Oncology Nurse salary
A oncology nurse earns about $98,280 a year — roughly $47.25/hour, with most earning between $79,790 and $105,820. This is an estimate — a starting point, not an exact figure.
Oncology Nurse — U.S. national
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$98,280
Hourly
$47.25/hr
- Typical range
- $79,790–$105,820
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $142,090
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $69,330
- Newer nurses
What affects this pay
- Oncology certification (OCN)
- Infusion / chemo competency
- Setting (inpatient vs infusion center)
- Metro labor market
About Oncology Nurses
What they do
Oncology nurses care for cancer patients through diagnosis, chemotherapy and immunotherapy infusion, symptom management, and survivorship or end-of-life care.
How to become an Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses are RNs who gain cancer-care experience, complete chemotherapy/immunotherapy provider training (ONS), and may earn the OCN certification.
What drives the pay
Public wage data doesn’t separately track oncology nurses; figures are based on registered nurse pay. The small premium reflects specialized infusion competencies and certification rather than a distinct official wage.
Oncology Nurse pay by state
Where this role tends to pay the most.
| State | Annual pay | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| California | $135,630 | +38% vs national |
| Hawaii | $117,940 | +20% vs national |
| Alaska | $115,970 | +18% vs national |
| Oregon | $115,970 | +18% vs national |
| Washington | $115,970 | +18% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $113,020 | +15% vs national |
| New York | $111,060 | +13% vs national |
| District of Columbia | $110,070 | +12% vs national |
Compare next
Roles nurses weigh against this one.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled specialty estimate
Oncology Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.05×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.
Source year 2024. Last reviewed June 1, 2025. Full methodology
This role isn’t broken out in public wage data, so the figure starts from registered nurse pay and sharpens as nurses submit their pay. Last reviewed June 1, 2025.