Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingService OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Dermatologist pay by experience level
Entry level$106,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$145,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$340,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$468,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$599,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+6.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
400
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Dermatologist salary by industry
Ambulatory Health Care Services
10,390 workers
$341,000
Offices of Physicians
10,170 workers
$338,000
Hospitals
670 workers
$291,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
650 workers
$283,500
Hospitals, Privately Owned
570 workers
$312,000
Educational Services
230 workers
$187,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
230 workers
$187,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
170 workers
$157,500
Hospitals, Local Government Owned
50 workers
$179,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dermatologist make?
The average base salary for a Dermatologist in the United States is $335,000 per year, or about $161.06 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $145,000 and $468,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Dermatologist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
