How Much Do Dermatologists Make on Average (Salary)

How much do dermatologists make? What's the average annual salary of a dermatologist? Dermatologists are in great demand since skin problems can affect persons of all ages.

What is a dermatologist?

The skin is the body's biggest and most visible organ, and it serves as a barometer of the body's health. It functions as a protective layer against damage and germs. A dermatologist is a physician who specializes in diseases of the skin, hair, nails, glands, and mucous membranes (inside the mouth, nose, and eyelids), including cancer.

Dermatology patients can be of any age, ranging from infants to those over the age of 100. Twenty of the 3,000 distinct dermatological diseases that can be addressed account for approximately 80% of a dermatologist's labor.

What does a dermatologist do?

Dermatologists in certain regions of the world, such as Australia, spend the majority of their time treating diseases caused by sun exposure, such as malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. Cosmetic issues such as moles, hair and nail abnormalities, occupational dermatitis, psoriasis, skin infections, eczema, acne, rosacea, and hand dermatitis are more common in other locations.

Skin diseases

Rosacea is a common skin disease that causes inflammation and redness. Hand dermatitis is a reaction to exposure with household chemicals that affects the majority of women who have children. Dermatologists can aid with a variety of aesthetic concerns, including wrinkles, age spots and other indications of aging, hair loss, and scars. Certain dermatologists undertake modest aesthetic treatments such as facelifts, liposuction, and blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery.

Cosmetic dermatology

Cosmetics, industrial chemicals, and pesticides are always posing new dermatological issues. People's greater exposure to the sun and other dangers that might cause skin issues has risen as a result of their increased outside employment and leisure time. Years of training and experience are required to master the minor distinctions between skin issues. Symptoms of several diseases frequently overlap. As a result, there is an increasing need for dermatologists.

Cosmetic procedures can also fall under this group, usually handled by a cosmetic dermatologist.

Family practice/pediatric dermatology

A family physician can send a patient to a dermatologist only if their initial therapy is unsuccessful or if an unsuccessful treatment results in problems. As a result, it is frequently more cost effective to consult a dermatologist in the first instance. Dermatologists are also more adept at early detection. Dermatology was formerly regarded as a "feasible" speciality, but is today acknowledged as important to people's health.

The majority of skin problems can be addressed with topical creams and lotions. Dermatologists must learn a variety of surgical procedures, including the injection of fillers and botulinum toxin (botox) to restore a patient's youthful appearance at the expense of facial mobility, cryotherapy and other procedures to remove common skin growths such as warts, excision, and skin and nail biopsies, in which the patient is awake and small amounts of tissue are removed to aid in diagnosis.

How much do dermatologists make?

Dermatologists earn an average annual income of $270,805. Earnings for dermatologists are influenced by experience and geography. For instance, dermatologists in urban regions typically receive a higher salary. The five highest-paying cities are Brooklyn and Queens, New York, Houston, Texas, Phoenix, Arizona, and Reading, Pennsylvania.

Wages of a dermatologist by month

Based on the average salary of a dermatologist, they can earn $22,570 per month. Dermatologist salary can vary based on specialization (such as pediatric dermatology) and state.

Wage growth

Based on information from 2018. Dermatologists made an average of $195,630 per year. Salary generally began at $57,880. 197% more than the national average.

By state

• Alabama: $331,000 per year
• Alaska: $155,695 per year
• Arizona: $190,094 per year
• Arkansas: $184,572 per year
• California: $255,246 per year
• Colorado: $154,107 per year
• Connecticut: $90,884 per year
• Delaware: $213,897 per year
• Florida: $237,237 per year
• Georgia: $177,595 per year
• Hawaii: $341,660 per year
• Idaho: $133,522 per year
• Illinois: $226,839 per year
• Indiana: $163,467 per year
• Iowa: $125,964 per year
• Kansas: $280,602 per year
• Kentucky: $192,625 per year
• Louisiana: $123,446 per year
• Maine: $206,940 per year
• Maryland: $361,472 per year
• Massachusetts: $255,786 per year
• Michigan: $213,608 per year
• Minnesota: $131,304 per year
• Mississippi: $267,076 per year
• Missouri: $154,535 per year
• Montana: $191,110 per year
• Nebraska: $206,730 per year
• Nevada: $120,473 per year
• New Hampshire: $210,966 per year
• New Jersey: $133,933 per year
• New Mexico: $136,704 per year
• New York: $242,066 per year
• North Carolina: $199,390 per year
• North Dakota: $201,8915 per year
• Ohio: $132,108 per year
• Oklahoma: $202,356 per year
• Oregon: $221,205 per year
• Pennsylvania: $305,671 per year
• Rhode Island: $175,619 per year
• South Carolina: $292,007 per year
• South Dakota: $313,642 per year
• Tennessee: $220,942 per year
• Texas: $105,911 per year
• Utah: $207,801 per year
• Vermont: $207,558 per year
• Virginia: $145,418 per year
• Washington: $347,821 per year
• West Virginia: $199,055 per year
• Wisconsin: $199,123 per year
• Wyoming: $206,496 per year

Job market outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physician and surgeon employment growth in the United States is expected to increase by 4% by 2029. This is the average growth rate for all vocations. According to BLS statistics, the reasons include an older population with increased health care demands and a rise in skin cancer diagnosis.

How to increase earnings as a dermatologist

Consider the following strategies to assist you in increasing your earning potential as a dermatologist:

Relocate

Where you reside has an effect on how much money you earn. Dermatologists are paid substantially more in various states in the United States. If you're earning less than you'd like, investigate which states pay dermatologists the most and consider migrating there. Bear in mind, though, that the cost of living can be greater as well.

Change workplaces

Dermatologists operate in hospitals, alongside other physicians in multi-specialty offices, or independently. Each of these employment environments might attract a varying salary. Hospitals, for example, pay dermatologists less than multi-specialty clinics. Consider switching to a higher-paying job.

Consider a specialization

Dermatology is divided into numerous subspecialties, including pediatric dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, and veterinary dermatology. Not all specialities are equally compensated. Your specialty can be one of the dermatological specialities with the lowest pay. Consider pursuing more training in a different, more lucrative specialty.

Gain more experience

In most sectors, including medicine, experience is rewarded with higher compensation. Your compensation as a dermatologist is determined by the amount of years you have worked in the field. If you are fresh to the profession, remaining for a few years should result in a wage increase.

Increase hours

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is critical. If you can spend quality time with family and still maintain a full-time job schedule, you can profit from retaining your current schedule and pay. However, if you can afford to extend your workday, you can be able to improve your compensation.

Common questions

The following are some frequently asked questions regarding working as a dermatologist and the salary earned by dermatologists:

Are there additional certifications or training that can increase income?

Additional qualifications or training do not ensure that your pay will improve. Having them, though, can help your resume/CV stand out and can result in higher-paying employment prospects. Several certifications and training programs to consider include the following:

• Dermatopathology.
• Pediatric dermatology.
• Micrographic dermatologic surgery.

How well are dermatologists paid compared to others in the medical field?

Dermatology is one of the highest-paid medical specialties in the United States. Cardiology, plastic surgery, and orthopedics are the closest competitors. This is most likely owing to their medical specialty and strong demand from patients.

Dermatologist salaries are generally very high in terms of average base salary.

What is the schedule like?

Despite the comparatively high compensation in dermatology, the majority of dermatologists work a typical 40-hour week. They typically do not perform midnight shifts or are confronted with as many patient crises as other physicians. They can, however, be called in at odd hours if they provide dermatological consult services to a major hospital.

Are they doctors?

A dermatologist, like any other physician, enters medical school but then completes a dermatological residency and clinical training following graduation. Due to the length of their schooling and speciality, a dermatologist's compensation begins high and increases throughout the course of their career.

Where do they work?

Dermatologists often operate in private practice, either independently or in collaboration with other physicians. Additionally, they provide dermatology consult services to major hospitals. Dermatologists generally work only during the week due to the outpatient nature of their operations.

What other sources of revenue are available to dermatologists?

Apart from patient treatment, there are additional methods for dermatologists to supplement their income. One revenue stream is the sale of skincare items through your clinic. These items make for a sizable portion of pharmaceutical sales and can assist increase income and your compensation at the clinic.

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