Career comparison
Dermatologist vs. Family Medicine Physician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Dermatologists earn more at the median ($328,730 vs. $244,180), while family medicine physicians usually get to work faster (11 years after high school of training). Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions of the skin, hair and nails. Family medicine physicians provide ongoing primary care to patients of all ages.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Dermatologist | Family Medicine Physician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $328,730 ($158.04/hr) | $244,180 ($117.39/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $102,810 – $578,560 | $76,830 – $428,550 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.8% (faster than average) | +3.3% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 2,900 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 12 years after high school | 11 years after high school |
| Key credential | American Board of Dermatology certification | ABFM board certification |
| Work setting | Dermatologists work mostly in outpatient clinics and surgical suites.. | Family physicians work in clinics, community health centers, hospitals and rural practices.. |
What each job does
Dermatologist
- Examine skin, hair and nails
- Screen for skin cancer
- Perform biopsies
- Treat acne, eczema and psoriasis
- Remove skin cancers
Family Medicine Physician
- Provide checkups and preventive care
- Diagnose and treat common illnesses
- Manage chronic diseases
- Perform minor procedures
- Order and interpret tests
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, helping others, indoor work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose dermatologist if…
- I’m visual and detail-oriented
- I want regular hours
- I like quick procedures
Choose family medicine physician if…
- I want long-term patient relationships
- I like variety
- I enjoy prevention
Still torn? Take the Dermatologist fit quiz and the Family Medicine Physician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, dermatologist or family medicine physician?
Dermatologists earn more at the median: $328,730 versus $244,180 for family medicine physicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Family Medicine Physicians typically train faster (11 years after high school) than dermatologists (12 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects dermatologists to grow +6.8% from 2025–35, compared with +3.3% for family medicine physicians.