Oncologist compensation falls 2%: What to know

Oncologist compensation dropped about 2% in 2025, according to Medscape‘s “Oncologist Compensation Report” published May 15.

Medscape surveyed 5,916 physicians across more than 29 specialties to identify and analyze compensation trends.

Here are 11 things to know from the report. 

1. Oncologist compensation fell to $464,000 in 2025 after jumping to $472,000 in 2024.
   
   
2. Out of 29 specialties, oncologists had the ninth-highest average total compensation.
   

3. When negotiating pay, 69% of oncologists said they did not get more than “moderately” aggressive, compared with 63% of physicians overall. 
   

4. The percentage of oncologists who felt they were fairly compensated fell to 57% from 64% in last year’s Medscape compensation report. 
   

5. Between 2024 and 2025, most oncologists said their paychecks increased 1% to 10% or remained the same, at 42% and 39%, respectively.
   

6. Most oncologists said their paychecks match or exceed their family needs, at 47% and 32%, respectively. 
   

7. Of all oncologists surveyed, 75% said they were able to receive incentive bonuses.
   

8. Sixty-six percent of oncologists said they felt empowered to maximize their bonus. Factors that influenced bonus calculations were:
   
   
   • RVUs generated: 54%
   • Quality care metrics: 43%
   • Patient satisfaction ratings: 34%
   • Number of procedures: 30%
   • Records completion: 27%
   • Patient mix: 21%
   • Cost of care reduction: 21%
   • Patient throughput time: 20%
   • Payer mix: 18%
   • Other: 12%
     

9. The share of oncologists who said they augment their regular pay with outside work fell to 36% from 43% in 2024.
   

10. The share of oncologists who said productivity metrics affect their base salary grew to 41% from 36% in 2024.
    

11. The average workweek for oncologists was 52 hours.

Read the full report here. 

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