Dermatologists Salary
The median pay for a dermatologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $233,370/year ($112.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $559K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $208,571 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,001/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $233K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dermatologists
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What this looks like in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
Pay for dermatologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $329K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $3,001/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 12% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.89), so groceries and services cost more too. Lower pay, lower costs, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad can be a reasonable trade-off for dermatologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dermatologists in metros near San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $419K | $418K |
| Tucson | $231K | $238K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level dermatologists (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $233K. Top earners bring in $559K or more, a $495K spread from bottom to top.
Dermatologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dermatologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $626K | +90% | 260 |
| Washington | $526K | +60% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $516K | +57% | 50 |
| Maryland | $442K | +35% | 120 |
| Delaware | $442K | +34% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $441K | +34% | 160 |
| Illinois | $436K | +33% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $434K | +32% | 100 |
| Iowa | $425K | +29% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $422K | +28% | 40 |
| Nevada | $419K | +28% | N/A |
| Michigan | $415K | +26% | N/A |
| Colorado | $399K | +21% | 260 |
| Alabama | $395K | +20% | N/A |
| New York | $374K | +14% | 2,070 |
| Ohio | $374K | +14% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $367K | +12% | 800 |
| Nebraska | $360K | +9% | N/A |
| Idaho | $282K | -14% | 60 |
| Virginia | $280K | -15% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $260K | -21% | 180 |
| Arizona | $233K | -29% | N/A |
| Indiana | $225K | -31% | 110 |
| Texas | $219K | -33% | 780 |
| Kentucky | $196K | -40% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $165K | -50% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 26 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dermatologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dermatologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Yes — at the median salary of $233K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,001/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dermatologists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dermatologists typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,818/month. At HUD’s $3,001/month FMR, rent would take 79% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dermatologist a high-paying job in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $233K here vs. $329K nationally.
How does San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad compare to the national average for dermatologists?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad pays $233K median vs. the U.S. average of $329K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $209K — below the national median.
How much do dermatologists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $233,370 a year, that works out to about $112 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,630, and experienced dermatologists can clear $558,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $233K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,832/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 23.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dermatologists salary go in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dermatologists salary is worth about $208,571 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dermatologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.