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What is the Average Salary of a Dermatologist?

Data sources show that the average salary of a dermatologist is roughly $450,000 annually. 

According to the latest Doximity report, dermatology was the thirteenth-highest specialty in 2023, with an average salary of approximately $468,000

In the 2023 Medscape report, dermatology was the tenth highest-paying specialty, with an average salary of $443,000. And in the 2022 Medscape compensation report, dermatologists earned an average salary of $438,000, the eighth highest-paying specialty. 


When reading these numbers, it’s vital to recognize that dermatologists’ compensation can vary significantly due to different factors such as specialties, sub-specialties, and geographic location.

For example, dermatologists in New York earn an average annual salary of $417,000, while dermatologists in Florida make an average annual salary of $282,000.


Are Dermatologist’s Salary Increasing or Decreasing?

Dermatologist salaries are increasing but at one of the lowest rates among physician specialties.

In the latest 2023 Medscape compensation report, dermatologists’ salaries only increased by one percent.

In particular, in 2023, dermatologists reported earning an average salary of $443,000, while in 2022, their average salary was $438,000; this is only a $5,000 increase in salary from the previous year. 

With only a one percent increase, dermatologists experience the lowest salary increase among physicians and physicians in the infectious diseases specialty. With that said, several specialties experienced no increase in salary, and some experienced a decrease in salary compared to 2022. 

Unfortunately, dermatologists’ salaries were not able to keep up with inflation in the past year. In 2022, the US Dollar experienced a 4.7% inflation rate, but dermatologist salaries only experienced a 1% increase in salary from 2022 to 2023.



Do Dermatologists Receive Incentives or Bonuses?

Yes, dermatologists do receive incentives and bonuses. Unfortunately, there are not many reports that document the average amount that dermatologists receive in incentives and bonuses.  

While there is no data to support an annual figure, it is clear that, similar to many physicians, dermatologists also receive bonuses and incentives. Many physicians earn sign-on bonuses in addition to having an annual incentive/bonus package program. Some common dermatology bonus packages include performance-based plans or profit-sharing models. 


Do dermatologists take extra work for additional income?

Approximately 35% of dermatologists report taking on additional work for supplemental income. 27% of those dermatologists reported that they either moonlight or perform other medical-related work for supplemental income. Another 5% reported that they work additional hours to earn additional income, and finally, 4% of dermatologists reported that they perform non-related medical work for supplemental income. 


These results are very similar to the 2022 results, where 37% of dermatologists report taking on additional work for supplemental income. 


Do dermatologists feel fairly compensated?

65% of dermatologists feel fairly compensated in 2023. This is 13% higher than physicians on average, who only report 52% feeling fairly compensated. Dermatologists have one of the highest rates of compensation satisfaction, coming in with the second-highest rating out of the 29 specialties surveyed. 

This figure is slightly up from the 2022 report figures, where 64% of dermatologists felt fairly compensated. In 2022, dermatology ranked as the fifth highest specialty who felt fairly compensated.  


Factors Affecting dermatologists’s Salary


Experience Level 

As with any position, a dermatologist’s experience influences their salary.

An entry-level dermatologist will earn less than someone with more training, experience, and skills.


There isn’t much data to show how the salary of a dermatologist evolves as they gain more experience. However, if we use Salary Experts database report, we can come up with the following median annual salary at different levels of experience:

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Entry Level  – $238,000

Mid-Career  – $359,000

Experienced – $477,000

As an entry-level dermatologist, your starting pay is about 60% of the national average. But as dermatologists gain experience from entry-level to mid-career, they can expect to reach the national average and earn nearly $100,000 more. Finally, when a dermatologist is fully experienced and in a senior role, they can expect to earn nearly $500,000 annually or nearly an additional $100,000 from their mid-career salary levels. 


Location

Where you decide to practice dermatology will influence your salary. This is not a phenomenon unique to dermatologist but to all physicians.

A recent study by Doximity found that the average physician salary in the highest earnings metro area was approximately $431,000, and the lowest metro area was $342,000. This is nearly a $100,000 difference in average salary based on location. 

To analyze pay differences by location, we used ZipRecruiter salary reporting. While ZipRecruiter’s numbers are slightly different than those of Doximity and Medscape numbers, we can use ZipRecruiter as a proxy to show which states pay higher salaries compared to others.

 

StateAnnual Salary
New York$417,984
Vermont$410,790
California$403,464
Maine$391,809
Idaho$387,606
Washington$384,581
Pennsylvania$382,812
Massachusetts$378,130
Alaska$375,736
New Jersey$374,345
New Hampshire$373,458
Oregon$371,445
North Dakota$371,076
Wisconsin$368,704
Wyoming$365,397
Hawaii$364,033
Colorado$362,070
Indiana$358,997
Nevada$355,272
New Mexico$354,287
Minnesota$353,792
Arizona$351,574
South Dakota$350,707
Montana$346,277
Ohio$344,572
Rhode Island$344,050
Delaware$343,410
Alabama$341,952
Virginia$339,682
Connecticut$337,334
Iowa$336,698
Illinois$334,142
Mississippi$333,696
Maryland$332,886
Tennessee$328,977
Utah$328,133
Nebraska$326,672
Missouri$322,302
South Carolina$319,039
Georgia$318,554
Oklahoma$316,356
Texas$315,939
Kansas$314,148
North Carolina$312,455
Louisiana$308,889
Kentucky$300,127
Michigan$300,010
West Virginia$295,651
Arkansas$285,133
Florida$281,918


The table above shows that New York has the highest annual salary compared to Arkansas, which has the lowest average salary for a dermatologist. The salary for a dermatologist in New York is $143,000 greater than the average salary of dermatologists in Arkansas.  

Some factors that influence the salary differences between states are the supply of dermatologists, the demand for dermatologists, the cost of living, and the number of opportunities available.

That said, it’s essential to recognize that these states also vary in cost of living. The cost of living dramatically varies across the country, with metropolitan areas generally being more expensive. This means that while some states offer higher compensation for cardiologists, the buying power of that salary may be severely diminished by higher basic living expenses.


Type of Workplace

The type of hospital or medical facility where you work can also affect your salary as a dermatologist. Working at a large, well-known healthcare institution or private hospital often comes with a higher wage than smaller hospitals or clinics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics performs a great analysis that demonstrates the difference in wages depending on the workplace or industry you are working in. 

The most common workplaces for dermatologists include:

  • Offices of Physicians
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
  • Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
  • Outpatient Care Centers
  • Other Healthcare Offices

The highest-paying workplace was physician offices, with an average annual salary of approximately $339,000.


The report did not disclose the average salary for outpatient care centers. However, they did disclose that general medical and surgical hospitals earn an average annual salary of approximately $274,000. The lowest-earning dermatologist worked in other healthcare offices with an average annual salary of $208,000. 

This report shows a large salary difference depending on the industry and workplace. By working at a physician’s office, you can earn nearly $150,000 more in annual salary than a dermatologist at other healthcare offices. 


Frequently Asked Questions


How much do dermatologists make in California?

According to ZipRecruiter, dermatologists in California earn an average annual salary of approximately $310,000. California ranked 39 out of 50, placing dermatologist earnings in the bottom 15 states. 

On the other hand, payscale reported dermatologists’ median annual salary in California as $419,000, which is more in line with the national average salary reported by Doximity and Medscape compensation reports. 50% of dermatologist salary fall between approximately $436,000 and $581,000. 


How much do dermatologists make in Tennessee?

According to ZipRecruiter, dermatologists in Tennessee earn an average annual salary of approximately $315,000. Tennessee ranked 30 out of 50, placing dermatologist earnings in the bottom 20 states. 

On the other hand, payscale reported dermatologist median annual salary in Tennessee as $349,000, which is more in line with the national average salary reported by Doximity and Medscape compensation reports—50% of dermatologist’s salaries fall between approximately $300,000 and $408,000. 


How much do dermatologists make in Florida?

According to ZipRecruiter, dermatologists in Florida earn an average annual salary of approximately $309,000. Florida ranked 49 out of 50, placing dermatologists’ earnings as one of the lowest in the country. 

On the other hand, payscale reported dermatologists’ median annual salary in Florida as $361,000, which is more in line with the national average salary reported by Doximity and Medscape compensation reports—50% of dermatologist’s salary fall between approximately $376,000 and $500,000. 


How much do dermatologists make in New York?

According to ZipRecruiter, dermatologists in New York earn an average annual salary of approximately $410,000. New York ranked as the highest-earning state for dermatologists. 

On the other hand, Payscale reported dermatologists’ median annual salary in New York as $406,000, and 50% of dermatologist salaries in New York fall between approximately $349,000 and $473,000. 


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