Veterinary Dermatologist

Also called: Animal Skin & Allergy Specialist

Treats skin disease, allergies, and ear problems in pets, one of the most common reasons animals see vets.

A day in the life

Runs allergy skin tests on a constantly itchy dog, designs a custom allergy shot, and solves stubborn ear infections.

Pay over a career

Starting
$120k
Typical
$185k
High
$280k

Estimate; board-certified specialists typically earn well above general-practice vets.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 12 years after high school. Bachelor's, 4-year DVM, a 1-year internship, then a 2-3 year dermatology residency.

Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.

Majors to look at: Animal Science, Biology, Pre-Veterinary, Zoology.

Outlook

Growing much faster than average (about 10% over 10 years).

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk for 10 years. AI can help classify skin photos and cytology; allergy testing, ear procedures and long-term plans with owners stay human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology.

Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1131.

More Veterinary Medicine careers

Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.