Oncologists treat cancer. They can specialize in different types of cancer and age populations. An oncologist salary in the United States is $248,650 and in the United Kingdom, it is E48,450 ($54,576). In Australia, these professionals earn AU$112,000 ($84,451) and in India it is Rs 2,398,968 ($37,213). Finally, in New Zealand, they earn NZ$170,000 ($122,059). The salary trends and factors that affect salaries for an oncologist career are described in this salary guide. These factors are experience, industry, and working schedule. The common benefits and job outlook are also included to give a comprehensive picture of income and job forecast for that of an oncologist. ONCOLOGIST SALARY INFLUENCING FACTORS An oncologist is a specialized physician. The following pay ranges are based on data from the Payscale website. Complete details on work environment and job outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1. LOCATION 2. EXPERIENCE Oncologists with experience make 75 percent above the average in the United Kingdom while entry-level oncologists make 11 percent below this average. In the United States, pay increases are relatively modest until the oncologist has more than 20 years of experience. From this point, the pay increases steeply from $258,000 to $302,000 dollars. In India, the United Kingdom, and the United States the most common category of experience was 1 to 4 years. In Canada, this same level was those with 5 to 9 years of experience. The highest frequency respondent in Australia had either 5 to 9 years or 10 to 19 years or experience. 3. INDUSTRY All oncologists work somewhere within the healthcare field. They are responsible for treating people who have cancer. In order to practice as an oncologist, the professional has to pursue extensive education. Oncologists can choose to specialize in certain type of cancer. For example, an oncologist who works with children is known as a pediatric oncologist while an oncologist who focuses on hormonal cancers will be an endocrine oncologist. In the United States, oncologists can work for a hospital or be a part of a cancer treatment center. Many cancers can be treated in an outpatient setting. SCHEDULE & WORKING HOURS The vast majority of oncologists work full-time. They will balance their workday around caring for patients, deciding on treatments, conducting research, and attending professional conferences. A typical day starts at 7 or 8 AM with reviewing patient profiles and treatment plans. Next, the oncologist will visit different patients and review their reaction to various treatments to their cancer. Overall, the day is filled with ups and downs. It can be particularly challenging when a patient has incurable cancer but uplifting when a cancer is considered cured. Due to the nature of their job, it is typical to delay meals when dealing with emergency patient situations. BONUSES & BENEFITS An oncologist will see a very expansive offering of benefits. These include healthcare, retirement, tuition reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, childcare spending accounts, and investment options. Oncologists experience a lot of intrinsic benefit in their job. They get to work on medical breakthroughs and help people who are going through challenging medical situations. The table below displays healthcare benefits by country. A (–) indicates that no data was available for that particular country. CAREER OUTLOOK When looking at the job outlook of all physicians and surgeons, there is going to be a 14 percent increase through the year 2024. As the population ages, many types of cancers will become increasingly common. About 38 percent of the U.S. population will have cancer at some point in their life. Thus, there is a need for oncologists to treat these cancers. About 67 percent of oncologists in India are male while in the United States that number reaches 81 percent. CONCLUSION An oncologist career involves diagnosing and treating cancer. They have to attend school for several years in order to practice medicine. Due to the high-stress nature of their job and the extensive schooling they have to complete, they see a high rate of pay. While their job is rewarding, it can also be challenging when people do not receive favorable diagnoses. Another position in the healthcare industry that entails diagnosing cancer and applying the proper treatment is that of a pathologist. Source
