Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary By State – (2024 FIGURES)

Written By: Pattie TrumblePattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. Read Full Bio »» , MPP, MPH

The typical dermatology NP salary reflects the fact that dermatology is a highly specialized area of advanced nurse practice. Due to the popularity of cosmetic skin procedures, dermatology is one of the fastest-growing NP specialties in the U.S. In 2017 alone, more than 17.5 million cosmetic procedures, both surgical and minimally invasive, were performed throughout the nation.

How much does a dermatology nurse practitioner make? That varies widely from state to state. Dermatology nurse practitioners earn their highest salaries in California. In the Golden State, dermatology NPs make 47 percent more than they make in Tennessee. In the Volunteer State, dermatology NPs only earn $87,270, making them the lowest-paid dermatology nurse practitioners in the U.S.

Keep reading for a comprehensive look at the dermatology nurse practitioner salary in 2024.

(Dermatology Nurse Practitioners are also commonly known as DNP, not to be confused with Doctor of Nursing Practice.)

How Much Does a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Make Per Hour?

What is the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary per hour in 2024? The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary per hour in 2024 is $48.35. Dermatology NPs typically begin earning this amount when they’ve been on the job more than five years. This amount is 38 percent more than the average entry-level salary per hour that DNPs earn ($35.02).

By the time they’ve been in their profession for 20 years or more, dermatology NPs can count on earning $65.93 an hour or 36 percent more than the average hourly pay for DNPs across the nation. This pay hike can be seen as a retention incentive: Most dermatology nurse practitioners acquire their skills on the job since very few academic programs or residencies are available in that field, and this means there may not be fresh crops of DNPs to choose from every year.

What is the Starting Salary of a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner?

What is the entry-level salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in 2024? The starting dermatology nurse practitioner salary in 2024 is $35.02 an hour, which multiplies out to $6,070 a month or $72,850 a year. This is actually 9 percent less than the average starting salary for all nurse practitioners across the U.S., which is $78,990. Why does this differential exist?

One reason may be that most nurse practitioners who are interested in dermatology are not experts in their fields when they are first hired. Dermatology nurse practitioners acquire their competencies on the job for the most part. At present, there are no master’s level dermatology nurse practitioner programs and only one post-master’s certificate training program in the field. Most NPs who go on to practice in dermatology graduated with either a family nurse practitioner specialty or an adult-gerontology specialty.

Not every dermatology practice or dermatology clinic is willing to invest resources in training a relative novice, and the relatively modest entry-level dermatology NP salary may reflect that. In some ways, the first few years on this job are equivalent to a post-graduate fellowship.

Another factor influencing DNPs’ modest starting salary may be the practice setting itself: On the whole, NPs employed by physician practices make 8 percent less than NPs employed in hospitals or outpatient care centers. Would-be dermatology nurse practitioners must work with a dermatology practice, however, in order to accumulate clinical hours. It takes a minimum of 3,000 hours (or approximately a year and a half) before an NP even becomes eligible to sit for the dermatology specialty certification exam.

What is the Average Salary of a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner?

What is the average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in 2024? The average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in 2024 is $48.35 an hour, which works out to $8,380 a month or $100,562 annually. This is 9 percent less than the average base salary for all nurse practitioners across the U.S., which is $109,025 a year.

The average salary reflects many different factors, including education, practice setting, experience, and certifications. The scarcity of formal academic dermatology NP training programs probably has a negative impact on the earning capacity of dermatology nurse practitioners overall. As noted above, most NPs who go on to specialize in dermatology hold advanced practice degrees as either family nurse practitioners or adult gerontology-primary care nurse practitioners. The average FNP salary is $105,898, which is 5 percent more than the average dermatology NP salary. Meanwhile, the average salary for adult gerontology-primary care nurse practitioners is $115,195, which is 15% higher than the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary.

Along with a dearth of academic programs preparing dermatology NPs for their professional role, until recently, there has been little consensus about the competencies this professional role entails. This, too, has probably had a negative impact upon the salary DNPs earn. In November 2018, however, the Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Coalition published the first list of competencies for DNPs in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP) credential is intended to be an objective measure of these competencies. Though the credential is not mandatory at present, it is becoming increasingly accepted. Once the credential becomes a dermatology nurse practice requirement, you can expect to see average salaries rise in this field.

Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary by Years of Experience

More experience results in higher pay in most instances. The starting dermatology nurse practitioner salary is $72,850 annually, but by the time you’ve accumulated one to four years of experience, you can expect your salary to increase by 14 percent to $83,330 annually. With five to eight years of experience, the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary is 98,080, which is 35 percent higher than the dermatology NP entry-level salary; while with 10 to 19 years of experience, the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary is $114,380, which is 57 percent higher than the dermatology NP entry-level salary.

This salary growth for DNPs by years of experience is steeper than it is for nurse practitioners overall, according to the results of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2019 National NP Sample Survey. On average, nurse practitioners with six to 10 years of experience earned salaries that were only 6 percent higher than their entry-level salary while salaries for NPs with between 11 and 20 years of experience only averaged 13 percent more than their entry-level salaries. DNPs’ steeper differential may represent the fact that their clinical dermatology skills are quite modest when they’re first hired in the field, and, so, years of experience make a greater contribution to their overall expertise.

Average Annual Compensation (Salary + Benefits) for Dermatology Nurse Practitioners

Of course, salary doesn’t tell the complete story of compensation for dermatology nurse practitioners. In addition to salary, all employees—including nurse practitioners—receive benefits, which are a form of untaxed, non-cash compensation.

Certain types of employee benefits, such as unemployment benefits, and contributions to Social Security and Medicare, are mandated by law. Other benefits, however, are discretionary and are designed to enhance a company’s recruiting and retention strategies. Dermatology nurse practitioner benefits typically include medical, dental and vision insurance; paid time off; professional liability insurance; retirement fund contributions, and reimbursement of expenses related to licensure and certification.

The cash value of benefits can often be quite considerable. For dermatology nurse practitioners employed by physicians or medical centers within the private sector, the average cash valuation of benefits is $42,522 annually, which amounts to 42 percent of their total salary. The average salary of dermatology nurse practitioners working for state and local governments, and other public sector entities, is slightly less: $99,520 annually. The average cash valuation of these DNPs’ benefits is $61,255 annually, which amounts to 62 percent of their total salary.

The disparity between the private sector and public sector benefits demonstrates why it’s unwise to evaluate employment options on the basis of salary alone. If you looked solely at salary figures, it would appear that on average, private sector dermatology NPs are compensated more generously than public sector dermatology NPs. However, if you add benefits into your calculations, it’s clear that public sector DNPs are compensated more highly overall: Public sector dermatology NPs receive $160,775 in total compensation whereas private sector dermatology NPs only receive $143,172.

How Does Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary Compare to Other NP Jobs?

Dermatology NPs are among the lowest-paid nurse practitioners. They make 36 percent less than the most highly-paid NP specialty, cardiac nurse practitioners ($136,846 annually). A good deal of this may be attributed to the fact that there are virtually no academic avenues to gaining clinical expertise in this specialty: The overwhelming majority of dermatology nurse practitioners acquire their skills on the job. Additionally, the fact that until recently, there was no consensus on the clinical competencies associated with the DNP professional role has probably had a negative impact on salary.

How Does Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary Compare to Other Similar Healthcare Jobs?

The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary is $100,562, which is 9 percent less than the average nurse practitioner salary across the board ($109,025). Dermatology nurse practitioners make 15 to 66 percent less than healthcare professionals like dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, and pharmacists who are graduates of doctoral-level educational programs; but they are more highly paid than ancillary healthcare professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists.

Average Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary by State – Ranked in the Order of Highest to Lowest Paying

(Based on the average salary of a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner, we have ranked each of the 50 states in the order of highest to lowest paying.)

Hourly	$61.63
Annual	$128,190

2. New Jersey:

The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in New Jersey comes to $55.26 an hour or $114,950 a year, which is nearly 14 percent higher than the national average. Garden State medical centers and dermatology practices in cities like Newark and Jersey City must compete for dermatology nurse practitioners with healthcare providers in New York City, which drives up their market value. And in January 2021, New Jersey repealed its tax on cosmetic procedures, giving a huge boost to that industry locally. Dermatology nurse practitioners have full practice authority in New Jersey but can’t prescribe medications unless prescriptions are cosigned by a physician. DNPs are employed throughout all parts of the state but are most numerous in the cities and suburbs that are part of the greater New York City Metropolitan area.

Hourly	$55.26
Annual	$114,950

3. Washington:

In the state of Washington, dermatology nurse practitioners have full practice authority; they can diagnose and treat patients, and write prescriptions without physician oversight. That means dermatology nurse practitioners can set up their own solo practices in rural and medically underserved areas throughout the state, or they can run their own medical spas, specializing in non-invasive aesthetic procedures, in wealthier areas like Seattle and the ski resort towns. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Washington is $53.40 an hour or $111,070 annually.

Hourly	$53.40
Annual	$111,070

4. New York:

Dermatology nurse practitioners are employed throughout the Empire State in major metropolitan centers like New York City, the Capital Region, Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo. New York is not a full practice state for nurse practitioners, so DNPs are mostly affiliated with dermatology group practices and medical centers. As an international center for style, New York City is a mecca for medical spas and aesthetics clinics where many DNPs also work; many of those NPs have passed the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) examination. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in New York is $53.38 an hour or $111,040 a year.

Hourly	$53.38
Annual	$111,040

5. Massachusetts:

In January 2021, Massachusetts became the 23rd state to grant nurse practitioners full practice authority, which means dermatology nurse practitioners in that state are free to open their own solo dermatology practices or cosmetic medical spas. DNPs in the Bay State mostly find employment in the cities and suburbs of the greater Boston metropolitan area; around Springfield, the state capital; or in the tony vacation resorts of the Berkshires. The Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, offers one of the few two-year residency programs specifically designed for nurse practitioners. The salary of a dermatology NP in Massachusetts is $53.22 an hour or $110,700 annually.

Hourly	$53.22
Annual	$110,700

6. Nevada:

Dermatology nurse practitioners in Nevada have had full practice authority since June 2013. Aesthetic medical spas are a booming business in cities like Las Vegas, Henderson and Reno, so dermatology nurse practitioners who specialize in cosmetic treatments are in high demand. On average, dermatology nurse practitioners make $50.62 an hour in Nevada, which multiplies out to $105,290 a year.

Hourly	$50.62
Annual	$105,290

7. Minnesota:

Minnesota consistently makes U.S. News n& World Report’s list of the healthiest states in the nation. But it also has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the U.S., so dermatology nurse practitioners have their work cut out for them here. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Minnesota is $50.20, which equals $104,420 annually. Minnesota has been allowing dermatology nurse practitioners to practice independently since 2015. Most DNPs practice in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Hourly	$50.20
Annual	$104,420

8. Wyoming:

The role of dermatology nurse practitioners is somewhat ambiguous in Wyoming since the state’s regulations use the APRN Consensus Model to define the scope of practice, and dermatology nurse practitioners are not listed as part of that model. DNPs are mostly employed in Cheyenne, Caspar, Laramie, and other urban centers throughout The Cowboy State. DNPs in Wyoming earn $50.16 an hour or $104,340 a year.

Hourly	$50.16
Annual	$104,340

9. Hawaii:

Hawaii grants nurse practitioners full practice authority just as soon as they are licensed as advanced practice nurses. NPs who want to become dermatology nurse practitioners, however, will still have to work with a physician practice in order to attain the experience they need for this specialization. Though the Aloha State is consistently ranked among the healthiest U.S. states, its sun-and-surf lifestyle means that dermatology services are highly utilized. In Hawaii, DNPs make $50.15 an hour or $104,310 a year.

Hourly	$50.15
Annual	$104,310

10. Oregon:

Oregon is one of the states that grants nurse practitioners full practice authority. However, Oregon NPs can’t legally expand their scope of practice beyond the population focus and area of licensure designated in their graduate degree, and this creates some ambiguity for dermatology nurse practitioners since most of them do not have graduate degrees in dermatologic advanced practice. The Beaver State is among the top ten states for skin cancers like melanoma, which means the demand for dermatology specialists is high. Dermatology nurses in Oregon make $50.07 an hour or $104,150 a year.

Hourly	$50.07
Annual	$104,150

11. Arizona:

Many parts of Arizona spend about half the year at 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and this can be awfully hard on the skin. Small wonder, then, that the demand for basic dermatology services is high in the Grand Canyon State. The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in Arizona is $49.60 an hour, which multiplies out to $103,170 a. year. Registered nurse practitioners in Arizona can function autonomously, but their scope of practice is limited to what their nurse practitioner graduate degree program prepared them to do. That means that full practice authority for dermatology nurse practitioners

Hourly	$49.60
Annual	$103,170

12. Rhode Island:

Rhode Island dermatology nurse practitioners have full practice and prescriptive authority. Most DNPS in the Ocean State practice in the greater metropolitan Providence region. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Rhode Island on average earn $49.52 an hour, which comes to $103,010 a year.

Hourly	$49.52
Annual	$103,010

13. New Mexico:

Dermatology nurse practitioners in New Mexico may practice and prescribe without physician oversight. The state is one of the poorest and most rural in the nation, and there are many incentives in place to attract NPs to practice in medically underserved parts of the state. Albuquerque is the center for standard dermatological services while the upscale communities of Santa Fe and Taos boast numerous aesthetic and cosmetic spas. Dermatology nurse practitioners in New Mexico earn $49.42 an hour on average, which calculates out to $102,790 a year.

Hourly	$49.42
Annual	$102,790

14. Connecticut:

Connecticut has one of the highest concentrations of cosmetic and aesthetic medical practices in the U.S., which creates a high demand for dermatology nurse practitioners who have trained in that subspecialty. Dermatology nurse practitioners can apply for full practice authority in the Nutmeg State after they spend three years collaborating with a physician. Most DNPs are employed in the cities of Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford or the New York City suburbs of Greenwich, Darien, and New Canaan. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Connecticut earn a salary of approximately $49.31 an hour or $102,560 a year.

Hourly	$49.31
Annual	$102,560

15. Texas:

They take skin very seriously in Texas: The Lone Star State has one of the highest number of dermatology practices in the U.S. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Texas must work collaboratively with supervising physicians in private practices and medical centers, however, because NPs in that state have a restricted scope of practice. DNPs are to be found throughout the state, primarily in urban centers like Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Texas is $49.27 an hour, which is equivalent to $102,490 a year.

Hourly	$49.27
Annual	$102,490

16. Maryland:

The eastern part of Maryland has a semitropical climate, which means that dermatology nurse practitioners see a lot of contact dermatitis from plants and insect bites In 2015, Maryland became the 21^st state in the union to allow nurse practitioners to practice without physician oversight, which allows dermatology nurse practitioners to open up their own independent clinics. Most of the Old Line State’s DNPs practice in the greater Baltimore metropolitan region or the tony District of Columbia suburbs of Frederick, Silver Spring, and Gaithersburg. The salary of a dermatology NP in Maryland is $48.65 an hour or $101,200 annually.

Hourly	$48.65
Annual	$101,200

17. Montana:

Before dermatology nurse practitioners can practice independently in Montana, they must complete supplementary courses in pharmacology and disease management. Additionally, if they want to write their own prescriptions, they must have an application approved by the state’s practice authority. Montana is sparsely populated, so most dermatology nurse practitioners are employed in population centers like Billings, Missoula, and Great Falls. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Big Sky Country is $48.29 an hour or $100,440 a year.

Hourly	$48.29
Annual	$100,440

18. Idaho:

Idaho has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the U.S., thereby emphasizing the need for the types of services that dermatology nurse practitioners are trained to provide. Dermatology nurse practitioners are allowed to practice and prescribe independently in the Gem State without the need for physician oversight. In this sparsely populated state, you’ll find DNPs mostly practicing in the greater metropolitan Boise area. In Idaho, dermatology nurse practitioners earn $48.09 an hour or just over $100,000 a year.

Hourly	$48.09
Annual	$100,020

19. Utah:

Utah is another state with a high incidence of skin cancers due to the high number of sunny days residents of this state enjoy, underlining the demand for nurse practitioners who are specially trained in dermatology procedures. The Beehive State also has one of the highest per-capita numbers of cosmetic surgery and aesthetic practices. NPs cannot practice independently in Utah, which means dermatology nurse practitioners must be affiliated with private physician practices or medical centers. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Utah earn $47.94 an hour or $99,720 a year on average.

Hourly	$47.94
Annual	$99,720

20. Wisconsin:

In order to practice in Wisconsin, dermatology nurse practitioners must have a collaborative agreement in place with a dermatologist or other physician who’s board-certified in the DNP’s specialty. This restricts the ability of DNPs to practice in medically underserved areas where they lack access to a physician who will sign a collaborative agreement. Most Wisconsin-based DNPs practice in densely populated urban areas like Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, or in the upscale Chicago suburb of Twin Lakes. The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in Wisconsin is $47.72 an hour or $99,260 a year.

Hourly	$47.72
Annual	$99,260

21. Oklahoma:

Dermatology nurse practitioners in Oklahoma earn $47.61 an hour on average, which comes to just over $99,000 a year. The Sooner State allows NPs to diagnose patients independently, but NPs must practice in a way that’s consistent with their licensure specialty, which creates some difficulties for DNPs since most have not graduated with a dermatology specialty. In consequence, most dermatology nurse practitioners in the Sooner State are associated with dermatology practices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Hourly	$47.61
Annual	$99,020

22. New Hampshire:

Dermatology nurse practitioners in New Hampshire have full practice and prescription authority. New Hampshire has a rapidly aging population, and the demand for dermatologic services increases as populations age, so DNPs are highly sought after in the Granite State. New Hampshire also has the fourth-highest rate of skin cancers in the nation. DNPs in New Hampshire earn $47.48 per year on average, which works out to $98,760 a year.

Hourly	$47.48
Annual	$98,760

23. Delaware:

Delaware ranks among the top ten states in the incidence of skin cancers, indicating a need for the types of services that dermatology nurse practitioners can provide. NPs in Delaware can practice autonomously after they’ve practiced for 4,000 hours under a collaborative agreement with a physician, but the situation is complicated for DNPs by the fact that autonomous practice is restricted to an NP’s graduate education specialty. NPs in Delaware earn $47.38 on average, which multiplies out to $98,560 a year.

Hourly	$47.38
Annual	$98,560

24. Illinois:

Though nurse practitioners in Illinois are able to practice independently upon completion of at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience in collaboration with a physician, the situation is a little more complicated for dermatology nurse practitioners: Full-practice NPs must attain national certification within their field of expertise, and the Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP) credential is not yet a national requirement for DNPs. Most dermatology nurse practitioners in the Land of Lincoln are affiliated with dermatology or cosmetic surgery practices in Joliet, Aurora, or the greater metropolitan Chicago region. The average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in Illinois is $47.31 an hour or $98,410 annually.

Hourly	$47.31
Annual	$98,410

25. Louisiana:

Dermatology nurse practitioners in Louisiana can only practice under the terms of a collaborative agreement that’s signed by both the APRN and the MD. Most DNPs are employed by practices located in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana is $47.24 an hour or $98,250 annually.

Hourly	$47.24
Annual	$98,250

26. Maine:

Maine has the most elderly population of any of the 50 states, and elderly people tend to use more dermatologic services. Maine also has an unusually high incidence of skin cancer cases. Both these trends indicate a high demand for the type of care that dermatology nurse practitioners have been trained to provide. NPs in Maine with APRN licensure have full practice and prescription authority. In the Pine Tree State, the average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner is $47.11 an hour or just under $98,000 a year.

Hourly	$47.11
Annual	$97,990

27. Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania is home to two dermatology nurse practitioner fellowships: The Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery center offers both a 12-month postgraduate dermatology advanced practice provider training program and a six-month Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner Training Program with a dermatology specialization, while Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center also offers an Advanced Practice Clinician Dermatology Fellowship. But under current Pennsylvania state law, dermatology nurse practitioners can only provide care under the term of collaborative agreements with physicians. The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in Pennsylvania is $47.10 an hour or $97,970 annually.

Hourly	$47.10
Annual	$97,970

28. North Dakota:

Dermatology nurse practitioners can treat patients independently in North Dakota, and once they’ve completed 30 hours of pharmacology coursework, they can also prescribe medications without physician supervision. Most Dermatology NPs are employed in the areas around Fargo and Bismarck. In North Dakota, dermatology nurse practitioners can expect to earn $46.89 an hour or $97,540 a year.

Hourly	$46.89
Annual	$97,540

29. Alaska:

Alaska’s frigid temperatures draw moisture away from the skin, exacerbating dermatological issues of all sorts, and this drives the demand for dermatology specialists in Alaska. Alaska was one of the first states to adopt expanded scope of practice regulations for NPs back in the 1980s. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Alaska earn salaries that average $46.56 an hour or $96,840 a year. Most DNPs practice within the greater metropolitan Anchorage area.

Hourly	$46.56
Annual	$96,840

30. Indiana:

The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in Indiana is $46.42 an hour or $96,550 annually. In Indiana, dermatology nurse practitioners can treat patients without physician supervision and can even open their own practices, but they are required to have a collaborative agreement with a physician in place in order to prescribe medications. However, in April 2021, the state passed a bill that will grant NPs full practice and prescription authority. Most dermatology nurse practitioners in the Hoosier State practice in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville.

Hourly	$46.42
Annual	$96,550

31. Colorado:

Colorado’s high altitudes combined with its high winds during the colder seasons can be very hard on the skin, and that’s one reason why there’s a high demand in the Centennial State for the services dermatology nurse practitioners provide. Nurse practitioners in Colorado have full practice authority and can apply for full prescriptive authority after completing 1,000 hours of practice with provisional prescriptive authority. The salary of a dermatology NP in Colorado is $46.34 an hour or $96,390 annually. Most DNPs are employed in the state’s larger cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora, or in cosmetic med spas that proliferate throughout tony ski resorts like Vail, Aspen, and Telluride.

Hourly	$46.34
Annual	$96,390

32. Virginia:

Virginia nurse practitioners who have the equivalent of five full years of practice in collaboration with a physician are eligible to apply for full practice authority. Most dermatology nurse practitioners in Old Dominion are employed either in the densely populated corridor between Richmond and Newport News, or in upscale District of Columbia suburbs like Arlington, Fairfax, and Annandale. The average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in Virginia is $46.30 an hour, which works out to $96,300 a year.

Hourly	$46.30
Annual	$96,300

33. Mississippi:

One of the most important public health issues in Mississippi is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which typically presents as a small, red, upraised skin rash. Many Mississippi residents have a hard time getting a timely diagnosis for MRSA because they live in rural communities where there are no dermatologic services. Unfortunately, dermatology nurse practitioners can’t take up the slack here because nurse practitioners in Mississippi can only practice under the terms of a collaborative agreement they set up with a supervising physician. Most DNPs in the Magnolia State work in the areas around Jackson and Gulfport where they earn $46.25 an hour or $96,210 a year on average.

Hourly	$46.25
Annual	$96,210

34. Michigan:

Michigan nurse practitioners must work under a supervising physician, and the tasks and functions delegated to them must fall into the scope of practice defined by their specialty certification. This has the potential to complicate matters for dermatology nurse practitioners since the Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP) credential is not yet a standard requirement for all DNPs. Most dermatology nurse practitioners are employed around Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Michigan comes to $46.08 an hour or $95,850 a year.

Hourly	$46.08
Annual	$95,850

35. North Carolina:

The salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in North Carolina is $45.75 an hour or $95,170 a year. Nurse practitioners in North Carolina have highly restricted practice authority; NPs in the Tar Heel State can only work under physician supervision. That means that in many areas of the state where there are few dermatologists, North Carolina residents have little or no access to dermatologic services. Dermatology nurses can mostly be found working in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro and those cities’ suburbs. Common skin problems in North Carolina’s humid subtropical climate include acne and eczema.

Hourly	$45.75
Annual	$95,170

36. Vermont:

Vermont has one of the smallest concentrations of cosmetic surgeons in the U.S., so it’s likely that dermatology nurse practitioners in that state focus mainly on medical rather than aesthetic practice. The typical dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Vermont is $45.72 an hour or $95,090 annually. In Vermont, nurse practitioners can practice independently upon completion of certain requirements; one of those requirements, though, is achieving national certification in an NP specialty, and the Dermatology Nurses’ Association is not among the certifying bodies recognized by the Vermont State Board of Nursing.

Hourly	$45.72
Annual	$95,090

37. Iowa:

More than 17 of Iowa’s population is over the age of 65, and that percentage is increasing yearly. Aging individuals are among the largest utilizers of dermatologic care, so one can infer that the demand for the services of dermatology nurse practitioners is high in the Hawkeye State. Iowa nurse practitioners are allowed to practice independently within the specialty area in which they are certified; this may complicate matters for dermatology nurse practitioners since the Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP) credential is not nationally recognized. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Iowa earn $45.56 an hour or $94,770 a year.

Hourly	$45.56
Annual	$94,770

38. Nebraska:

Nurse practitioners in Nebraska have had full practice authority since 2015. Dermatology nurse practitioners in the Cornhusker State earn $45.32 an hour and $94,260 annually on average. Most DNPs are employed in the state’s more densely populated areas, including the greater metropolitan Omaha and Lincoln regions.

Hourly	$45.32
Annual	$94,260

39. Missouri:

Nurse practitioners in Missouri can only work under the terms of a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician whose office is within 50 miles of the NP’s practice. This means that Missourians living in rural, medically underserved parts of the state can’t get the dermatologic services they may need from dermatology nurse practitioners. The typical dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Missouri is $45.12 an hour or $93,850 a year. Most Missouri DNPs work in the most densely populated part of the state around St. Louis.

Hourly	$45.12
Annual	$93,850

40. Georgia:

In Georgia, the highest concentration of dermatology nurse practitioners specializing in either medical or cosmetic procedures is to be found in Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs. Since Georgia is not a full practice state for nurse practitioners, these DNPs typically work with physician practices, physician-operated medical spas, or cosmetic ambulatory care centers. The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in Georgia is $44.85 an hour or $93,280 a year.

Hourly	$44.85
Annual	$93,280

41. Arkansas:

In March 2021, the Arkansas State Legislature finally approved a bill giving nurse practitioners full practice authority upon completion of three years of practice under a collaborative agreement with a physician. This means that dermatology nurse practitioners may soon be able to begin providing care in the many parts of the Land of Opportunity where there are no dermatologists. Currently, most DNPs are employed in the area around Little Rock. Arkansas dermatology nurse practitioners make $44.84 an hour or $93,270 a year.

Hourly	$44.84
Annual	$93,270

42. Ohio:

Although a bill has been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly that if enacted, would give nurse practitioners full practice authority, at present NPs in the Buckeye State can only see patients if they maintain supervision agreements with physicians. Most dermatology nurse practitioners in the state are affiliated with dermatology and cosmetic practices in large urban areas like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Ohio is $44.60 an hour or $92,760 annually. University Hospitals in northeast Ohio is one of the few places in the nation that offers a post-master's dermatology nurse practitioner program.

Hourly	$44.60
Annual	$92,760

43. West Virginia:

Although West Virginia allows nurse practitioners who have worked in a formal, supervised arrangement with a physician for three years or more to practice independently, they may only do so within the specialty in which they were certified as advanced practice nurses. This has the potential to create difficulties for dermatology nurse practitioners wishing to set up their own practices in the Mountain State. West Virginia dermatology nurse practitioners earn $44.42 an hour or $92,400 a year on average.

Hourly	$44.42
Annual	$92,400

44. Kansas:

Nurse practitioners in Kansas cannot practice or prescribe medication without an agreement in place with a supervising physician who practices in the NP’s specialty. Since there are relatively few dermatologists in Kansas, this means that dermatology nurse practitioners cannot provide dermatologic care in the medically underserved areas that might benefit the most from that care. In Kansas, dermatology nurse practitioners make $44.13 an hour, which multiplies out to $91,800 a year.

Hourly	$44.13
Annual	$91,800

45. South Dakota:

South Dakota is one of the chilliest states in the nation during the winter. On their own, cold temperatures don’t necessarily have a deleterious effect on the skin. But most indoor heating sources have very little humidity associated with them, and this accelerates water loss from skin cells, leading to dermatologic issues. NPs in the Mount Rushmore State can practice independently upon completion of 1,040 hours of work under physician supervision. Dermatology nurse practitioners make $43.52 an hour or $90,520 annually in South Dakota.

Hourly	$43.52
Annual	$90,520

46. Kentucky:

Nurse practitioners in Kentucky can only practice within the scope of collaborative agreements with supervising physicians. This means that dermatology nurse practitioners in the Blue Grass State can only work with established dermatology practices. Such practices tend to be in the state’s more populated areas like Lexington, Louisville, and communities along the shared border with Ohio. Dermatology nurse practitioners in Kentucky earn $43.26 an hour, which comes out to $89,980 annually.

Hourly	$43.26
Annual	$89,980

47. South Carolina:

The average salary for dermatology nurse practitioners in South Carolina is $42.72 an hour, which works out to $88,860 a year. South Carolina was once a textile manufacturing center with high rates of contact dermatitis and other occupationally-related skin diseases; though much of that manufacturing has shut down, many elderly South Carolina residents still face health issues related to their skin. The South Carolina Nurse Practice Act stipulates that NPs must practice within 45 miles of a supervising physician, so dermatology nurse practitioners in the state are mostly employed in population centers like Charleston, North Charleston, and Columbia.

Hourly	$42.72
Annual	$88,860

48. Florida:

Florida has one of the largest populations of residents aged 65 and over in the U.S., and these seniors are among the largest consumers of dermatologic care. The Sunshine State has the third-highest number of dermatology practices in the country as well one of the highest concentrations of cosmetic surgery practices. In 2020, Florida nurse practitioners gained full practice authority, providing they’d accumulated 3,000 hours of experience under the supervision of a physician. DNPs are employed throughout all parts of the state but most especially in the areas around Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Florida is $42.67 an hour or $88,750 a year. Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton offers a dermatology nurse practitioner specialty postgraduate certificate program. The University of Miami also offers a postgraduate dermatology nurse practitioner program.

Hourly	$42.67
Annual	$88,750

49.Alabama:

The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Alabama is $42.13 an hour or $87,630 annually. Most DNPs work in the vicinity of Birmingham where they’re employed by physician practices because Alabama does not permit NPs to practice without direct physician oversight.

Hourly	$42.13
Annual	$87,630

50.Tennessee:

Tennessee’s population is rapidly aging, underscoring the importance of the types of care and management that dermatology nurse practitioners can provide. But NPs in the Volunteer State work under some of the most restrictive laws in the U.S., so they can’t provide services in areas where few or no dermatologists are available to supervise them. This means that DNPs must work in areas that already have established dermatology practices like Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville. The average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee is $41.96 an hour, which comes to $87,270. This is the lowest dermatology nurse practitioner salary in the U.S.

Hourly	$41.96
Annual	$87,270

Average Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary in 50 Major U.S. Cities

As you might expect, the highest-paid dermatology nurse practitioners are based in cities located in California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Dermatology nurse practitioners based in the San Francisco Bay Area (which includes Oakland) earn $75.07 an hour on average or $156,140 a year; this is nearly 80 percent higher than the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee, of course, is the state in which DNPs earn the lowest salaries.

Dermatology nurse practitioner salaries from city to city are mainly influenced by two factors. The first is the cost of living, which is inextricably linked to wages because if salaries are not high in places where it’s expensive to live, then workers will not be able to afford to live there and will move somewhere cheaper. San Francisco’s cost of living is 94 percent higher than the national average. In contrast, Nashville’s cost of living is on a par with the national average.

The second factor that influences dermatology nurse practitioner salaries is the scope of practice laws that exist in a particular state. On the whole, nurse practitioners earn more in states that grant them full scope of practice. If an employer has to pay a salary not just to a dermatology nurse practitioner but also to a supervising physician, it’s only logical that the DNP will be paid less.

What is the Outlook Like for Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Salary?

As a profession, one might say that dermatology nurse practice is still in its infancy. There are very few academic or fellowship programs available for advanced practice nurses who want to specialize in dermatology. Most DNPs learn on the job after pursuing a degree as a family nurse practitioner or as an adult gerontology-primary care nurse practitioner, and this has a negative impact on DNP earning potential overall.

Additionally, it wasn’t until 2018 that the competencies needed in this specialty became standardized. State-by-state variations in NP scope of practice regulations also clouds the public’s acceptance of the dermatology nurse practitioner’s professional role.

The creation of the Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP) credential as an objective measure of competency was a huge step forward for the profession. It grants dermatology nurse practitioners parity with all the other nurse practitioner specialties that require board certification. At present, taking the qualifying exam to attain the credentialing is optional but as the credential gains more widespread acceptance, possibly even inspiring a greater number of post-master’s certificate programs, you can expect to see the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary increase.

5 Ways Dermatology Nurse Practitioners Can Increase Their Earning Potential

The earning potential of dermatology nurse practitioners is based on experience, practice setting, geographical location, and certifications. Are you looking for ways to increase your dermatology nurse practitioner earning potential? Here are some points to consider.

1. Relocation:

There’s an enormous degree of variation in the amounts dermatology nurse practitioners are paid from state to state. DNPs employed in California make considerably higher salaries than DNPs employed in Tennessee. The most reliable way to boost your dermatology nurse practitioner salary may be to move to a state where the pay rate is higher. Of course, there may be practical reasons why this may not be feasible.

2. Gain work experience:

Dermatology nurse practice is one specialty where advanced practice nurses learn on the job. Seek out more advanced clinical experiences. If possible, pursue administrative roles within your clinical setting. These skills will allow you to pursue horizontal moves to new workplaces where you may well be able to negotiate higher compensation.

3. Pursue continuing education opportunities:

While it’s true that there aren’t many academic pathways to mastering the dermatology specialty for advanced practice nurses, a number of continuing education opportunities do exist in the field. The new skills you learn have the potential to make you a lot more marketable.

4. Specialize in a new niche:

The three most common DNP subspecialties are cosmetic, surgical, and pediatric. If you’re working in a general dermatology practice, and you don’t have a sub-specialization, investigate what it might take to become a specialist in one of these niche areas.

5. Change your practice setting:

In general, nurse practitioners employed by hospitals or outpatient care centers earn higher salaries than nurse practitioners who work for physician practices. If you work for a doctor, keep an eye open for DNP positions in higher-paying practice settings.

Summing It Up

This article has sought to provide a comprehensive answer to the question: How much does a dermatology nurse practitioner make? As we have seen, the dermatology nurse practitioner specialty is rapidly evolving in ways that will allow DNPs to function more effectively in terms of their education, competencies, and scope of practice. As the Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner credential becomes more firmly established as a standard both for advanced practice nurses and potential employers, you can expect to see dermatology NP salaries increase. In all likelihood, the average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in 2025 will be higher than the average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner in 2021.

Top Questions Answered by Our Expert

1. What Is A Dermatology Nurse Practitioner?

Dermatology nurse practitioners diagnose, treat and manage conditions that affect skin, hair, and nails. These conditions range from acne and psoriasis to skin cancers, burns, and wounds. According to a report published by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, there were approximately 3,700 dermatology NPs employed throughout the U.S. in 2014. The U.S. has a rapidly aging population, and elderly people have more skin issues than younger people. That means the demand for dermatology NPs is likely to increase, which is a good indication that the average dermatology nurse practitioner salary will also keep on rising.

While many dermatology nurse practitioners are generalists who work with patients across those patients’ lifespans, other DNPs prefer to specialize in niche populations. Thus, pediatric dermatology nurse practitioners work primarily with children younger than 18 while surgical dermatology nurse practitioners work principally in operating theaters, performing or assisting with cancer removals. Cosmetic dermatology NPs perform or assist with cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasions, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing.

There are few set courses of study for dermatology nurse practitioners. At present, there is only one dermatology NP post-master’s certificate program that trains advanced practice nurses specifically in the dermatology specialty. Dermatology fellowships, residencies, and post-master's certificates for APNs are few in number as well. If you’re interested in becoming a dermatology nurse practitioner, most likely you’ll need to pursue an advanced nurse practice specialty such as family nurse practice or adult-gerontology nurse practice and plan on getting your specialized dermatology training on the job. Once you’re completed 3,000 clinical hours as a nurse practitioner in a dermatology practice or a dermatology clinic, you’ll be eligible to sit for an exam administered by the Dermatology Nurses’ Association. Passing this exam and meeting the eligibility criteria will qualify you to become a Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner. Note, however, that this certification is not a national requirement and that many dermatology practices and clinics will be happy to employ you without it. You may also run into difficulties setting up your own independent practice, even in states that support full NP practice authority, because some of those states only allow NPs to practice independently in specialties whose certification process is nationally recognized.

2. Where Do Dermatology Nurse Practitioners Work?

The majority of dermatology nurse practitioners are employed by the private sector, and this has an effect on the average dermatology NP salary since medical personnel employed by the private sector tend to make more money than medical personnel employed by state and local governments, or educational institutions. Dermatology nurse practitioners work in:

• Physicians’ practices:

Dermatology NPs often work closely with dermatologists, treating patients with acne, eczema, psoriasis, shingles (herpes zoster), rosacea, fungal infections, and skin cancers. But they collaborate with other medical healthcare providers, too, including dermatology surgeons, rheumatologists, oncologists, and primary care providers.

• Cosmetic surgeons’ offices:

Dermatology NPs who specialize in cosmetic procedures are sometimes known as aesthetic nurse practitioners. They provide a variety of treatments, including Botox and dermal filler injections, chemical peels, laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and thermage (noninvasive radiofrequency therapy). DNPs may also assist cosmetic surgeons with surgical procedures.

• Medical Centers:

Dermatology nurse practitioners may work in hospital burn units or provide support and guidance for intensive care unit staff members tasked with caring for patients with serious and unusual dermatological disorders such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. They may also manage clinics where they excise small dermatological lesions.

• Medical spas:

Medical spas are places that provide nonsurgical aesthetic procedures such as the injection of Botox and other dermal fillers, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal and skin resurfacing, and nonsurgical fat reduction.

• Universities:

Dermatology nurse practitioners may teach classes about the skin, and integumentary diseases and conditions at nursing and medical schools.

• Pharmaceutical companies:

Pharmaceutical companies will occasionally hire nurse practitioners to help conduct research into experimental drugs that are intended to be used for skin-related issues.

• Solo practices:

Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia grant full practice authority to nurse practitioners, allowing NPs to diagnose, treat and manage patient conditions without physician oversight. In these jurisdictions, dermatology NPs may be able to open up their own solo practices so long as they don’t provide services outside the bounds of their own specialty. There may be some ambiguity defining what their own specialty is, though: Is it dermatology or the specialty they hold as advanced practice registered nurses?

3. What Is The Typical Work Schedule For Dermatology Nurse Practitioners?

For dermatology nurse practitioners as for other nurse practitioners, there’s no such thing as a “typical work schedule.” The hours you work depend upon the practice setting that pays you your dermatology nurse practitioner salary. DNPs who are affiliated with physician practices or medical spas tend to work conventional eight-hour shifts while DNPs who work at medical centers can work either eight-hour or 12-hour shifts.

Dermatology NPs who are affiliated with physicians’ offices will work the hours those offices are open. These will vary from locality to locality but will usually involve Mondays through Fridays, beginning at either 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. and ending at either 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Some physicians’ offices stay open later in the evenings one or two hours a week to allow working patients greater access to their services while others may remain open on Saturdays. Dermatologic emergencies are rare, but they do occur, so you may be asked to be on call occasionally.

Medical centers remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so DNPs who work in hospital settings may be assigned to either day shift (7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), swing shift (3:00 p.m. to 11:300 p.m.) or night shift (11:00 pm to 7:30 a.m.). A hospital’s clinical personnel are also expected to work every other weekend and some holidays.

4. What Is The Level Of Job Satisfaction For Dermatology Nurse Practitioners?

Dermatology nurse practitioners have a very high level of job satisfaction.

In 2010, The Journal of the Dermatology published a study that—among other things—looked at how satisfied dermatology nurse practitioners are with their chosen profession. The survey tabulated the results of nearly 200 surveys sent to members of the Dermatology Nurses Association and returned anonymously.

On average, respondents had been nurse practitioners for more than nine years and dermatology nurse practitioners for nearly six years. The overwhelming majority of respondents reported being highly satisfied with their career choice although slightly more than one-third of the respondents also reported that they felt professional colleagues looked down on them because they’d chosen to work in dermatology.

5. How many hours a week do Dermatology Nurse Practitioners work?

The number of hours a week a dermatology nurse practitioner works depends upon the practice setting in which he or she is employed. DNPs who are affiliated with physician practices, outpatient care centers, or med spas typically work 40-hour weeks. DNPs employed by hospitals typically work 36 to 40 hours a week and are compensated for any overtime they put in.

6. In which Settings do Dermatology Nurse Practitioners get paid the most?

Cosmetic dermatology nurse practitioners who work in aesthetic clinic settings have the potential to make salaries in the six-figure range.

7. What types of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners get paid the most?

Hospital-based dermatology nurse practitioners earn the highest salaries on the whole, but cosmetic dermatology nurse practitioners have the potential to earn the most since compensation may be tied into the number of patients seen plus they earn bonuses.

8. How does the average salary of a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Compare to the average Nurse Practitioner salary in the U.S?

The average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner is 8.4 percent less than the average salary of a nurse practitioner in the U.S. This differential holds across every level of experience from entry-level DNPs to DNPs with 20 years or more of experience.

9. What are the 10 highest and lowest paying states for Dermatology Nurse Practitioners?

The ten states in which dermatology nurse practitioners earn the highest salaries are California, New Jersey, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Nevada, Minnesota, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Oregon.

The ten states in which dermatology nurse practitioners earn the lowest salaries are Arkansas, Ohio, West Virginia, Kansas, South Dakota, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee.

10. Which state in the Nation pays the highest average annual salary for Dermatology Practitioners?

Dermatology nurse practitioners earn their highest average annual salary in California where they earn $128,190 a year.

11. Which state in the Northeast pays the most for Dermatology NPs?

Among the northeastern states, New Jersey offers dermatology nurse practitioners the highest salary package. In the Garden State, dermatology nurse practitioners average $114,950 a year.

12. Which state in the Midwest pays the most for Dermatology NPs?

Minnesota is the leader in dermatology nurse practitioner compensation among the midwestern states. Dermatology nurse practitioners who work in Minnesota can count on averaging $104,420 annually.

13. Which state in the Southeast pays the most for Dermatology NPs?

Dermatology nurse practitioners in Louisiana earn salaries that average $98,250 a year, which is the highest dermatology NP salary in all the southeastern states.

14. Which state in the Southwest pays the most for Dermatology NPs?

Among the southwestern states, Arizona is on top when it comes to dermatology nurse practitioner salaries. DNPs in Arizona earn $103,170 annually.

15. Which state in the Western region pays the most for Dermatology NPs?

In the west, dermatology nurse practitioners make their highest salaries in California where they can expect to earn $128,190 a year.

16. Among the 50 Largest Cities in the Nation, what are the 10 highest paying and the 10 lowest paying cities for Dermatology NPs?

The ten cities in which dermatology nurse practitioners earn the highest salaries are Oakland, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Jose, CA; Sacramento, CA; Long Beach, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Fresno, CA; New York, NY; Seattle, WA and Boston, MA. Note that the seven highest-paying cities for dermatology nurse practitioners are all in California.

The ten cities in which dermatology nurse practitioners earn the lowest salaries are Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY; Columbus, OH; Virginia Beach, VA; Jacksonville, FL; Colorado Springs, CO; Tampa, FL; Nashville, TN and Miami FL.

17. Is the investment of time and money associated with becoming a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner worth it financially?

Although dermatology nurse practitioners may earn lower salaries than other members of the nurse practitioner profession, DNPs who specialize in cosmetic treatments and management have the potential to earn more money than any other advanced practice registered nurse specialty. Ultimately, however, your choice of NP specialty should be based less on financial calculations and more on what will give you personal satisfaction throughout your working years. You will make a comfortable salary as a dermatology nurse practitioner, and if the work appeals to you, then it's worth the investment of time and money.

Sources

We have used the following sources to compile the salary data on this page.

1. Ziprecruiter.com
2. Payscale.com
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. NP Editorial Assessment