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Surgical oncologist salary
Average surgical oncologist salary
$284,293
Understanding Surgical Oncologist Salaries
Surgical oncologists play a vital role in treating cancer through surgical procedures. Their average salary of $284,293 annually can fluctuate based on several factors. Experience is a key determinant; those with more years in the field typically earn higher salaries. Additionally, geographical location impacts compensation significantly. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for specialized medical professionals.
Salary Range and Job Opportunities
Entry-level surgical oncologists might earn less, with salaries starting around $200,000, whereas seasoned professionals in high-demand areas can exceed $400,000. Beyond salary, surgical oncologists can pursue opportunities in academic medicine, private practice, or research, each offering unique benefits and challenges. Factors like work-life balance and job satisfaction are also essential considerations when choosing a career path.
Compensation Trends
As the healthcare landscape evolves, surgical oncologists may see shifts in compensation structures. Staying informed about industry trends and salary benchmarks is crucial for those entering the field. Utilizing resources like salary reports from Zippia can provide valuable insights for aspiring surgical oncologists, helping them navigate their careers effectively.
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Where can a Surgical Oncologist earn more?
Surgical oncologist salary estimates from across the web
Average surgical oncologist salary by state
The average surgical oncologist salary in Alaska, Minnesota, and Montana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average surgical oncologist salary states are North Carolina, California, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for surgical oncologists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $226,185 | $108.74 |
| 2 | Montana | $210,783 | $101.34 |
| 3 | Indiana | $201,955 | $97.09 |
| 4 | Michigan | $207,419 | $99.72 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $208,632 | $100.30 |
| 6 | Washington | $208,408 | $100.20 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $212,217 | $102.03 |
| 8 | Iowa | $202,854 | $97.53 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $198,219 | $95.30 |
| 10 | Ohio | $204,702 | $98.41 |
| 11 | Oregon | $207,151 | $99.59 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $201,610 | $96.93 |
| 13 | Idaho | $199,915 | $96.11 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $198,267 | $95.32 |
| 15 | Maine | $193,260 | $92.91 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $192,175 | $92.39 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $190,141 | $91.41 |
| 18 | Colorado | $193,639 | $93.10 |
| 19 | Illinois | $198,358 | $95.36 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $192,296 | $92.45 |
| 21 | Kansas | $188,882 | $90.81 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $188,590 | $90.67 |
| 23 | Alabama | $193,605 | $93.08 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $188,838 | $90.79 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $186,694 | $89.76 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $176,868 | $85.03 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $190,247 | $91.46 |
| 28 | Arizona | $187,750 | $90.26 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $189,428 | $91.07 |
| 30 | Georgia | $188,532 | $90.64 |
| 31 | Maryland | $195,429 | $93.96 |
| 32 | Delaware | $192,993 | $92.79 |
| 33 | Utah | $188,682 | $90.71 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $184,056 | $88.49 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $183,481 | $88.21 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $180,201 | $86.64 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $190,506 | $91.59 |
| 38 | Texas | $170,954 | $82.19 |
| 39 | Missouri | $178,197 | $85.67 |
| 40 | Massachusetts | $176,319 | $84.77 |
| 41 | Florida | $150,967 | $72.58 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $168,138 | $80.84 |
| 43 | Vermont | $179,995 | $86.54 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | $175,455 | $84.35 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $168,911 | $81.21 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $130,901 | $62.93 |
| 47 | Virginia | $178,259 | $85.70 |
| 48 | California | $168,505 | $81.01 |
| 49 | New York | $174,632 | $83.96 |
| 50 | Nevada | $166,629 | $80.11 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | $171,993 | $82.69 |
Highest paying cities for surgical oncologists
The highest-paying cities for surgical oncologists are Coon Rapids, MN, Spokane, WA, and Grand Rapids, MI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coon Rapids, MN | $328,817 | $158.09 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $321,638 | $154.63 |
| 3 | Grand Rapids, MI | $311,027 | $149.53 |
| 4 | Tualatin, OR | $309,089 | $148.60 |
| 5 | Goshen, IN | $287,499 | $138.22 |
| 6 | Des Moines, IA | $285,456 | $137.24 |
| 7 | Wilkes-Barre, PA | $278,882 | $134.08 |
| 8 | Bangor, ME | $270,302 | $129.95 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $260,473 | $125.23 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $253,386 | $121.82 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $245,731 | $118.14 |
| 12 | Overland Park, KS | $244,575 | $117.58 |
| 13 | Sun City, AZ | $241,193 | $115.96 |
| 14 | New Brunswick, NJ | $241,028 | $115.88 |
| 15 | New Orleans, LA | $231,405 | $111.25 |
| 16 | Albany, GA | $228,787 | $109.99 |
| 17 | Rochester, NY | $218,028 | $104.82 |
| 18 | Richmond, VA | $210,021 | $100.97 |
| 19 | Memphis, TN | $206,034 | $99.05 |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $200,088 | $96.20 |
Surgical oncologist salary details
A surgical oncologist's salary ranges from $146,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $552,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a surgical oncologist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $552,000 | $46,000 | $265 |
| 75th Percentile | $403,000 | $33,583 | $194 |
| Average | $284,293 | $23,691 | $137 |
| 25th Percentile | $200,000 | $16,667 | $96 |
| 10th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
Highest paying surgical oncologist jobs
The highest paying types of surgical oncologists are foot and ankle surgeon, thoracic surgeon, and upper extremity surgeon.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon | $365,411 | $30,451 | $175.68 | 2,412 |
| Orthopaedic Surgeon | $233,519 | $19,460 | $112.27 | 3,563 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $137,571 | $11,464 | $66.14 | 5,046 |
| Pediatric Surgeon | $417,737 | $34,811 | $200.84 | 35,576 |
| Vascular Surgeon | $324,217 | $27,018 | $155.87 | 20,391 |
| Thoracic Surgeon | $437,281 | $36,440 | $210.23 | 3,460 |
Top companies hiring surgical oncologists now:
Which companies pay surgical oncologists the most?
Surgical oncologist salaries at Allina Health and Rochester Regional Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average surgical oncologist salary at companies like University of Maryland, Baltimore and Community Health Systems are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allina Health | $406,756 | $195.56 |
| 2 | Rochester Regional Health | $339,547 | $163.24 |
| 3 | University of Maryland, Baltimore | $336,099 | $161.59 |
| 4 | Community Health Systems | $313,161 | $150.56 |
| 5 | Goshen Health | $311,562 | $149.79 |
| 6 | Mayo Clinic | $295,873 | $142.25 |
| 7 | UT Physicians | $293,043 | $140.89 |
| 8 | West Michigan Cancer Center | $288,326 | $138.62 |
| 9 | Central Maine Healthcare | $287,824 | $138.38 |
| 10 | UT Medical Group, Inc. | $287,138 | $138.05 |
| 11 | Cancer Care Northwest | $281,458 | $135.32 |
| 12 | MercyOne | $281,095 | $135.14 |
| 13 | Novant Health | $278,091 | $133.70 |
| 14 | WellSpan Health | $273,494 | $131.49 |
| 15 | AdventHealth | $261,006 | $125.48 |
| 16 | Northern Lights | $256,668 | $123.40 |
| 17 | Ochsner Health | $254,428 | $122.32 |
| 18 | National Medical Association | $253,489 | $121.87 |
| 19 | Midwestern Regional Med Center | $253,214 | $121.74 |
| 20 | Banner Commercial | $250,716 | $120.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Surgical oncologist salary trends
The average surgical oncologist salary has risen by $36,768 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average surgical oncologist earned $247,525 annually, but today, they earn $284,293 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for surgical oncologists over the last decade.
Compare surgical oncologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average surgical oncologist salary over time
Compare surgical oncologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Surgical oncologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $284,000 | $136.68 | +2.4% |
| 2025 | $277,000 | $133.36 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $273,000 | $131.11 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $269,000 | $129.46 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | $270,000 | $129.98 | +2.1% |
Recently added surgical oncologist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua | Thoracic Surgical Oncologist-Virtua Thoracic Surgery | Marlton, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $575,000 |
| Multicare Health System | Physician-Surgical Oncologist | Spokane, WA | 05/24/2025 | $550,000 |
| Banner Health | Surgical Oncology APP With Mdacc Noco | Greeley, CO | 05/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| Cancer Care Northwest | Breast Surgical Oncologist | Spokane, WA | 05/06/2025 | $400,000 |
| Catholic Health Initiatives | Surgical Oncologist | Chattanooga, TN | 04/16/2025 | $313,050 |
| Cancer Care Northwest | Breast Surgical Oncologist | Spokane, WA | 02/24/2025 | $300,000 |
| Chi Health | Surgical Oncologist | Nashville, TN | 02/18/2025 | $313,050 |
| Allina Health Systems | Breast Surgical Oncologist | Minneapolis, MN | 02/16/2025 | $425,000 |
| Stanford Health Care | Surgical Oncology Relief APP | Ione, CA | 02/15/2025 | $180,338 |
| Mayo Clinic | General Surgery Surgical Oncologist | Rochester, MN | 01/31/2025 | $447,302 |
Surgical oncologist salary FAQs
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