Dermatologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1213 · O*NET 29-1213.00
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
Dermatologists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +6.4% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do dermatologists earn?
BLS does not publish a current median annual wage for dermatologists, which usually means the occupation is small, niche, or reported only as part of a broader category. For pay context, check the parent SOC group or O*NET's wage-by-state tables.
Is dermatologists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for dermatologists is +6.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 10K positions in 2024 to 11K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do dermatologists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working dermatologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
- 2.Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
- 3.Conduct complete skin examinations.
- 4.Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
- 5.Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
- 6.Record patients' health histories.
- 7.Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology.
- 8.Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
Top skills for dermatologists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become dermatologist?
Becoming a dermatologist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about dermatologists
What is the median salary for dermatologists?
BLS does not publish a current median wage for dermatologists as a standalone occupation.
Is dermatologists a growing career?
BLS projects +6.4% growth for dermatologists from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become dermatologist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to dermatologists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.