Pay, location & work-life context
Oncology Salary Map by State (2026)
Median oncology pay across 14 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $423,500.
Highest median
Colorado
$536,640
Best real purchasing power
Colorado
$520,747 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
Minnesota
5.4/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Oncology pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $536,640 | $520,747 | $497,834 | 5.0/10 | 20 |
| Washington | $475,000 | $443,871 | $443,871 | 4.7/10 | 33 |
| Oregon | $472,811 | $457,437 | $412,150 | 4.2/10 | 9 |
| Minnesota | $458,084 | $464,489 | $418,737 | 5.4/10 | 33 |
| Illinois | $450,000 | $450,189 | $427,905 | 3.8/10 | 66 |
| California | $450,000 | $406,431 | $368,633 | 3.6/10 | 56 |
| Virginia | $421,200 | $416,601 | $392,646 | 3.7/10 | 16 |
| New York | $414,149 | $383,752 | $357,465 | 3.1/10 | 52 |
| Maryland | $399,597 | $380,717 | $358,826 | 4.0/10 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | $388,500 | $367,352 | $348,984 | 3.6/10 | 30 |
| Nevada | $375,000 | $375,079 | $375,079 | 4.0/10 | 10 |
| Florida | $310,750 | $300,491 | $300,491 | 3.2/10 | 11 |
| New Jersey | $304,814 | $280,147 | $262,302 | 4.1/10 | 25 |
| Pennsylvania | $297,000 | $304,391 | $295,046 | 2.8/10 | 12 |
Common questions
Which state pays oncology physicians the most?
Colorado currently has the highest median oncology salary at $536,640, based on 20 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax oncology pay?
Colorado currently leads the take-home view at $497,834 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust oncology salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best oncology lifestyle scores?
Minnesota currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (5.4/10, higher is better) for oncology listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Oncology salary page.