Dermatologists

SOC Code: 29-1213
Also known as:
Board Certified Dermatologist, Clinical Dermatologist, Dermatological Surgeon, Dermatologist, Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor)
Median Annual Salary
N/A
+6.4% growth (2024-2034)
400
Openings/Year
11K
Current Jobs

What Dermatologists Do

Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.

💰 Salary

N/A
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+6.4%
Faster than average

🎓 Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

400
Projected average per year

📚 On-the-Job Training

Internship/residency
Expected training period

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

10,900

Projected Employment (2034)

11,600

Related Careers

Cardiologists

N/A • +4.1% growth
View →

Physicians, all other

N/A • +2.5% growth
View →

Ophthalmologists, except pediatric

N/A • +4.3% growth
View →

Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric

N/A • +4.1% growth
View →

Pediatric surgeons

N/A • +1.5% growth
View →

Top Skills Required

Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Service Orientation
Reading Comprehension
Speaking

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
  • Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
  • Record patients' health histories.
  • Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
  • Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.
  • Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.

Technology & Tools

Cisco Webex eClinicalWorks EHR software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Word Zoom

📚 Entry-Level Education

Doctoral or professional degree
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Doctoral Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Dermatologists

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a dermatologists:

Medicine

20,703 degrees awarded • 151 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy

8,465 degrees awarded • 36 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Best Colleges for Becoming a Dermatologists

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become dermatologists.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI 181 A+
2 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 168 A+
3 Tufts University Medford, MA 187 A
4 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 182 A
5 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC 176 A
6 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 172 A
7 Boston University Boston, MA 154 A
8 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 148 A
9 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 147 A
10 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA 144 A
11 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 143 A
12 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 142 A
13 Northwestern University Evanston, IL 141 A
14 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ 317 B+
15 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA 254 B+
16 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 235 B+
17 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 210 B+
18 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL 201 B+
19 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 187 B+
20 Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA 178 B+

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dermatologists make?
The median annual salary for dermatologists is N/A.
What education do dermatologists need?
Most dermatologists positions require a doctoral or professional degree. Common degree programs include Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy.
Is becoming dermatologists a good career choice?
Dermatologists is projected to see +6.4% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 400 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for dermatologists?
Top colleges for aspiring dermatologists include University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Los Angeles, Tufts University, Harvard University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to dermatologists?
Dermatologists may also be known as: Board Certified Dermatologist, Clinical Dermatologist, Dermatological Surgeon, Dermatologist, Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor), Dermatologist Physician, Dermatology Physician, Dermatopathologist, Doctor, General Dermatologist, MD (Medical Doctor), Medical Dermatologist, Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, Mohs Surgeon, Pediatric Dermatologist, Practicing Dermatologist, Procedural Dermatologist. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.