Between increasingly complex treatment algorithms and growing loads of administrative demands, the realities of clinical oncology may lead you to consider a career transition. Thankfully your expertise has value far beyond the exam room. The same skills you use every day—interpreting data, evaluating evidence and understanding the science behind disease—can translate to roles in biotech, pharma, digital health, policy and even law.
Alternative careers don’t have to be a detour. Various roles can allow you to apply your training in environments where your impact can be broader and your schedule more sustainable.
Why do oncologists seek alternative careers?
Sermo polling reveals that many physician members—in oncology and other specialties—are thinking about changing course. While 57% of physicians polled said they aren’t considering a career change, 20% are actively looking and another 6% are undecided.
Here is a look at the drivers pushing oncologists in particular to consider looking for new roles:
Emotional burnout
In a Sermo poll asking for the main reasons physicians leave medicine, 26% cited emotional stress, mental health issues, or burnout as the primary factor.
Compassion fatigue is an occupational hazard in oncology. You are constantly exposed to severe illness, loss, and high-stakes decisions where the margin for error can feel non-existent. Concerningly, higher levels of compassion fatigue in physicians was linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression as reported in a 2025 study. Some oncologists on Sermo are feeling the effects, “I’m in my first 20th Anniversary Work and I’m already tired and depressed…” one Sermo member writes.
Administrative overload
18% of the Sermo poll respondents identified “too much bureaucracy/administrative tasks” as physicians’ main reason for leaving medicine. The burden of documentation and bureaucracy is a major pain point across many specialties. In one 2022 study published by JAMA, surveying 1,524 physicians, 58% said they spend an inappropriate amount of time on documentation. “The lack of staff adds to the stress and burnout,” explains an oncologist on Sermo.
Work-life imbalance
Oncology doesn’t always adhere to a 9-to-5 schedule. On-call duties, emergencies and high patient volume can interfere with personal time. In the Sermo poll, 22% of physicians cited long hours and lack of family time as a reason to leave, while 19% pointed to poor work-life balance.
Desire for different impact or growth
Not every pivot is born from frustration. Some oncologists pursue roles in pharma, biotech or entrepreneurship because they want to affect change on a broader level. Instead of treating one patient at a time, a role in drug development allows you to potentially save millions of lives with a single therapy.
In response to another poll question, 24% of Sermo members indicated that they want to switch careers but stay within the healthcare field. One oncologist and Sermo member shared that they’re still passionate about healthcare, despite some frustrations. “I love to study and practice medicine, but I see that it is sometimes a bit ungrateful,” they explain. “…patients consult Google for everything and want to discuss with you about the best treatments.”
Alternative career options for oncologists
It’s possible to leave clinical practice without taking a significant pay cut. The corporate and legal worlds place a premium on the expertise that an oncologist possesses. Here are some of the most lucrative oncologist alternative careers, with average salaries for U.S.-based roles:
Medical director (clinical development)
In this role, you act as the strategic brain behind clinical trials. You aren’t just running the protocol, you are helping design it. You’ll guide the clinical development plan and ensure patient safety data is interpreted correctly. An oncology medical director’s salary is often significantly higher than clinical benchmarks, frequently including bonuses and stock options.
Average salary: $191 000, according to ZipRecruiter
Scientific advisor (immunotherapy/CAR-T)
With the rise of immunotherapies and CAR-T cell therapies, biotech companies are seeking experts who understand the nuance of these complex treatments. As a scientific advisor, you help companies navigate the scientific viability of their assets, bridging the gap between the lab and clinical reality.
Median salary: $178,000, according to Glassdoor
Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
While often considered an entry point into industry, the MSL role in oncology is highly specialized. You serve as the primary scientific bridge between a pharmaceutical company and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in the field. It involves travel and relationship building, but without the pressure of direct patient care or insurance paperwork.
Median salary: $190,000, per ZipRecruiter
Drug safety physician
Pharmacovigilance is critical. In this role, you are responsible for monitoring and evaluating the safety profile of drugs during clinical trials and post-marketing. You assess adverse events and ensure that the risk-benefit profile of a drug remains favorable. It is a role that rewards attention to detail.
Median salary: $214,000, according to Glassdoor
Principal investigator (PI) for external trials
You don’t have to work for a hospital to be involved in research. Many Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and independent site networks hire oncologists to serve as PIs for external trials. You oversee the medical aspects of the trial at a specific site, ensuring protocol compliance and patient safety.
Average salary: $142,688, according to ZipRecruiter
Medico-legal consultation
Becoming a physician expert witness oncology specialist is an hourly gig you can treat as full-time work or a side gig. Lawyers need experts to review charts for delayed cancer diagnosis cases or to determine if the standard of care was met. You provide objective opinions and, occasionally, testimony.
Average rate: $106 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter
Independent Medical Examiner (IME)
In this role, you perform third-party evaluations of patients to determine the extent of disability or work-related injury. It involves reviewing records, examining the patient (briefly), and writing a report. It is purely evaluative, with no treatment relationship involved.
Average salary: Varies based on case volume, but the average salary is $167,241, according to ZipRecruiter.
Flexible and remote careers for oncologists
For some physicians, money isn’t the primary driver of a career change —maybe you just want your weekends back. If freedom and flexibility are your goals, these remote-friendly paths offer a way to stay in the game on your own terms.
Tele-oncology
Telemedicine can allow you to provide consults to patients, including those in rural areas who lack access to specialists. You can perform initial consultations, second opinions or follow-up visits from your home office, often with more control over your schedule.
Median salary: $411,000 for telemedicine physicians in general, according to Glassdoor
Medical writing/editing
If you have a flair for the written word, medical writing offers a flexible outlet. This can range from regulatory writing (clinical study reports) to medical education (slide decks for conferences) or medical journalism. It’s an example of a non-clinical oncology job that allows for a “digital nomad” lifestyle.
Average rate: $46 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter
Online CME Course Creation (Oncology Protocols)
You can create Continuing Medical Education (CME) content, a task that requires you to synthesize the latest oncology protocols and updates into digestible courses. You can complete the work on a freelance basis or as a consultant for medical education companies.
Average salary: $82,499 for online course creators in general, according to ZipRecruiter
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Membership
Before any clinical trial can begin—whether it’s a Phase I oncology study or a simple observational project—an IRB must review the protocol to make sure the study is ethically sound, scientifically justified and compliant with federal regulations. For oncologists, this work plays directly to your strengths: evaluating risk–benefit ratios, assessing study design, and spotting safety concerns that non-clinicians might miss. Many commercial IRBs operate fully remotely, making this a flexible, contract-based role that fits around your clinical schedule.
Average salary: $83,712, according to ZipRecruiter
Grant reviewer
Government bodies and non-profit organizations need experts to review grant applications for cancer research. As a grant reviewer, you keep a finger on the pulse of upcoming science and help direct funding to the most promising projects.
Median salary: $111,000, according to Glassdoor
Utilization Review (UR) for expensive specialty drugs
As cancer therapies become more expensive, insurance companies and benefits managers need oncologists to review prior authorization requests. While this puts you on the “payer” side, it allows you to work from home, often with a more predictable 9-to-5 schedule. While utilization review is typically done as a side gig, it can be combined with other medico-legal work to support a full-time career transition.
Average salary: $87,946, according to ZipRecruiter
Sermo paid medical surveys as a means to reach your goals
Perhaps you aren’t ready to hang up your stethoscope completely, or maybe you are planning a pivot but need a financial cushion to make the leap. This is where supplemental income comes in handy.
One viable strategy is to participate in paid medical surveys on Sermo. Whether you are saving for a secondary degree (like an MBA or MPH to boost your transition), funding a certification course, or need a vacation to de-stress, the surveys allow you to monetize your opinion. The industry needs to know what oncologists think about new data, drug sequencing and treatment barriers, and is willing to pay for it.
Furthermore, taking paid medical surveys isn’t just “busy work.” As you transition to a non-clinical role, taking surveys and being active in the Sermo community helps to keep you up to date with clinically relevant topics. If you move into clinical trial consulting or a role as a physician expert witness, you need to keep your knowledge fresh. Sermo gives you a space to maintain your clinical expertise while padding your bank account.
Take the next step
The journey from practicing oncologist to a non-clinical role can require significant effort. However, the intense intellectual and emotional demands of oncology can make exploring oncologist alternative careers a necessary step.
You don’t have to navigate the transition alone. Sermo is a community of over 1+ million physicians who are navigating their own pivots—or have already made it to the other side. Join them today to access resources to guide your career transition and start supplementing your income through paid medical surveys.
