How much does a medical records specialist make?
The median medical records specialist in the United States earns $51,140 per year, about $24.59 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all medical records specialists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-2072.
Medical records specialist salary range
Pay for medical records specialists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,000 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $81,150. The average (mean) wage of $56,790 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,000 | $17.79 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $43,490 | $20.91 | |
| Median (50th) | $51,140 | $24.59 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $64,820 | $31.17 | |
| 90th percentile | $81,150 | $39.01 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for medical records specialists (SOC 29-2072), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Medical records specialist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Medical records specialists earn the most in District of Columbia at $72,040 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $41,500. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $72,040 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $63,960 | 650 |
| Hawaii | $63,180 | 400 |
| Washington | $62,270 | 5,010 |
| California | $61,810 | 18,700 |
| New York | $61,720 | 9,080 |
| Minnesota | $61,530 | 3,150 |
| Alaska | $61,090 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $60,940 | 1,120 |
| Massachusetts | $60,350 | 3,500 |
| Wisconsin | $60,280 | 2,870 |
| Colorado | $59,020 | 1,780 |
| Oregon | $59,000 | 2,560 |
| Vermont | $57,560 | N/A |
| New Mexico | $57,470 | 1,400 |
| Illinois | $56,440 | 5,740 |
| Delaware | $56,060 | 610 |
| South Carolina | $54,280 | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $54,220 | 2,440 |
| Wyoming | $54,210 | 280 |
| Idaho | $53,460 | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $53,460 | 2,480 |
| Virginia | $53,290 | 4,630 |
| Utah | $52,870 | 1,910 |
| Maine | $52,090 | 1,000 |
| Nebraska | $51,670 | 1,640 |
| South Dakota | $51,610 | 900 |
| Georgia | $51,550 | 5,930 |
| Ohio | $50,990 | 7,440 |
| Missouri | $50,750 | 3,890 |
| Iowa | $50,640 | 2,250 |
| Nevada | $50,300 | 2,350 |
| New Jersey | $50,240 | 4,450 |
| Montana | $50,190 | 820 |
| North Carolina | $49,620 | 6,760 |
| New Hampshire | $49,210 | 930 |
| Texas | $48,860 | 17,210 |
| Tennessee | $48,780 | 4,440 |
| Kentucky | $48,410 | 4,210 |
| Kansas | $48,160 | 2,030 |
| Michigan | $48,120 | 4,890 |
| Indiana | $47,670 | 5,860 |
| Arizona | $47,630 | 3,750 |
| West Virginia | $47,360 | 1,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,840 | 6,970 |
| North Dakota | $46,280 | 520 |
| Florida | $45,760 | 21,490 |
| Louisiana | $44,610 | 2,600 |
| Alabama | $43,810 | 2,330 |
| Arkansas | $41,740 | 1,920 |
| Mississippi | $41,500 | 2,310 |
State median wages for medical records specialists (SOC 29-2072), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for medical records specialists
The BLS projects employment of medical records specialists to grow 7.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 200,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 216,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 14,000 openings a year for medical records specialists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a medical records specialist
The typical entry-level education for medical records specialists is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a medical records specialist earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $72,040) and the lowest (Mississippi, $41,500) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 194,720 people work as medical records specialists in the United States. At $51,140 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Medical records specialist salary FAQ
How much does a medical records specialist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a medical records specialist is $24.59. The middle half of medical records specialists earn between $20.91 and $31.17 per hour.
What is the highest medical records specialist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of medical records specialists earn more than $81,150 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a medical records specialist make a year?
The median annual salary for a medical records specialist is $51,140. The average (mean) wage of $56,790 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a medical records specialist a well paid job?
At $51,140 a year, a medical records specialist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 194,720 people work as medical records specialists in the United States.
Which state pays medical records specialists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for medical records specialists at $72,040 a year. Rhode Island ($63,960) and Hawaii ($63,180) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a medical records specialist a good career?
Employment of medical records specialists is projected to grow 7.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 14,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a medical records specialist?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for medical records specialists as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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