Career Explorer Healthcare (clinical)
Human edge, growing
Dermatologists
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
More resilient than most: more resilient than 78% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +6.8% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on ethical judgement and emotional intelligence.
AI struggles with much of this work, and US employers are expected to hire more people into it than average.
- Median pay (2025)
- $328,730
- Job growth to 2035
- +6.8%
- Openings a year
- 400
- People doing it (2025)
- 12,200
- Usual route in
- Doctorate or professional degree, then an internship or residency
Where people already use AI for this work
- Advise patients or clients on medical issues
- Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues
- Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Treat injuries, illnesses, or diseases
- Diagnose health conditions or disorders
- Order medical tests or procedures
What the work looks like
- Conduct complete skin examinations.
- Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
- Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
- Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
- Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- More of these jobs, as the growing popularity of cosmetic dermatology procedures increases demand for dermatologists.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Physician assistantsHuman edge, growing, Index 97, +21.1%
- Nurse practitionersGrows with AI, Index 88, +41.0%
- OptometristsHuman edge, growing, Index 89, +9.5%
- Nurse midwivesGrows with AI, Index 81, +11.5%
Also known as: Board Certified Dermatologist, Dermatologist Physician, MD (Medical Doctor), Mohs Surgeon, Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor), Dermatopathologist, Doctor, Mohs Micrographic Surgeon.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.