Occupation · SOC 29-1213
Dermatologists
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
Median wage
$239,200
$118,540–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
10,080
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
56 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingService OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningScienceWritingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingPersuasionInstructingCoordinationTime ManagementNegotiationLearning StrategiesManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisMathematicsOperations MonitoringManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingOperations AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisTroubleshootingOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingBiologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesPsychologyComputers and ElectronicsTherapy and CounselingMathematicsAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingChemistryCommunications and MediaPublic Safety and SecuritySales and MarketingLaw and GovernmentSociology and AnthropologyTelecommunicationsForeign LanguagePhysicsEngineering and TechnologyProduction and ProcessingDesignPhilosophy and TheologyMechanicalBuilding and ConstructionGeographyTransportationHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Allscripts PMAutomatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHRBenchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHRBizmatics PrognoCIS EMRCalendar softwareCareCloud CentralCerner PowerWorks Practice ManagementCisco WebexEmail softwareEncite Dermatology Electronic Health Records EHR SoftwareEpic Practice ManagementGE Healthcare Centricity Practice SolutionGalacTek ECLIPSEGreenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITEHealthFusion MediTouchIOS Health Systems Medios EHRKareo Practice ManagementMcKesson Practice PlusMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordModernizing Medicine Practice ManagementNexTech EMR & PMNextGen Healthcare NextGen Practice ManagementNuesoft Technologies NueMDVitera Healthcare Solutions Vitera IntergyWRSHealth EMRZoomathenahealth athenaCollectordoc2MDeClinicalWorks EHR softwaresimplifyMD
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersGetting InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersWorking with ComputersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeTraining and Teaching OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersProcessing InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsAnalyzing Data or InformationGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesDeveloping and Building TeamsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCoaching and Developing OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationThinking CreativelyInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsHandling and Moving ObjectsStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing OthersControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Complete skin examinations — conduct systematically under attending physician supervision in an outpatient dermatology clinic.Patient health histories — record accurately using structured intake forms and electronic medical record software in a supervised clinical setting.Common pigmented lesion types — recognize and differentiate, including acquired nevi and blue nevi, during supervised patient encounters.Diagnostic test recommendations — identify appropriate options based on patient history and physical findings under direct faculty guidance.Acne, dandruff, and superficial fungal conditions — diagnose and initiate standard treatment protocols with attending oversight in a residency clinic.Dermatologic medical literature — read and summarize relevant journal articles to support evidence-based care decisions under supervision.Sun protection and skin cancer awareness — communicate basic counseling points to patients using established educational materials.Incisional biopsy procedures — assist in performing under direct supervision to support melanoma diagnosis in a hospital or clinic setting.Medical software and scheduling platforms — navigate to document patient encounters and manage appointment workflows in a clinical environment.Skin examination findings — document in written clinical notes with attention to detail, following departmental formatting standards.
developing
Complete skin examinations — perform independently and efficiently, identifying normal variants and common pathologies across diverse patient populations in an outpatient clinic.Dysplastic and congenital nevi — diagnose and develop management plans with reduced oversight, applying dermoscopy in a general dermatology practice.Skin conditions such as psoriasis, moles, and seborrheic conditions — diagnose and manage routinely, adjusting treatment regimens based on patient response.Incisional biopsies — perform with technical competence to obtain diagnostic-quality tissue samples for melanoma workup in a clinical or surgical setting.Patient histories — gather comprehensively, integrating prior records and patient-reported data using electronic health record systems in a practice setting.Diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests — recommend and interpret results in context of dermatological presentations, coordinating with pathology teams.Annual dermatologic screening counseling — deliver individualized education to patients on skin self-examination and lymph node monitoring during routine visits.Minor skin surgical procedures — perform to address early-stage lesions or improve appearance, with appropriate pre- and post-operative care documentation.Video conferencing and telehealth platforms — conduct remote patient consultations for follow-up and straightforward dermatologic concerns.Complex problem-solving in familiar clinical scenarios — apply active learning strategies to adapt treatment approaches when first-line therapies prove insufficient.
proficient
Comprehensive skin examinations — perform autonomously across full patient scope, integrating dermoscopic and clinical findings to detect early-stage malignancies in high-volume practice settings.Melanoma and complex pigmented lesions including Spitz nevi — diagnose and manage independently, selecting optimal surgical and adjunct treatment strategies.Skin cancer excisions and reconstructive procedures — perform across a broad range of complexity levels, applying sound surgical judgment to balance oncologic and cosmetic outcomes.Non-routine dermatologic presentations — resolve through inductive and deductive clinical reasoning, synthesizing patient history, examination, and pathology in an academic or specialty practice.Patient counseling on skin cancer prevention and screening — tailor evidence-based education to individual risk profiles, demonstrating social perceptiveness and persuasive communication.Diagnostic workup pathways — design and oversee for rare or atypical skin conditions, coordinating multidisciplinary input from oncology, pathology, and immunology.Clinical documentation and reporting — produce high-quality written records and referral letters that meet regulatory and medicolegal standards across all patient encounters.Emerging dermatologic therapies and clinical evidence — critically evaluate and integrate into practice protocols, demonstrating active learning and scientific rigor.Monitoring of chronic skin conditions — implement systematic follow-up plans using electronic health record tools to track disease progression and treatment efficacy.Interprofessional coordination — lead case discussions with nursing, pathology, and oncology teams to optimize patient outcomes for complex skin cancer cases.
advanced
Departmental clinical standards and treatment protocols — develop and implement organization-wide, ensuring alignment with current evidence and specialty guidelines across a dermatology division.Dermatology residency and fellowship trainees — mentor and evaluate systematically, designing learning strategies and instructional frameworks that accelerate clinical competence.Complex melanoma and high-risk skin cancer programs — establish and direct, integrating surgical, medical, and supportive care pathways at an institutional or regional level.Organizational policy on sun safety, skin cancer screening, and public health dermatology — shape through expert advisory roles, influencing community and health system practice.Quality improvement and patient safety initiatives — lead across the dermatology service line, using monitoring data and outcomes analytics to drive measurable performance gains.Research agenda for skin disease diagnosis and treatment — define and champion, securing funding and publishing findings that advance the field at a national or international level.Multidisciplinary tumor board and cancer committee leadership — provide authoritative dermatologic expertise influencing treatment decisions for complex oncology cases at the hospital level.Workforce development and personnel strategy — design recruitment, credentialing, and continuing education programs for dermatology staff within a large health system.Health information technology adoption — guide selection and optimization of medical software, telehealth, and EHR platforms to support scalable, high-quality dermatologic care delivery.Ethical and professional standards in dermatologic practice — model and uphold with integrity, advising institutional leadership on medico-legal, billing compliance, and patient-rights matters.
Also known as
18 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Board Certified DermatologistClinical DermatologistDermatological SurgeonDermatologistDermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor)Dermatologist PhysicianDermatology PhysicianDermatopathologistDO Physician (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Physician)DoctorGeneral DermatologistMD (Medical Doctor)Medical DermatologistMohs Micrographic SurgeonMohs SurgeonPediatric DermatologistPracticing DermatologistProcedural Dermatologist