What US Oncologists Are Earning: Medscape's 2011 Report

At first glance, you might be struck by the seemingly odd distribution of oncology salaries in the United States. For example, why would oncologists in the Mid-Atlantic region, where the cost of living is relatively high, have lower median salaries than the North Central region, where the cost of living is lower? According to Medscape’s 2011 report, it is due to the higher concentration of research hospitals and community oncology practices in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West. These institutions increase the competition for oncology positions and thus lower the median salaries.