Looking for freelance or contract work as a oncologist in Illinois? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Illinois offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.
Oncologists provide strategic advice to healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, or medical device manufacturers on clinical protocols, treatment guidelines, market analysis, and product development. Work involves meetings, presentations, and written recommendations.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Illinois notes: Chicago pharma presence (AbbVie, Baxter, Takeda) creates advisory demand; academic centers (Northwestern, U of Chicago) produce KOLs; Pharma advisory boards $400-$600/hr; Expert networks $250-$499/hr; AbbVie (North Chicago) and Baxter/Takeda drive pharma consulting
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks
Oncologists review medical records and provide expert testimony or written opinions in legal cases involving cancer treatment, standard of care disputes, or medical malpractice claims. This work involves case analysis, report writing, and potential courtroom testimony.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Illinois notes: Chicago Cook County is high-volume medical litigation market; Oncology case review $350-$475/hr; Deposition $475-$575/hr; Trial testimony $500-$600/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks
Oncologists provide temporary coverage at healthcare facilities for short-term or extended assignments, typically working 2 weeks per month or longer contracts. Work includes patient evaluations, consultations, treatment planning, and follow-up care across various oncology settings including outpatient clinics and inpatient consultations.
Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer
Illinois notes: Chicago metro at standard rates; Downstate/rural IL +15-25% premium; Midwest has highest concentration of oncology locum demand (31%); Hematology-Oncology $375-$500/hr; Radiation Oncology $225-$300/hr; Midwest concentration (31% of med onc locums per LocumStory)
Typical start timeline: 2-4 weeks
Healthcare AI companies hire oncologist professionals to review, annotate, and validate training data for medical AI systems. Work involves oncology treatment protocol and imaging ai training — tasks like treatment protocol review, tumor measurement, clinical trial matching.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Illinois notes: Fully remote — available regardless of state. Pay based on specialty expertise, not location.
Typical start timeline: 1-2 weeks
Getting started: Join the expert community and make a free profile on Folio to browse current oncologist AI training projects.
Oncologists review patient medical records to assess appropriateness of cancer treatment, compliance with clinical guidelines, and resource utilization for insurance companies or healthcare organizations. Work involves documentation review, analysis, and written reports.
Malpractice Insurance: No
Illinois notes: Fully remote; Optum/UnitedHealth lists Chicago IL as location option for oncology UM director; UM Medical Director (Oncology) $125-$175/hr; Peer-to-peer reviews $150-$275/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks
Oncologists provide remote patient consultations, follow-up care, and treatment monitoring through virtual platforms for established or new patients. Work includes video consultations, electronic health record documentation, and prescription management.
Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer
Illinois notes: No geographic variation for remote; IL licensing required; Oncology specialist telehealth $140-$250/hr; General telemedicine physician avg $115/hr nationally
Typical start timeline: 2-4 weeks
Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for oncologists in Illinois?
A: Based on current market data, the top 3 are: Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($250-$600/hr), Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($350-$575/hr), Locum Tenens / Per Diem ($250-$500/hr).
Q: Which freelance options for oncologists don't require malpractice insurance?
A: 4 options don't require malpractice insurance: Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($250-$600/hr), Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($350-$575/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($200-$425/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($125-$275/hr). This can save $20-$50K annually compared to options requiring coverage.
Q: Can oncologists work remotely in Illinois?
A: Yes, 5 options are fully or partially remote: Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards ($250-$600/hr), Expert Witness / Medical-Legal ($350-$575/hr), AI Training & Annotation ($200-$425/hr), Chart Review / Utilization Review ($125-$275/hr), Telemedicine / Telehealth ($140-$250/hr).
Q: What Illinois license do oncologists need for freelance work?
A: An active Illinois license from Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is required for most clinical freelance options.
Q: How quickly can oncologists start freelance work?
A: Timeline varies by option: Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards typically takes 4-12 weeks, while Expert Witness / Medical-Legal typically takes 4-8 weeks, while Locum Tenens / Per Diem typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Q: What's the pay range for oncologists doing AI training work?
A: AI training pays $200-$425/hour for oncologists, varying by experience level and project complexity. No malpractice insurance required.
Folio connects Illinois oncologists with frontier research labs and healthcare AI companies looking for clinical expertise. The platform vets AI companies for project quality, handles contracting and payment, and matches projects to your area of expertise.
Typical timeline:
- Application: 3 minutes
- Credential review: 2-3 business days
- Platform orientation: 1 hour
- First project: 3-7 days from application
Current project focus (February 2026): Treatment protocol review, tumor measurement, clinical trial matching
Most oncologists start with 5-10 hours weekly, then scale based on preference. No minimum commitment.
Explore AI Training Opportunities
Questions? Email experts@folioworks.com
