Compare high-paying freelance options for Florida dermatologists: locums, telemedicine, AI training, consulting. Real pay ranges, requirements, and how to start.

TL;DR

Looking for freelance or contract work as a dermatologist in Florida? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Florida offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.

1.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting

$350-$650/hr

What You'll Do

Dermatologists review medical records, provide expert opinions on standard of care, causation, and damages in legal cases involving dermatological treatment or injury. Work involves case analysis, report writing, and potential deposition or trial testimony.

Requirements

  • Active Florida medical license
  • Board certification in dermatology
  • Minimum 5-10 years of clinical dermatology experience
  • Strong knowledge of dermatological standards of care
  • Professional liability and expert witness liability insurance

Malpractice Insurance: Yes (typically $1,500-$5,000/year for expert witness coverage)

Where to Find Work

  • SEAK 2024 Fee Study, Expert Institute, PhysicianSideGigs, Litili Group

Florida notes: No geographic variation; FL med-mal cases moderate volume; No state income tax benefits; Trial testimony $500-650/hr; Deposition $400-550/hr; File review $350-450/hr
Typical start timeline: Varies by case (2-8 weeks after engagement)

2.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards

$275-$500/hr

What You'll Do

Dermatologists provide strategic advice to healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, or healthcare systems on clinical matters, product development, market trends, and operational improvements. Work involves meetings, presentations, and strategic recommendations.

Requirements

  • Active Florida medical license
  • Board certification in dermatology
  • Minimum 5-10 years of clinical experience
  • Strong understanding of dermatology practice and healthcare industry
  • Professional liability insurance

Malpractice Insurance: Yes (typically $1,000-$3,000/year, or covered by client organization)

Where to Find Work

  • PhysicianSideGigs

Florida notes: South FL cosmetic/aesthetic industry hub; Tampa/Orlando growing healthcare market; Pharma advisory boards $350-500/hr; Expert networks $275-400/hr; Aesthetic/cosmetic industry consulting $300-500/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks

3.

AI Training & Annotation

$150-$375/hr

What You'll Do

Healthcare AI companies hire dermatologist professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves dermatology image classification and lesion annotation — tasks like skin lesion classification, dermoscopy annotation, melanoma detection.

Requirements

  • Active clinical background in dermatologist
  • No malpractice insurance needed
  • Computer with reliable internet

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Folio (folioworks.com)
  • Centaur Labs
  • Appen
  • Labelbox

Florida notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks

Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current dermatologist AI training projects.

4.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$175-$310/hr

What You'll Do

Dermatologists provide temporary clinical services to cover physician absences, vacations, or temporary staffing shortages at healthcare facilities. Assignments typically involve general dermatology practice, patient consultations, and procedures such as biopsies, excisions, and Mohs surgery depending on facility needs and physician qualifications.

Requirements

  • Active Florida medical license
  • Board certification or board eligibility (within 5 years of residency completion)
  • DEA registration for controlled substance prescribing
  • Current malpractice insurance or willingness to obtain through staffing agency
  • Minimum 3 years of relevant dermatology experience for some positions

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • Barton Associates

Florida notes: South FL (Miami/Palm Beach) at baseline; Rural/Panhandle FL +20-25%; Central FL slightly below metro; No state income tax adds effective value; Mohs Surgery $275-400/hr; General Derm $175-250/hr; Cosmetic Derm $220-310/hr
Typical start timeline: 4 months (recommended contact with agencies 4 months before planned start date)

5.

Chart Review / Utilization Review

$100-$275/hr

What You'll Do

Dermatologists review patient medical records to assess clinical appropriateness, medical necessity, quality of care, and compliance with treatment guidelines. Work involves documentation review, analysis, and report generation for insurance companies, healthcare systems, or legal entities.

Requirements

  • Active Florida medical license
  • Board certification or board eligibility in dermatology
  • Minimum 3-5 years of clinical dermatology experience
  • Knowledge of dermatological standards of care and coding
  • Professional liability insurance

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • PhysicianSideGigs

Florida notes: Remote work; no geographic variation; FL large insurance market drives UR volume; Prior auth/UM reviews $100-175/hr; Complex case review $175-275/hr; Workers comp $125-225/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

6.

Telemedicine / Telehealth

$110-$200/hr

What You'll Do

Dermatologists provide remote clinical consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations to patients through digital platforms. This may include virtual patient visits, prescription management, and follow-up care coordination without requiring in-person facility presence.

Requirements

  • Active Florida medical license
  • Board certification preferred
  • DEA registration if prescribing controlled substances
  • Reliable internet and appropriate technology setup
  • Compliance with state telemedicine regulations

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • Indeed FL telemedicine listings, ZipRecruiter remote dermatologist, AAD telehealth policy updates

Florida notes: Large elderly population drives derm telehealth demand; Medicare telehealth restrictions impact volume post-Oct 2025; Asynchronous store-forward $70-110/encounter; Live video consults $130-200/hr; After-hours +25-30%
Typical start timeline: 2-4 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for dermatologists in Florida?

A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($350-$650/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($275-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($150-$375/hr).

Q: Which freelance options for dermatologists don't require malpractice insurance?

A: 1 options don't require malpractice insurance: AI Training & Annotation ($150-$375/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.

Q: Can dermatologists work remotely in Florida?

A: Yes, 5 options are fully or partially remote: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting ($350-$650/hr), Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($275-$500/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($150-$375/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($100-$275/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($110-$200/hr).

Q: What Florida license do dermatologists need for freelance work?

A: An active Florida license from Florida Board of Medicine, Florida Department of Health is required for most clinical freelance options.

Q: How quickly can dermatologists start freelance work?

A: Timeline varies by option: Expert Witness / Medical-Legal Consulting typically takes Varies by case (2-8 weeks after engagement), while Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards typically takes 4-12 weeks, while AI Training & Annotation typically takes 1-2 weeks.

Q: What's the pay range for dermatologists doing AI training work?

A: AI training pays $150-$375/hour for dermatologists, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.

Getting Started with AI Training

Folio connects Florida dermatologists with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.

Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application

Current project focus (February 2026): Skin lesion classification, dermoscopy annotation, melanoma detection

Most dermatologists start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.

Explore AI Training Opportunities

Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com

Explore Opportunities →

Frequently asked questions

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Do I need malpractice insurance for freelance dermatologist work in Florida?
Can I do freelance work while employed full-time as a dermatologist?
What is AI training for dermatologists, and how does it work?
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How do I get started with freelance dermatologist work in Florida?