How much does a medical transcriptionist make?
The median medical transcriptionist in the United States earns $40,410 per year, about $19.43 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all medical transcriptionists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-9094.
Medical transcriptionist salary range
Pay for medical transcriptionists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,250 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $55,950. The average (mean) wage of $41,710 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 | $28,250 | $13.58 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $34,150 | $16.42 | |
| Median (50th) | $40,410 | $19.43 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,000 | $23.08 | |
| 90th percentile | $55,950 | $26.90 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for medical transcriptionists (SOC 31-9094), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Medical transcriptionist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Medical transcriptionists earn the most in Minnesota at $50,030 a year, and the least in Oklahoma at $27,740. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $50,030 | 270 |
| Wisconsin | $49,150 | 590 |
| Maine | $48,600 | 80 |
| Alaska | $48,360 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $48,190 | 390 |
| Wyoming | $48,100 | 40 |
| Oregon | $46,280 | 510 |
| South Dakota | $46,070 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $45,880 | 230 |
| Illinois | $45,490 | 970 |
| District of Columbia | $45,110 | 70 |
| California | $45,050 | 5,860 |
| Iowa | $45,010 | 180 |
| Tennessee | $44,720 | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $44,660 | 120 |
| Hawaii | $44,310 | N/A |
| New York | $43,260 | 2,710 |
| Colorado | $43,080 | 610 |
| Texas | $42,900 | 7,520 |
| Florida | $42,050 | 2,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,510 | 1,130 |
| Indiana | $41,400 | 790 |
| Montana | $41,340 | 80 |
| Maryland | $39,900 | 230 |
| Utah | $39,630 | 210 |
| Nevada | $39,350 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $39,300 | 1,020 |
| New Jersey | $39,020 | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $39,000 | 690 |
| Washington | $38,690 | 620 |
| Mississippi | $38,600 | 300 |
| Idaho | $38,140 | 400 |
| Louisiana | $38,040 | 420 |
| Missouri | $37,480 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $37,480 | 210 |
| West Virginia | $37,440 | 90 |
| Michigan | $37,280 | 1,130 |
| Ohio | $37,060 | 680 |
| Massachusetts | $36,910 | 400 |
| Arizona | $36,550 | 700 |
| Kansas | $35,390 | 420 |
| Alabama | $35,340 | 410 |
| Virginia | $35,130 | N/A |
| Arkansas | $35,100 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $34,790 | 80 |
| Delaware | $34,070 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $33,870 | 390 |
| Vermont | $33,030 | N/A |
| Georgia | $28,330 | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $27,740 | 560 |
State median wages for medical transcriptionists (SOC 31-9094), 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 transcriptionists
The BLS projects employment of medical transcriptionists to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 4.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 42,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 40,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 6,200 openings a year for medical transcriptionists. 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 transcriptionist
The typical entry-level education for medical transcriptionists 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 transcriptionist earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $50,030) and the lowest (Oklahoma, $27,740) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 41,550 people work as medical transcriptionists in the United States. At $40,410 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Medical transcriptionist salary FAQ
How much does a medical transcriptionist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a medical transcriptionist is $19.43. The middle half of medical transcriptionists earn between $16.42 and $23.08 per hour.
What is the highest medical transcriptionist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of medical transcriptionists earn more than $55,950 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a medical transcriptionist make a year?
The median annual salary for a medical transcriptionist is $40,410. The average (mean) wage of $41,710 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 transcriptionist a well paid job?
At $40,410 a year, a medical transcriptionist earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 41,550 people work as medical transcriptionists in the United States.
Which state pays medical transcriptionists the most?
Minnesota has the highest median salary for medical transcriptionists at $50,030 a year. Wisconsin ($49,150) and Maine ($48,600) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a medical transcriptionist a good career?
Employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to shrink 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 6,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a medical transcriptionist?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for medical transcriptionists as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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