Dermatology Physician Salary (2026)

The 2024 median base salary for a Dermatology physician in the United States is approximately $445K, with the typical 25th-to-90th-percentile band running from $395K to $575K. These figures are composite benchmarks drawn from MGMA, AAMC, and AMGA compensation surveys and reflect base compensation only — productivity bonuses, signing bonuses, call stipends, partnership distributions, and quality incentives sit on top of base and materially shift total cash compensation in every Dermatology offer I close.

Dermatology compensation at a glance

Median base (2024): $445K
Typical range (25th–90th): $395K – $575K
National demand: moderate
Primary board: American Board of Dermatology (ABD)
Fellowship pathways: Mohs Surgery, Pediatric Derm, Dermatopathology
Common practice settings: private dermatology practice, hospital-employed group, PE-backed dermatology platform, Mohs/cosmetic clinics
Geographic concentration of top offers: every major metro; geographic concentration in coasts and Sun Belt

What drives Dermatology compensation up or down

General dermatology associate-track offers run $400K-$475K base with productivity overlay; partnership-track economics in mature groups commonly clear $700K by year four. Mohs surgeons have a separate market, with offers landing $550K-$700K and significant case-volume bonuses. Cosmetic-derm comp varies enormously by market and patient demographics and should be modeled against realistic 18-month volumes rather than the practice's pro-forma. PE-platform offers often include rolled equity that should be valued separately from base comp.

Dermatology has one of the most favorable lifestyles among physician specialties and is a perennial top-applicant residency. Private equity consolidation has reshaped recruitment dynamics in the last decade.

Dermatology salary by state

Base ranges for Dermatology run inside the $395K–$575K band in most states, with rural and HPSA-designated counties producing offers at or above the upper end once signing bonuses, loan repayment, and rural premiums are stacked. Click a state below for the in-state Dermatology comp picture, anchor employers, and incentive stacking.

How recruiters benchmark a Dermatology offer

When I scope a Dermatology engagement, I pull MGMA and AMGA percentiles for the region, layer in the specific employer's historical comp band, and pressure-test against active Dermatology candidates we are already working. The $395K–$575K range above is the national reference; the actual offer for a given Dermatology role is built bottom-up from RVU model assumptions, call rotation, and ramp expectations. For Dermatology candidates evaluating an offer, the three numbers I tell people to focus on are base, wRVU conversion factor, and call-coverage stipend — not the headline salary alone.

Talk to a Dermatology recruiter about your number

Email hire@physicianrecruitment.com or call 1-888-812-3452 for a 30-minute confidential Dermatology compensation benchmarking call. We provide Dermatology candidates a written market analysis of any offer at no cost.