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Oncology registered nurse salary
Average oncology registered nurse salary
$74,716
Oncology Registered Nurse Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Oncology Registered Nurse stands at $74,716 per year. This hourly wage of about $36 reflects a range of factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific healthcare facility where one is employed.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level oncology nurses typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can see significant increases in their salaries. For instance, registered nurses with over five years of experience may earn upwards of $80,000 annually. Moreover, advanced certifications can further enhance earning potential.
State and City Variations
Salaries also vary by state, with higher wages often found in metropolitan areas where demand for healthcare professionals is greater. For example, oncology nurses in states like California and New York tend to earn the highest salaries, with major cities offering even more competitive compensation packages.
In conclusion, pursuing a career as an oncology registered nurse presents not only the opportunity to make a positive impact on patients' lives but also a rewarding salary structure. Staying informed about salary trends and opportunities is essential for career advancement.
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Where can an Oncology Registered Nurse earn more?
Oncology registered nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level oncology registered nurse | $59,200 | $28.48 |
| Mid-level oncology registered nurse | $74,500 | $35.82 |
| Senior-level oncology registered nurse | $102,000 | $49.14 |
Average oncology registered nurse salary by state
The average oncology registered nurse salary in California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average oncology registered nurse salary states are Georgia, Alabama, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for oncology registered nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $106,778 | $51.34 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $102,304 | $49.18 |
| 3 | Vermont | $90,803 | $43.66 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $111,392 | $53.55 |
| 5 | Michigan | $92,744 | $44.59 |
| 6 | New York | $101,563 | $48.83 |
| 7 | California | $114,982 | $55.28 |
| 8 | Washington | $90,271 | $43.40 |
| 9 | Delaware | $91,953 | $44.21 |
| 10 | Alaska | $85,710 | $41.21 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $85,065 | $40.90 |
| 12 | Maryland | $102,997 | $49.52 |
| 13 | Oregon | $96,465 | $46.38 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $79,326 | $38.14 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $86,791 | $41.73 |
| 16 | Ohio | $78,622 | $37.80 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $105,082 | $50.52 |
| 18 | Idaho | $86,752 | $41.71 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $87,995 | $42.31 |
| 20 | Maine | $74,293 | $35.72 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $76,253 | $36.66 |
| 22 | Nevada | $81,941 | $39.39 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $80,911 | $38.90 |
| 24 | Montana | $75,246 | $36.18 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $73,445 | $35.31 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $71,335 | $34.30 |
| 27 | Arizona | $78,238 | $37.61 |
| 28 | Illinois | $83,997 | $40.38 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $74,543 | $35.84 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $69,878 | $33.60 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $81,690 | $39.27 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $68,086 | $32.73 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $73,194 | $35.19 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $68,667 | $33.01 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $65,251 | $31.37 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $67,978 | $32.68 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $63,439 | $30.50 |
| 38 | Indiana | $65,665 | $31.57 |
| 39 | Texas | $63,957 | $30.75 |
| 40 | Utah | $73,519 | $35.35 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $64,077 | $30.81 |
| 42 | Colorado | $70,781 | $34.03 |
| 43 | Florida | $53,974 | $25.95 |
| 44 | Kansas | $64,358 | $30.94 |
| 45 | Iowa | $61,352 | $29.50 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $65,001 | $31.25 |
| 47 | Virginia | $68,724 | $33.04 |
| 48 | Georgia | $63,254 | $30.41 |
| 49 | Missouri | $61,309 | $29.48 |
| 50 | Alabama | $61,546 | $29.59 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $53,676 | $25.81 |
Highest paying cities for oncology registered nurses
The highest-paying cities for oncology registered nurses are Los Angeles, CA, Boston, MA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $114,885 | $55.23 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $108,496 | $52.16 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $106,842 | $51.37 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $104,600 | $50.29 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $103,785 | $49.90 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $102,770 | $49.41 |
| 7 | Springfield, OR | $97,131 | $46.70 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $90,776 | $43.64 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $86,335 | $41.51 |
| 10 | Reno, NV | $85,834 | $41.27 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $84,387 | $40.57 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $81,610 | $39.24 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $80,273 | $38.59 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,344 | $37.67 |
| 15 | Portland, ME | $75,170 | $36.14 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $74,883 | $36.00 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $73,464 | $35.32 |
| 18 | Richmond, KY | $72,922 | $35.06 |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $70,785 | $34.03 |
| 20 | New Orleans, LA | $70,193 | $33.75 |
Oncology registered nurse salary details
An oncology registered nurse's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $145,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an oncology registered nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $145,000 | $12,083 | $70 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| Average | $74,716 | $6,226 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Highest paying oncology registered nurse jobs
The highest paying types of oncology registered nurses are contractor-registered nurse, agency registered nurse, and advanced registered nurse practitioner.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse | $68,342 | $5,695 | $32.86 | 699,636 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | $97,820 | $8,152 | $47.03 | 486,582 |
| Registered Nurse In The ICU | $92,881 | $7,740 | $44.65 | 631,825 |
| Clinical Research Nurse | $60,347 | $5,029 | $29.01 | 703,983 |
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | $84,812 | $7,068 | $40.78 | 515,200 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for oncology registered nurses, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Top companies hiring oncology registered nurses now:
Which companies pay oncology registered nurses the most?
Oncology registered nurse salaries at Dignity Health and Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average oncology registered nurse salary at companies like Cottage Health and Novartis are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dignity Health | $140,333 | $67.47 |
| 2 | Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District | $134,302 | $64.57 |
| 3 | Cottage Health | $133,231 | $64.05 |
| 4 | Novartis | $115,508 | $55.53 |
| 5 | Soliant | $114,285 | $54.94 |
| 6 | Stability Healthcare | $111,514 | $53.61 |
| 7 | Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp. | $108,515 | $52.17 |
| 8 | Medical City Arlington | $106,496 | $51.20 |
| 9 | Sutter Health | $106,495 | $51.20 |
| 10 | Scripps Health | $105,921 | $50.92 |
| 11 | Tenet Healthcare | $105,691 | $50.81 |
| 12 | MAS Medical Staffing | $105,676 | $50.81 |
| 13 | Mission Health Services | $104,175 | $50.08 |
| 14 | trustaff | $103,467 | $49.74 |
| 15 | The Arora Group | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| 16 | Express Healthcare Professionals | $100,948 | $48.53 |
| 17 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $100,865 | $48.49 |
| 18 | Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute | $97,883 | $47.06 |
| 19 | GENERAL PHYSICIAN | $97,761 | $47.00 |
| 20 | Sharp HealthCare | $97,165 | $46.71 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Oncology registered nurse salary trends
The average oncology registered nurse salary has risen by $10,460 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average oncology registered nurse earned $64,256 annually, but today, they earn $74,716 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for oncology registered nurses over the last decade.
Compare oncology registered nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average oncology registered nurse salary over time
Compare oncology registered nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Oncology registered nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $74,700 | $35.92 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $72,700 | $34.95 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $71,100 | $34.20 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $69,400 | $33.38 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $67,900 | $32.64 | +1.4% |
Recently added oncology registered nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutterhealth | Registered Nurse II Oncology | Modesto, CA | 06/30/2025 | $143,293 |
| Covenant Health | Acute Care RN-Palliative Care/Surgical Oncology | Slaton, TX | 06/29/2025 | $73,045 |
| Memorialcare | RN II-Adult Oncology (Days) | Long Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $117,644 |
| Memorial Care Health System | RN II-Adult Oncology (Nights) | Long Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $117,644 |
| Providence Health and Services | Navigator RN-Oncology Breast Surgery | Portland, OR | 06/29/2025 | $102,263 |
| Rochester Regional Health | Registered Nurse-Inpatient Oncology/Hematology | Rochester, NY | 06/29/2025 | $77,219 |
| The University of Oklahoma Human Resources | *Oncology Research RN | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/29/2025 | $55,800 |
| UNC Health Care Systems | Temporary Travel RN-REX Wakefield Oncology Infusion | Raleigh, NC | 06/29/2025 | $114,785 |
| Swedish Health Services | RN-Outpatient Hematology Oncology | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $93,915 |
| City of Hitchcock | Registered Nurse (RN)-Oncology Nurse Navigator, Center for Digestive Health | Lebanon, NH | 06/29/2025 | $20,000 |
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