Dermatologist
Also known as: Board Certified Dermatologist, Clinical Dermatologist, Dermatological Surgeon
Dermatologists diagnose and treat skin, hair, and nail conditions — from removing melanomas to prescribing acne medications to performing cosmetic procedures. You'll spend your days examining suspicious moles, biopsying lesions, and helping patients manage everything from eczema to skin cancer.
Getting Started
How to Become a Dermatologist
You can start practicing as a dermatologist in 12 years with $250k-$375k in training costs — that is longer and more expensive than most medical specialties, but dermatology residencies are among the most competitive to match into.
Bachelor's Degree (Pre-Med)
4 years · $80,000-$180,000
Medical School (MD/DO)
4 years · $170,000-$260,000
Preliminary Internship Year
1 year · $0-$0
Dermatology Residency
3 years · $0-$0
Medical Licensure and Board Certification
3 months · $2,000-$5,000
Dermatologist
Ongoing
Continuing Certification and CME
Ongoing · $1,000-$4,000/year
Start
Year 4
Year 8
Year 9
Year 12
Year 12
Bachelor's Degree (Pre-Med)
4 years
Medical School (MD/DO)
4 years
Preliminary Internship Year
1 year
Dermatology Residency
3 years
Medical Licensure and Board Certification
3 months
Dermatologist
Ongoing
| Step | Duration | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's Degree (Pre-Med) | 4 years | $80,000-$180,000 | Complete a bachelor's degree with prerequisite science coursework required for medical school admission. |
Medical School (MD/DO) | 4 years | $170,000-$260,000 | Complete an LCME- or COCA-accredited medical degree program and required clinical rotations. |
Preliminary Internship Year | 1 year | $0-$0 | Complete a 1-year ACGME-accredited preliminary internship in internal medicine, surgery, or a transitional year before starting dermatology residency.Starting salary: $75,000/yr |
Dermatology Residency | 3 years | $0-$0 | Complete a 3-year ACGME-accredited dermatology residency while earning supervised clinical income and becoming board-eligible in dermatology.Starting salary: $75,000/yr |
Medical Licensure and Board Certification | 3 months | $2,000-$5,000 | Complete final state licensure and initial American Board of Dermatology certification steps typically taken at the end of residency or immediately after graduation. |
Dermatologist | Ongoing | — | Begin practice as an attending dermatologist after completing the preliminary internship year and dermatology residency. Fellowship subspecialization remains optional.Starting salary: $239,200/yr |
Loading programs...
Overview
What Does a Dermatologist Do?
Dermatologists work primarily in outpatient clinics and dermatology practices, though some split time with hospitals for complex cases. Your day mixes diagnostic work (examining skin lesions, performing biopsies), medical treatments (prescribing medications, managing chronic conditions), and procedures (removing skin cancers, cosmetic treatments).
- Conduct complete examinations of patients' skin.
- Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as moles, birthmarks, unusual moles, and melanoma (a type of skin cancer).
- Perform biopsies (removal of small skin samples) 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 skin screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, and how to examine their own skin and lymph nodes.
- Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, and skin cancer.
- Record patients' health histories.
- Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' health histories and physical examination findings.
Tasks from O*NET OnLine
Requirements
Licensing & Certification
You must have an MD or DO degree, state medical license, dermatology board certification, and DEA registration to practice. Board certification isn't legally required in most states, but virtually all employers and insurance panels require it.
| Credential | Status | Cost | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD or DO Degree | Required | $2,000 | — |
| State Medical License | Required | $300-$1,000 | 12-36 months |
| ABD Board Certification | Required | $800 | 10 years |
| DEA Registration | Required | $888 | Every 3 yr |
MD or DO Degree (LCME or COCA-accredited medical school) — Required doctoral degree proving competency to practice medicine in the United States
- Exam: USMLE (MD) or COMLEX (DO) three-step licensing exam series
- Cost: Varies by medical school; USMLE Step 1-3 total ~$2,000+
State Medical License (State medical board) — Mandatory license authorizing the legal practice of medicine in a specific state
- Exam: USMLE or COMLEX required for initial licensure
- Cost: $300-$1,000+ (varies by state)
- Renewal: CME credits (typically 20-50 per cycle), license fee, no disciplinary actions
ABD Board Certification (American Board of Dermatology) — Specialty certification confirming advanced expertise in diagnosing and treating skin conditions
- Exam: Two-part exam: CORE (4 modules during residency, $200 per module) and APPLIED ($2,250, post-residency); must pass within 5 years of completing residency
- Cost: $800 (CORE total) + $2,250 (APPLIED)
- Renewal: Continuing Certification Program -- CME credits, self-assessment activities, practice improvement modules
DEA Registration (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) — Federal registration required to prescribe controlled substances to patients
- Cost: $888 per 3-year registration
- Renewal: Renewal application and fee; active state medical license
All states require a medical license to practice, with CME requirements varying by state (typically 20-50 hours annually). Board certification in dermatology isn't legally mandated but is required by virtually all employers and insurance credentialing. Some states require additional training for cosmetic procedures like Botox administration.
The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact covers 42 states plus D.C. and Guam, allowing expedited licensure across member states. If you're licensed in a compact state, you can more easily obtain licenses in other member states without repeating the full application process.
Compensation
Dermatologist Salary
At $239k annually, dermatologists earn significantly more than physician assistants ($133k) and match the median for other medical specialists like internal medicine physicians ($239k). Geographic variation is substantial — dermatologists in major metropolitan areas often earn $300k+ while rural practices may start closer to $200k.
$239k/yr
median annual salary
You'll invest $349k and 12 years to start earning $239k — that means roughly 18 months to recoup your educational investment once you start practicing. The long training period delays earnings compared to shorter medical paths, but the high salary compensates over time.
Salaries vary by location and setting. Dermatologists in metropolitan areas and specialty practices typically earn more than the national median.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
HealthJob Analysis
Is It Worth It? 20-Year ROI
Your 20-year net earnings total $1.87 million with break-even in year 13. This represents a solid ROI driven by high lifetime earnings that offset the substantial upfront costs and long training period. Dermatology ranks in the middle tier among medical specialties — better ROI than surgical specialties requiring longer training, but lower than family medicine due to the extended path and competitive residency process.
Dermatologist ROI
Net earnings over 20 years
$1.9M
Pre-tax 20-year estimate after required education and training costs; taxes and living expenses excluded.
How the 20-year estimate is calculated
Dermatologist Career ROI (20-year net earnings)
Track how education costs and earnings typically accumulate from enrollment through year 20.
Cumulative net earnings (USD)
The full chart keeps 20-year context. The detail chart below zooms in on early pathway years.
Sources: Accreditor, Accreditor, AccreditorSee Sources and methods.
Early-years detail
Years 0-14
Years 0-14. Scaled to early-year values. Black markers show key checkpoints.
Quick answers
- Is becoming a Dermatologist financially worth it?Typical 20-year net estimate: $1.9M (pre-tax, living expenses excluded).
- How much does training cost for a Dermatologist?Estimated required education and licensing cost to become a Dermatologist: $349k (range used: $252k-$445k). Breakdown: Bachelor's Degree (Pre-Med): $130k; Medical School (MD/DO): $215k; Medical Licensure and Board Certification: $4k.
- How long does it take to become a Dermatologist?Typical time to first paycheck is about 8 years. Typical time to enter the target Dermatologist role is about 12 years.
- How do you become a Dermatologist?See How to Become for pathway steps, timing, and credential requirements.
Detailed math
How 20-year net is built from each training and career phase.
| Phase | Time window | Gross earnings | Education/training cost | Net contribution | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's Degree (Pre-Med) Education | Years 0-3 (m0-m47) | $0 | -$130,000 | -$130,000 | |
Medical School (MD/DO) Education | Years 4-7 (m48-m95) | $0 | -$215,000 | -$215,000 | |
Preliminary Internship Year Training/Licensing | Year 8 (m96-m107) | $75,000 | $0 | $75,000 | |
Dermatology Residency Training/Licensing | Years 9-11 (m108-m143) | $225,000 | $0 | $225,000 | |
Medical Licensure and Board Certification Training/Licensing | Year 12 (m144-m144) | $0 | -$3,500 | -$3,500 | |
Dermatologist Career | Years 12-19 (m144-m239) | $1,913,568 | $0 | $1,913,568 | |
Model reconciliation Reconciliation | Years 0-20 (m0-m239) | $32 | $0 | $32 | None |
| 20-year totals | $2,213,600 | -$348,500 | $1,865,100 | Matches 20-year ROI formula | |
Sources and methods
Sources
Assumptions
- Pathway sequence and timing follow the cited training and licensing pathway for this role.BLSBLS
- Earnings benchmarks come from cited occupation wage references.BLSBLS
- Education and training cost uses College Scorecard tuition and cited pathway fees when needed.Source unavailable
- Cost allocation follows a model rule: short completed steps post in completion year; longer tuition steps are spread across phase years.Model ruleBLSBLS
- Taxes and living expenses are excluded from this estimate.Model rule
Among medical specialties requiring similar training time, dermatology offers moderate ROI. Cardiologists face even longer training (14 years) for similar pay, while internal medicine physicians reach the same salary in 11 years, giving them better ROI despite identical median earnings.
Future-Proofing
Dermatologist Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Demand grows at 3% annually — about average for all occupations — driven by an aging population requiring more skin cancer screenings and chronic skin condition management. The limited number of dermatology residency positions keeps supply constrained, supporting strong job prospects for those who complete training.
10-Year Growth
3%
About as fast as average
Current Employment
13k
jobs nationwide
HealthJob Analysis
Will AI Replace Dermatologist?
AI assists with dermoscopy image analysis and helps flag suspicious lesions for further review, but dermatologists perform all biopsies, make final diagnoses, and execute treatment plans. Tools like DermEngine and MoleMap provide image analysis support, but complex cases requiring clinical judgment, patient interaction, and procedural skills remain firmly in human hands. The visual pattern recognition that AI excels at complements rather than replaces dermatological expertise.
AI assists dermoscopy image classification; dermatologist performs biopsy, diagnosis, and all treatment procedures.
AAD: AI in Dermatology Position Statement · FDA: AI Skin Lesion Analysis Devices
Based on evidence-based AI impact methodology
Explore
Careers Similar to Dermatologist
These careers share the medical training foundation and focus on specialized patient care, offering different time-to-practice tradeoffs and patient population focuses.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Training Time |
|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistant | $133k/yr | 6.5 yr |
| Internal Medicine Physician | $239k/yr | 11 yr |
| Cardiologist | $239k/yr | 14 yr |
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Sources & Data
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- •O*NET OnLine
- •LCME / COCA
- •FSMB
- •ABD
- •DEA
- •HealthJob AI Impact Analysis
- •AAMC pre-med requirements
- •AAMC data reports
- •American Board of Dermatology certification pathway
- •ACGME dermatology residency standards
- •BLS OEWS physician specialty wage data
Data last refreshed: March 2026 • Page generated from structured schema