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Medical Records Specialist

$50,250
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Organize patient records and assign medical codes for billing, insurance, and data accuracy.

Where you work

Hospitals, clinics, and remote offices

The hours

Mostly regular weekday hours, some remote

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$50,250
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~14,200
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+7%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
194,800
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Certificate program

Training path: Certificate program, sometimes on the job.

License or certification

Certifications like RHIT or CCS are widely preferred by employers, though not always legally required.

What it takes

Medical codingAttention to detailData entryConfidentiality

The honest take

A behind-the-scenes way into health care for people who prefer computers and coding to bedside work.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-2072. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.