Is Radiation Oncology a Good Career in 2026?

Treating cancer with precisely targeted radiation therapy.

Based on 42 verified physician submissions

SalaryDr Career Intelligence

Based on 42 verified physician submissions

0
/ 100
Very Good

Score Breakdown

Salary
0
Satisfaction
0
Demand
0
Would Choose Again
0
Work-Life Balance
0
Training ROI
0
AI Resilience
0
$585,000
Median Salary
3.9/5
Satisfaction
93%
Would Choose Again

Radiation Oncology Compensation & Earnings

Radiation Oncology Compensation

$585,000

$550,000 – $620,000(P25–P75)

SalaryDr Median · 42 verified reports
See Full Radiation Oncology Salary Data →

Radiation Oncology Salary Progression

From medical school to senior attending — based on 42 verified submissions

Training
8 years
Med School Debt
$200,000
Attending Salary
$585,000
Break-Even
~1 years
1
Medical School
4 years
-$200,000
2
Residency
3-5 years
$78,000/yr

7 submissions

3
Early Career
0-5 years experience
$530,000/yr

11 submissions

4
Mid-Career
6-15 years experience
$600,000/yr

24 submissions

5
Senior Attending
16+ years experience
$640,000/yr

7 submissions

+13% salary growth from early career ($530,000) to mid-career ($600,000)

Estimate Your Take-Home

Based on median Radiation Oncology salary of $585K/yr

Select a state to see your estimated take-home pay

Full Take-Home Calculator

Take-Home Pay by State

How much a Radiation Oncology physician actually keeps after federal, state, and FICA taxes

Highest Take-Home States

1
Alaska
Gross: $585,000 · 32.9% tax
$392,585
+$53,820/yr
2
Florida
Gross: $585,000 · 32.9% tax
$392,585
+$53,820/yr
3
Nevada
Gross: $585,000 · 32.9% tax
$392,585
+$53,820/yr
4
New Hampshire
Gross: $585,000 · 32.9% tax
$392,585
+$53,820/yr
5
South Dakota
Gross: $585,000 · 32.9% tax
$392,585
+$53,820/yr

Lowest Take-Home States

47
California
Gross: $585,000 · 42.1% tax
$338,765
−$53,820/yr
48
Oregon
Gross: $585,000 · 41.9% tax
$339,935
−$52,650/yr
49
District of Columbia
Gross: $585,000 · 41.8% tax
$340,520
−$52,065/yr
50
Hawaii
Gross: $585,000 · 41.7% tax
$341,105
−$51,480/yr
51
Minnesota
Gross: $585,000 · 41.1% tax
$344,615
−$47,970/yr

Tax impact: A Radiation Oncology physician keeps $53,820 more per year in Alaska vs. California — a 9.2% difference on gross income of $585,000.

Calculate your exact take-home pay →Need physician-specific tax planning? Talk to Doc Wealth

Assumes single filer, standard deduction, W-2 employment. State rates from Tax Foundation 2025. Gross salaries from BLS OEWS May 2024. FICA includes Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600) and Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% above $200K). Actual take-home varies with deductions, filing status, and local taxes.

Median: $585,000/yr
Radiation Oncology Physician Salary (2026)

How does your compensation compare?

Benchmark yourself against 42 verified radiation oncology salaries — add yours in 2 minutes and see your percentile instantly.

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Career Lifestyle

Career Reality: By the Numbers

Real data from 42 verified Radiation Oncology physicians — not job board estimates.

⏱️avg
49hrs
Avg Hours/Week
📟+34% vs avg
81%
Take Call
🌙
~5 days
all-physician avg
Avg Call Days/Mo
🏖️+25% vs avg
35 days
Avg PTO Days/Year
🤝
100%
Partnership Track
🌛
0%
Moonlighting
93% would choose radiation oncology again
Physician Satisfaction (2026)
Is Radiation Oncology Worth It? →
Detailed ROI analysis, satisfaction deep-dive, and physician perspectives

Job Market & Future Outlook

How Hard Is It to Match Into Radiation Oncology?

Low CompetitivenessSource: NRMP 2024 Charting Outcomes

Radiation Oncology is relatively accessible with a 97.5% match rate for U.S. MD seniors. There were 0.60 applicants per position (122 applicants for 203 spots). Matched applicants had significantly higher Step 2 CK scores (252 vs 242).

97.5%
Match Rate
0.60:1
Applicant Ratio
252
Avg Step 2 CK
203
Positions
122
Applicants

Match Rate by Step 2 CK Score

231-240
94%
241-250
96%
251-260
100%
>260
100%

What Differentiates Matched Applicants

MetricMatchedUnmatched
Step 2 CK252242
Research Experiences4.22.0
Publications1614
AOA Members16%0%
Programs Ranked161

Data from Charting Outcomes in the Match, National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), 2024. U.S. MD seniors. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Training & Getting Started

4 years of post-medical-school training, with subspecialty fellowship options

Subspecialty Fellowships

BrachytherapyProton TherapyPediatric Radiation OncologyPalliative Radiation

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Compare all specialty career scores →

Explore Radiation Oncology

Full Salary Data
Percentiles, trends, comparisons
Is It Worth It?
ROI analysis and satisfaction deep-dive
Practice Settings
Academic vs private vs employed
Salary Trends
Historical compensation changes
Best Cities
Top cities by salary and lifestyle
Salary Explorer
Compare all specialties side by side

Take the Next Step in Your Radiation Oncology Career

Real compensation data from verified physicians. Know your market value before your next contract negotiation.

See Real Radiation Oncology SalariesCheck Your Market ValueSubmit Your Salary

Powered by SalaryDr Career Intelligence

Data sources: SalaryDr verified physician submissions • BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (May 2024) • BLS Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Career Score methodology: salarydr.com/methodology

According to SalaryDr Career Intelligence data from 42 verified Radiation Oncologists (as of August 2026), the Physician Career Score for Radiation Oncology is 72/100. Median total compensation is $585,000, career satisfaction is 3.9/5, and 93% would choose the specialty again.