Oncology is the medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. With more than 2.4 million new cancer diagnoses projected in 2026 and ASCO documenting a worsening oncologist shortage projected to exceed 2,200 oncologists by 2030, oncology is one of the most acutely undersupplied physician specialties in America — particularly in rural and small-metro markets where many counties have no oncologist at all.
Oncology spans multiple primary specialties and subspecialty tracks: medical oncology and hematology-oncology (subspecialty fellowships of internal medicine), radiation oncology (a primary specialty with five-year residency), surgical oncology (a fellowship of general surgery), gynecologic oncology (a fellowship of OB/GYN), pediatric hematology-oncology (a fellowship of pediatrics), and urologic oncology (a fellowship of urology).
Modern oncology practice has shifted increasingly toward disease-team specialization (breast, GI, GU, thoracic, neuro-oncology) at large academic and NCI-designated cancer centers, while community oncology practice typically requires broader generalist scope. The growth of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, CAR-T cellular therapy, and molecular tumor board-driven precision oncology has reshaped what modern oncology programs need from new hires.
Oncology practice settings span hospital-based cancer programs, NCI-designated cancer centers (with research and clinical trial mandates), community oncology practices (often consolidated into PE-backed platforms like US Oncology Network and OneOncology affiliates), academic medical centers, freestanding radiation oncology centers, and rural visiting oncology programs.
Oncology recruiting requires precise matching to subspecialty and disease focus. Our team covers:
Medical Oncology / Hematology-Oncology — Combined heme-onc trained oncologists treating both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. The largest segment of oncology practice.
Radiation Oncology — Primary specialty radiation oncologists running linear accelerator and brachytherapy programs. Concentrated at hospital-based and freestanding cancer centers.
Surgical Oncology — Fellowship-trained surgical oncologists performing complex tumor resections (HPB, sarcoma, peritoneal, breast). Concentrated at academic and high-volume cancer centers.
Gynecologic Oncology — Fellowship-trained gyn-onc surgeons treating cancers of the female reproductive tract. Concentrated at NCI centers.
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology — Fellowship-trained pediatric heme-onc physicians at children's hospitals. Severe national shortage.
Urologic Oncology — Fellowship-trained urologic oncologists performing radical prostatectomy, cystectomy, and complex renal surgery — predominantly via robotic platform.
Disease-Focused Oncology — Subspecialty oncologists focused on a single disease (breast, GI, GU, thoracic, neuro-onc). Growing model at large academic and NCI centers.
The American Cancer Society projects more than 2.4 million new cancer diagnoses in 2026, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology has documented a worsening oncologist shortage projected to exceed 2,200 oncologists by 2030. Rural and small-metro markets face an especially severe oncology access crisis, with many counties having no resident oncologist and patients traveling hundreds of miles for treatment.
Subspecialty supply is particularly constrained for pediatric heme-onc, gynecologic oncology, and surgical oncology. Community oncology has consolidated significantly into PE-backed platforms (US Oncology Network affiliates, OneOncology), changing the practice-economics calculus for new hires evaluating partnership tracks.
Oncology compensation reflects subspecialty, productivity model, and practice setting. Medical oncologists typically earn $450,000–$650,000 in employed positions and $700,000+ in mature community partnerships. Radiation oncologists typically earn $450,000–$650,000, surgical oncologists $500,000–$750,000, gynecologic oncologists $500,000–$750,000, and pediatric heme-onc $300,000–$450,000.
MedicalRecruiting.com operates a dedicated oncology recruiting practice serving hospitals, oncology groups, multi-specialty groups, and academic medical centers across all 50 states. For a complete overview of our oncology recruiting services — including the subspecialties we cover, the organizations we serve, our process, and current oncology compensation benchmarks — visit our oncology recruiters page.
For interim oncology coverage during permanent searches, see our locum tenens services. To browse the full directory of medical specialties we recruit for, visit the specialties hub.
For oncology candidates exploring opportunities, browse current openings on our jobs board, review oncology compensation data on our physician salary comparison tool, and submit your CV through our candidate portal for visibility to our employer network.
ASCO projects an oncologist shortage exceeding 2,200 by 2030. Rural and small-metro markets face the most acute access crisis, with many counties having no resident oncologist. Pediatric heme-onc, gynecologic oncology, and surgical oncology face additional subspecialty-specific supply constraints.
Medical oncology is a subspecialty fellowship of internal medicine focused on chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy management — typically combined with hematology training as heme-onc. Radiation oncology is a separate primary specialty requiring five-year residency, focused on radiation therapy delivery via linear accelerator and brachytherapy.
Medical oncologists typically earn $450,000–$650,000 in employed positions and $700,000+ in mature community partnerships. Radiation oncologists typically earn $450,000–$650,000, surgical oncologists $500,000–$750,000, gynecologic oncologists $500,000–$750,000, and pediatric heme-onc $300,000–$450,000. Practice setting and ownership are major compensation drivers.
Visit our dedicated oncology recruiters page for a complete overview of our oncology recruiting practice, the subspecialties we cover, the organizations we serve, and current oncology compensation benchmarks.