Most staff RNs earn less than oncology nurses, and this difference increases with setting, certification, and experience. The national median for all registered nurses is $97,550 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). Oncology nurses always score above that line.
A survey of 38 active job postings from 14 employers produced a median oncology nurse salary of $111,030, with half of the job postings ranging from $97,521 to $128,419. That’s also a significant pay raise above the median RN salary, which is about $13,000 lower in the middle.
What Does an Oncology Nurse Do?
Oncology nurses support cancer patients at every stage of their treatment cycle, from diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiation, through surgery, recovery, clinical trials and palliative care. Emotionally challenging and clinically complex work. Cancer biology, chemotherapy pharmacology, port access, vesicant management, and the psychological load of caring for seriously ill patients and their families are a few issues oncology nurses need to understand.
That complexity shows up in pay.
Oncology Nurse Salary — Key Numbers
| Metric | Figure | Source |
| National RN median | $97,550/yr | BLS, May 2025 |
| Oncology RN median (advertised) | $111,030/yr | Metaintro, Sept 2026 |
| Oncology RN range (middle 50%) | $97,521–$128,419/yr | Metaintro, Sept 2026 |
| Travel oncology RN national average | $2,223/week | Vivian, Oct 2026 |
| Top travel markets (CA, NY, MA) | $2,500–$3,200+/week | Vivian, Oct 2026 |
A travel oncology nurse makes about $106,700 annually (48 weeks) at $2,223/week, and in high-demand markets, much more than that.
Oncology Nurse Salary by Setting
Setting changes the number significantly.
- Academic cancer centers and NCI-designated cancer centers are the highest paying. These are research-intensive sites like Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering and oncology nurses may be involved in clinical trials and complicated protocols. Specialization = Pay.
- Oncology units at community hospitals offer competitive compensation and are usually lower than academic hospitals. These are the top oncology nursing occupations across the country.
- The outpatient infusion center is a rapidly expanding area. Infusion nurses are in demand as the majority of chemotherapy is being administered in an outpatient environment. Schedules are typically more predictable (no nights, fewer weekends), but not as much as inpatient.
- Home infusion and hospice positions pay for each visit, just as other home health nursing jobs do. Compensation is also unique: there is mileage pay and flexible working hours, and the amount of income earned is closely related to the caseload and geographic location.
Inpatient jobs then offer shift differentials (usually $3-8/hour additional on nights, weekends, and holidays), which can raise the total pay to $6,000-15,000 a year over the base salary in a posted position.
How OCN Certification Affects Pay
The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) credential is issued by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). To sit for the exam, you need:
- An active RN license
- At least 24 months of RN experience
- 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the past 48 months
- 10 oncology-specific continuing education hours within the past 36 months
OCN is often asked for in mid- and senior-level positions. Nurses who are certified with an OCN will be paid at the higher end of the range, not as a flat premium, but in competitive markets. Certified nurses can often be offered a $105,000 position versus a $118,000 job.
Other oncology-adjacent certifications worth knowing:
- CPHON — Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing (for nurses working with pediatric cancer patients)
- AOCNP — Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (for NPs who specialize in oncology)
- BMTCN — Blood and Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (for bone marrow transplant units)
Travel Oncology Nurse Salary
Oncology is a specialty with a high demand for travel medicine practitioners. Travel oncology nurses are hired by facilities that are conducting clinical trials, large academic cancer centers with hiring shortages or community hospitals establishing new oncology units.
Vivian data from October 2026 shows the national average for travel oncology nurses is $2,223/week.
Top markets pay more:
| Market | Weekly Pay (Approx.) |
| Boston, MA area | $2,637/week |
| Seattle, WA | $2,468/week |
| Portland, OR | $2,163/week |
| California (high-demand markets) | $2,800–$3,200+/week |
At $2,637/week for 48 weeks, a Boston-area travel oncology nurse earns about $126,600 before tax-free housing and meal stipends, which can add another $15,000–$25,000 in untaxed income annually.
Oncology Nurse Salary by State
Oncology nursing is not a separate occupation listed by BLS, but rather is included in the SOC 29-1141, Registered Nurses. Pay floors are a good starting point at the state level. The states that pay the most overall pay for RNs also pay the most for oncology nurses.
| State | RN Median (BLS, May 2025) | Oncology Premium (Est.) |
| California | $140,270/yr | Among the highest nationally |
| Hawaii | $136,320/yr | High cost of living market |
| Oregon | $129,010/yr | Strong travel oncology demand |
| Washington | $124,200/yr | Seattle-area cancer centers |
| Massachusetts | ~$120,000/yr | Boston academic medical centers |
| Texas | ~$84,000–$95,000/yr | Growing cancer center market |
| Florida | ~$77,000–$90,000/yr | Lower base, lower cost of living |
The West Coast and Northeast consistently offer the highest absolute pay. The South and Midwest offer lower base salaries but also lower housing costs, something worth factoring in if you’re comparing offers.
What Drives Oncology Nurse Pay?
Five things move the number more than anything else:
- Experience. Most hospitals do not require oncology nursing experience for new graduates to work in the field; most new nurses work in med-surg or general nursing their first year. In competitive markets, mid-career nurses (5+ years of experience in oncology) typically make a $110,000 to $125,000 salary.
- Certification (OCN). See above. It’s not a predetermined dollar amount; it’s a “bump” in the range that you are posted in.
- Setting. Different academic medical centers and outpatient infusion centers pay different, as do home infusion centers.
- Shift differentials. Oncology inpatient nights and weekends are valuable dollars added to base pay.
- Geography. The highest wages are paid in California, Massachusetts, Washington, and Oregon. Consider travel nursing and you can accept and accept the highest-paying jobs wherever you go.
Is Oncology Nursing Worth It Financially?
Oncology nurses always make more than the RN median. Established oncology nurses who are OCN certified in academic medical centers or NCI-designated centers can earn $115,000 – $130,000 annually on a regular basis. Travel oncology nurses earn $130,000 – $150,000 in high-demand markets if you consider stipends.
The load of the specialty is very real. Typical reasons for nurses to remain in oncology in the long term are not only salary, but mission and relationships. However, if you are interested in a career that will bring in the big bucks, oncology is one of the highest-paying staff RN specialties in the country.
Find Oncology Nursing Jobs That Show the Full Pay Package
The majority of job boards will indicate a salary range. They don’t tell you how the housing stipend comes out, if there is a night difference, or what other facilities in the market are providing.
Oncology nurses can view and bid on assignments directly, without a recruiter’s bias in the spread. For those who are considering staff vs travel or comparing markets, it’s a quicker method to determine what you are really worth right now.
Browse oncology nursing jobs on SkillGigs →
