The median oncologist salary in the United States stands at $248,348 per year. While in Canada, oncologists achieve a mean compensation of C$294,946 ($218,554 USD) per year. The mean figure is £48,450 ($62,445 USD) in the United Kingdom, AU$406,524 ($302,311 USD) in Australia, CHF289,023 ($300,011 USD) in Switzerland and NOK2,138,331 ($253,019 USD) yearly in Norway.
Oncologist Salary Influencers
Location plays a major part in the compensation of oncologists. In particular, countries that operate single-payer health care systems tend to standardize pay rates and scales. Providers in some regions may rely on signing bonuses to fill shortages in oncology services. The work settings in which oncologists practice and experience also help differentiate pay among these specialists.
1. Industry
Oncologists diagnose and treat cancers in patients. This overall practice specialty contains many subcategories which correspond with types of cancer, such as hematology, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer. For example, those in outpatient clinics earned $453,000 yearly, and oncologists in a single-specialty group practice made $391,000 in 2016. While, at the lower end stood hospital and solo practitioners at $350,000 and specialists in academia, research, military and government settings at $211,000.
In Canada, nearly 68 percent of medical oncologists practiced in hospitals. Approximately four out of ten received more than 90 percent of their pay from salaries and 32 percent were paid from blended sources. Roughly 18 percent obtained 90 percent of compensation via fees for service.
Most oncologists in Norway serve in hospitals operated under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Care.
2. Geographical Area
| Oncologist Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
| Hourly Wage | $119.40 | C$142 | £23.29 | AU$195 | CHF139 | NOK1,028 |
| Annual Wage | $248,348 | C$294,946 ($218,554 USD) | £48,450 ($62,445 USD) | AU$406,524 ($302,311 USD) | CHF289,023 ($300,011 USD) | NOK2,138,331 ($253,019 USD) |
Oncologist Salary in the US
According to Payscale, in the United States the mean oncologist compensation stands at $248,348 per year. While total earnings start at $101,448 and climb to $430,664.
Oncologist Salary in Canada
Oncologists make a mean pay of C$294,946 per year. According to a study by the Canadian Medical Association, physicians in the “Internal Med. & Subspecialties” sector grossed C$396,105 in earnings in 2013-2014. Within the “Specialist Physicians” field, median pay across Canada stands at C$128,579 per year.
Oncologist Salary in the UK
The median pay for oncologists is £48,450 yearly, in the United Kingdom, says Payscale. While at the low-end, pay is £22,276 and £92,738 at the upper-level, compared to the pathologist salary which can go up to £102,500 per year.
In the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, medical oncologists are classified as specialty doctors. Specialists make between £37,923 and £70,718. While, as consultants, pay runs from £76,761 and £103,490.
Oncologist Salary in Australia
The mean salary for Australian oncologists comes in at AU$406,524 yearly, as reported by SalaryExpert.
According to Australian Tax Office data from 2016, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists ranked among the top 50-paying jobs in Australia. For males, the mean pay is reported at AU$336,994 and AU$322,178 respectively. Female medical oncologists earned AU$208,612 and female radiation oncologists made AU$135,678 per year.
Oncologist Salary in Switzerland
In Switzerland, oncologists fetch a mean pay of CHF288,924 per year according to SalaryExpert. Therefore the hourly pay stands at CHF139.
Oncologist Salary in Norway
Norwegian oncologists earn NOK2,138,331 on a mean basis, reports SalaryExpert. According to Statistics Norway, “Specialist medical practitioners,” which include oncologists, received a monthly pay of NOK76,400, or NOK916,800 per year.
3. Experience
Oncologists should anticipate higher earnings as they accumulate experience in their practice.
The entry-level median for U.S. oncologists is $233,000. Thereafter, the median rises steadily with experience level. With five years of practice, oncologists earn on a median basis $242,000. At ten years, the median comes in at $254,000. Those with 20 years of experience see a median salary of $307,000.
In Canada, oncologists start at C$198,936. With eight years experience, pay can reach as high as C$366,367 per year, according to SalaryExpert. While an oncologist in Australia with one to three years experience can expect to make AU$274,639. With more than eight years, pay ascends to AU$505,784 yearly says SalaryExpert.
In Switzerland, new entrants into oncology make CHF194,399, while those that progress to at least eight years of practice can earn CHF358,011 per year. Entry-level oncologists make NOK1,442,269 in Norway, while those who achieve “Senior level” status can earn around NOK2,656,124 yearly, says Salary Expert.
Working Hours
Oncology practice is normally full-time. These specialists often work more than 40 hours per week and spend considerable amounts of time on-call.
As of 2014, oncologists in Canada averaged 52.5 hours per week at work and 17 hours a month on-call providing direct patient care. Therefore, nearly nine in ten “Specialist Physicians” in Canada were full-time professionals, according to the previously mentioned article.
In Australia, oncologists rest under the umbrella of “Internal Medicine Specialists.” Approximately eight out of ten logged full-time hours. The average workweek for these specialists lasts 49.4 hours, while it was 40.2 percent for all full-time jobs in Australia.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
For oncologists in the United States, bonuses range from $2,457 to $60,000. While they can capture around $25,250 from profit-sharing plans.
From SalaryExpert again we find out that Canadian oncologists receive mean bonuses of C$19,879, the figure is at AU$27,400 in Australia, and Swiss oncologists can capture bonuses at a mean level of CHF19,480. While for oncologists in Norway, the bonuses reach NOK144,124 on an annual basis.
Depending on the employer, oncologists may receive signing bonuses or other incentives to accept positions.
Job Outlook
The incidence of cancer will spur demand for oncologists overall. A study by the World Cancer Research Fund International reveals that Norway, the United States, Switzerland, Canada and the United Kingdom had among the 23 highest cancer rates as of 2012. In Norway, the rate was 318.3 cases per 100,000 in population. The United States had 318 cases per 100,000, while Canada saw 295.7 per 100,000, Switzerland had 287 per 100,000 and the United Kingdom had 272.9 per 100,000.
The broader category of “Specialist Physicians,” which includes oncologists, likely will face a labor shortage through 2024. By that time, job openings in the profession should number 21,500 and the country will have only 13,100 chasing them. In 2015, Canada had a total of 514 medical oncologists, which translates to 1.4 medical oncologists for every 100,000 people in the country.
By November 2019, Australia should see no more than 5,000 new openings in “Internal Medicine Specialists” according to JobOutlook. While in November 2015, the country had 6,400 such specialists.
Conclusion
Oncologists should experience a generally strong outlook on pay and demand for their talents and services. As cancers of various types continue to prevail in these countries, oncologists with the training and qualifications should find work in hospitals, academic settings or their own practices.
Leave a Reply