Compare high-paying freelance options for Texas oncologists: locums, telemedicine, AI training, consulting. Real pay ranges, requirements, and how to start.

TL;DR

Looking for freelance or contract work as a oncologist in Texas? Whether you want to supplement your income or transition to independent practice, Texas offers several high-paying options. Here's how the top opportunities compare.

1.

Healthcare Consulting / Advisory Boards

$250-$600/hr

What You'll Do

Oncologists provide strategic advice to pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, healthcare systems, or consulting firms on clinical development, market strategy, treatment protocols, and healthcare policy. Work involves meetings, presentations, and written recommendations on a project or retainer basis.

Requirements

  • Active Texas medical license
  • Board certification in Medical Oncology or Hematology/Oncology
  • Minimum 5+ years clinical experience
  • Expertise in specific oncology subspecialties or healthcare systems valued
  • No specific malpractice requirement

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • PhysicianSideGigs

Texas notes: Houston (Texas Medical Center) drives premium consulting demand; Dallas also strong pharma hub; Pharma advisory boards $400-$600/hr; Expert networks $250-$499/hr; MD Anderson-affiliated KOLs command top rates
Typical start timeline: 4-12 weeks

2.

Expert Witness / Medical-Legal

$350-$575/hr

What You'll Do

Oncologists review medical records, provide expert opinions on standard of care, causation, and damages in medical malpractice, personal injury, or product liability cases. Work involves case analysis, report writing, deposition testimony, and potential trial testimony. This is typically part-time work performed remotely with flexible scheduling.

Requirements

  • Active Texas medical license
  • Board certification in Medical Oncology or related specialty
  • Minimum 5-10 years clinical experience in oncology
  • No specific malpractice requirement, but professional liability insurance recommended
  • Strong communication and documentation skills

Malpractice Insurance: No (professional liability insurance recommended but not required)

Where to Find Work

  • PhysicianSideGigs
  • physician avg $475/hr), SEAK 2024 Study

Texas notes: No significant geographic variation; Texas is a high-volume medical malpractice market; Oncology case review $350-$475/hr; Deposition $475-$575/hr; Trial testimony $500-$622/hr; TX avg expert fee ~$450/hr
Typical start timeline: 4-8 weeks

3.

Locum Tenens / Per Diem

$225-$500/hr

What You'll Do

Oncologists provide temporary clinical care at hospitals, cancer centers, or outpatient clinics on a short-term contract basis, typically ranging from days to several months. Work involves patient consultations, treatment planning, and oncology care delivery without long-term employment commitment. Compensation is hourly-based, ranging from $231-$550 per hour depending on location, specialty focus, and facility type.

Requirements

  • Active Texas medical license (MD or DO)
  • Board certification in Medical Oncology or Hematology/Oncology preferred
  • Current DEA registration
  • Malpractice insurance (personal or employer-provided)
  • Typically 2+ years post-residency experience

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • CompHealth

Texas notes: Rural West Texas/Panhandle +20-25% premium; Dallas/Houston metro at standard rates; Rio Grande Valley facilities offer rural premiums; Hematology-Oncology $375-$500/hr; Radiation Oncology $225-$300/hr; ZipRecruiter median TX oncology locum $150/hr (includes lower-acuity roles)
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

4.

AI Training & Annotation

$200-$425/hr

What You'll Do

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.

Requirements

  • Active clinical background in oncologist
  • No malpractice insurance needed
  • Computer with reliable internet

Malpractice Insurance: No

Where to Find Work

  • Folio (folioworks.com)
  • Centaur Labs
  • Appen
  • Labelbox

Texas 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.

5.

Chart Review / Utilization Review

$125-$275/hr

What You'll Do

Oncologists review patient medical records for insurance companies, healthcare systems, or utilization review organizations to assess medical necessity, appropriateness of care, and compliance with clinical guidelines. Work involves documentation review, report writing, and occasional peer-to-peer discussions with treating physicians.

Requirements

  • Active Texas medical license
  • Board certification in Medical Oncology or Hematology/Oncology
  • Minimum 3-5 years clinical experience in oncology
  • No specific malpractice requirement, but professional liability insurance recommended
  • Strong knowledge of oncology treatment standards and insurance guidelines

Malpractice Insurance: No (professional liability insurance recommended but not required)

Where to Find Work

  • Indeed

Texas notes: Fully remote; UnitedHealth/Optum posting lists Dallas TX as location option for oncology UM director; UM Medical Director (Oncology) $125-$175/hr; Optum Rad Onc UM Director ~$115-$172/hr FT equivalent; Peer-to-peer oncology reviews $150-$275/hr
Typical start timeline: 2-6 weeks

6.

Telemedicine / Telehealth

$140-$250/hr

What You'll Do

Oncologists provide remote patient consultations, follow-up care, and treatment monitoring through virtual platforms for established or new patients. Work involves video consultations, electronic health record documentation, and prescription management from a remote location.

Requirements

  • Active Texas medical license
  • Board certification in Medical Oncology or Hematology/Oncology preferred
  • Current DEA registration for controlled substance prescribing
  • Malpractice insurance (typically provided by telehealth platform or employer)
  • Minimum 2+ years clinical experience

Malpractice Insurance: Typically provided by employer

Where to Find Work

  • ZipRecruiter

Texas notes: No geographic variation for remote work; TX licensing required; Oncology specialist telehealth $140-$250/hr; General telemedicine physician avg $115/hr nationally; Specialty premium +30-50%
Typical start timeline: 2-4 weeks

Common Questions People Ask

Q: What are the highest-paying freelance options for oncologists in Texas?

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 ($225-$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-$60K annually compared to options requiring coverage.

Q: Can oncologists work remotely in Texas?

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 Texas license do oncologists need for freelance work?

A: An active Texas license from Texas Medical Board 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 2-6 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.

Getting Started with AI Training

Folio connects Texas 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

Explore Opportunities →

Frequently asked questions

How much can oncologists earn freelancing in Texas?
Do I need malpractice insurance for freelance oncologist work in Texas?
Can I do freelance work while employed full-time as a oncologist?
What is AI training for oncologists, and how does it work?
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How do I get started with freelance oncologist work in Texas?