Career comparison
Dermatologist vs. Pathologist
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. $312,400), while dermatologists usually get to work faster (12 years after high school of training). Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions of the skin, hair and nails. Pathologists diagnose disease by studying tissue, blood and body fluids.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Dermatologist | Pathologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $328,730 ($158.04/hr) | $312,400 ($150.19/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $102,810 – $578,560 | $92,540 – $449,970 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.8% (faster than average) | +4.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 300 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 12 years after high school | 12 years after high school |
| Key credential | American Board of Dermatology certification | ABPath board certification |
| Work setting | Dermatologists work mostly in outpatient clinics and surgical suites.. | Pathologists work in hospital labs, reference labs, academic centers and medical examiner offices.. |
What each job does
Dermatologist
- Examine skin, hair and nails
- Screen for skin cancer
- Perform biopsies
- Treat acne, eczema and psoriasis
- Remove skin cancers
Pathologist
- Examine tissue under the microscope
- Diagnose cancer and disease
- Interpret lab test results
- Direct clinical laboratories
- Perform frozen sections during surgery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, indoor work, and steady routines. 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 pathologist if…
- I love solving diagnostic puzzles
- I prefer less patient contact
- I’m extremely detail-oriented
Still torn? Take the Dermatologist fit quiz and the Pathologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, dermatologist or pathologist?
Dermatologists earn more at the median: $328,730 versus $312,400 for pathologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Dermatologists typically train faster (12 years after high school) than pathologists (12 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects dermatologists to grow +6.8% from 2025–35, compared with +4.8% for pathologists.