526,170 · Employment 170
- Dermatologists Salary in WIMedian $440,710 · Employment 160
- Dermatologists Salary in Cincinnati, OHMedian $266,290 · Employment 130
Related careers
- Physician AssistantsNational median $135,880
- Nurse PractitionersNational median $132,300
- OptometristsNational median $136,570
- AnesthesiologistsNational median $391,490
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansNational median $265,930
- ChiropractorsNational median $79,200
- PodiatristsNational median $160,300
- Naturopathic PhysiciansNational median $115,210
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.