Medscape Oncologist Compensation Report 2026

"Oncologists practicing in the US told Medscape their compensation fell by roughly 2% on average in 2025. Doctors generally said their pay increased by about 3% on average last year, with average growth rates for both primary care physicians (PCPs) and medical specialists also in that neighborhood. Many physicians worry about inflation lately, and that average pay gain among physicians overall outpaced the annualized core inflation rate for the US of 2.7% at the end of 2025."

"Matthew Wells, PhD, a senior director at Alexandria, Virginia-based AMGA Consulting, saw 2025 as “a return to normalization” with doctor compensation and looks for “consistency with increases” moving forward. The key drivers, Wells says, are rising individual physician productivity based on seeing more patients and generating more work relative value units (wRVUs), combined with improved technology-driven efficiency in their business offices."

"Practitioners in eight specialties topped $500,000 in total annual compensation. All of them except otolaryngology also reported $500,000-plus in income for last year's report. Pediatrics and public health & preventive medicine also trailed the pack in pay in our prior survey."

"Pay gains of the previous year eluded oncologists in the US in a Medscape survey. Perhaps not surprisingly, compared to the previous year oncologists somewhat less often said they felt fairly paid, though a majority of them expected to finish 2025 with some level of compensation increase. (Note: Respondents were full-time physicians who practice in the US only, and they reported total compensation including base salary, incentive bonus, and other income such as profit-sharing contributions.)"

Oncologists in the US reported that their total compensation fell by roughly 2% on average in 2025. In a broader physician context, doctors reported pay increases of about 3% on average, with primary care physicians and medical specialists showing similar growth rates. Many physicians expressed concern about inflation, and overall average pay gains outpaced the US annualized core inflation rate of 2.7% at the end of 2025. Most oncologists expected some level of compensation increase by the end of 2025. A consulting perspective characterized 2025 as a return to normalization and emphasized consistency in future increases. Key drivers included higher physician productivity through more patients and more work relative value units, along with improved technology-driven efficiency in business offices. Several specialties reported total annual compensation above $500,000.

Read at Medscape