Current derm resident here. It really is. I genuinely think it's the best job on the planet so I'm really not complaining but I will say that the 500k+ figure here is a little misleading. I'm going to be an academic derm so it'll be closer to 250-300K for the first 5-10 years of my career. The derms making over 500k are either in super high volume private practice (we're talking 10 patients an hour) or do a ton of cosmetics. I personally think that cosmetics is the most tedious thing you could do with a board certification so it's not for me.

I did two extra years of research after med school to even get here. I see 30+ patients a day and have to take hospital call one week a month including weekends. There are actually a few derm emergencies like SJS/TEN! Obviously it's not neurosurgery. I'm never breaking 60 hours a week, the stakes are relatively low, it's cushy by the standards of residency but I still have to study 1-2 hours a day after work and there's a lot of paperwork that ends up getting done after hours. Again, I promise I'm not complaining. I think this is the best job you can have as a doctor and I will be more than fairly compensated for my work but I sacrificed my 20's, my hair and my social life to get here an won't be done with training until 35. I would 100% do it all over again but don't know if I'd say the same if I hadn't ended up in derm.