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Pathologist vs dermatologist

The differences between pathologists and dermatologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a pathologist, becoming a dermatologist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a dermatologist has an average salary of $407,715, which is higher than the $61,808 average annual salary of a pathologist.

The top three skills for a pathologist include patients, patient care and diagnosis. The most important skills for a dermatologist are patients, mohs, and patient care.

Pathologist vs dermatologist overview

PathologistDermatologist
Yearly salary$61,808$407,715
Hourly rate$29.72$196.02
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs20,3401,834
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age4848
Years of experience64

What does a pathologist do?

Pathologists are medical healthcare professionals who are responsible for conducting examinations of bodies and body tissues. These pathologists must perform laboratory tests of body fluids and tissues to help primary care doctors make a diagnosis about the health of patients who are with chronic conditions. They specialize in genetic testing that will examine a tissue biopsy to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous. Pathologists must also perform autopsies to inform family members of the deceased about the cause of death and help them take preventive action for their own health.

What does a dermatologist do?

A dermatologist is a physician with expertise in diagnosing and treating skin, nail, and hair problems such as rashes and acne. Their responsibilities include conducting initial assessments and examinations, offering consultations and advice, studying a patient's medical histories, and performing non-invasive procedures as needed. They may also prescribe medication and various services, referring patients to other specialists as necessary. Furthermore, as a dermatologist, it is essential to discuss skin conditions and the extent of treatments to patients, helping them learn different care procedures.

Pathologist vs dermatologist salary

Pathologists and dermatologists have different pay scales, as shown below.

PathologistDermatologist
Average salary$61,808$407,715
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $148,000Between $202,000 And $820,000
Highest paying CityAnchorage, AKGrand Forks, ND
Highest paying stateAlaskaNorth Dakota
Best paying companyUT Medical Group, Inc.Allina Health
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between pathologist and dermatologist education

There are a few differences between a pathologist and a dermatologist in terms of educational background:

PathologistDermatologist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorPhysiology And AnatomyBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Virginia

Pathologist vs dermatologist demographics

Here are the differences between pathologists' and dermatologists' demographics:

PathologistDermatologist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 40.7% Female, 59.3%Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 20.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 18.4% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between pathologist and dermatologist duties and responsibilities

Pathologist example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage pathology, microbiology and biochemistry laboratory.
  • Provide consultations to care providers and interpret laboratory findings and diagnosis to patients.
  • Screen by ELISA & immunoblots.
  • Result in answering an FDA concern regarding device.
  • Participate in FDA submissions, plan 510k and PMA submissions.
  • Perform oncology markers and hormonal assays by Elisa and Delfia system.
  • Show more

Dermatologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage all incoming medical records requests (ensuring office is within HIPPA guidelines).
  • Enter patient information into EMR.
  • Maintain OSHA logs on all equipment.
  • suture removal, assist in MOHS surgery.
  • Scrub multiple hospital procedures (facelifts, liposuction, augmentations, facial reconstructive surgery, breast reconstructive surgery . )
  • Keep medical histories and interview patients to procure or verify information.
  • Show more

Pathologist vs dermatologist skills

Common pathologist skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • Patient Care, 11%
  • Diagnosis, 8%
  • GI, 4%
  • GYN, 4%
  • Frozen Sections, 3%
Common dermatologist skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Mohs, 26%
  • Patient Care, 13%
  • EMR, 9%
  • Private Practice, 2%
  • Medical Assistants, 2%

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