What it is
Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions of the skin, hair, and nails — from acne and eczema to skin cancer — with medical, surgical, and cosmetic care. It's one of the most competitive specialties.
What you do
They evaluate and treat skin disease, perform biopsies and skin-cancer surgery, and provide cosmetic procedures, mostly in outpatient clinics.
Training path & length
4-year residency (after a preliminary year), with fellowships.
Fellowship subspecialties
Fellowships include Mohs micrographic surgery, dermatopathology, and pediatric dermatology.
Pay & job outlook
Physicians are among the highest-paid professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $275,930 for physicians and surgeons (May 2025), with employment projected to grow about 4% from 2025 to 2035 and ~22,100 openings per year. Pay varies widely by specialty — procedural and surgical fields generally earn more, primary-care and pediatric fields less.
Dermatologists earn above the physician median, with favorable hours.
How to get there
Become a physician first: earn an MD or DO, then match into this residency through the national match. Licensure requires completing residency and passing the board exams.
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Key facts
- Residency4 years
- TreatsSkin, hair, nails (medical, surgical, cosmetic)
- FellowshipsMohs surgery, dermatopathology, peds derm
- NoteHighly competitive
- EntryMD or DO via the match