Medical Records Specialists
Medical records specialists compile, process, and maintain patient files.
Is medical records specialists a good career?
It scores 22/100 and ranks #268 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+7.1% through 2034)
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($51,140 vs $61,390)
What medical records specialists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. medical records specialists earn between $43,490 and $64,820 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live medical records specialists jobs
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- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034.
Education
A high school diploma or equivalent and experience in a healthcare setting are enough to qualify for some positions, but others may require a postsecondary certificate or an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
High school students may benefit from taking classes in subjects such as biology, computer science, and anatomy.
Community colleges and technical schools offer certificate and associate’s degree programs for medical records specialists. These programs typically include courses in medical terminology, health data requirements and standards, and classification and coding systems.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Employers may prefer to hire medical records specialists who have certification, or they may expect applicants to earn certification shortly after being hired.
Certifications usually require candidates to pass an exam and might require previous experience or education. Certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s degree programs may help students to meet these requirements.
Advancement
Medical records specialists may advance to become health information technologists or medical registrars or medical or health services managers after completing a higher certification program or earning a degree in health information technology. Requirements vary by facility.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Medical records specialists must interpret medical documentation to assess diagnoses, which they then code into a patient’s medical record.
Detail oriented. Medical records specialists must be precise about verifying and coding patient information.
Integrity. Medical records specialists must exercise discretion and act ethically when working with patient data to protect patient confidentiality, as required by law.
Interpersonal skills. Medical records specialists need to discuss patient information, discrepancies, and data requirements with physicians, finance personnel, and other workers involved in patient care and recordkeeping.
Related occupations
How much do medical records specialists make?
The national median wage is $51,140 a year, with the middle half earning between $43,490 and $64,820 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is medical records specialists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 22 of 100 and ranks #268 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +7.1% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a medical records specialist?
The typical entry-level education is postsecondary nondegree award.
Where do medical records specialists earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($72,040). Local pay for every state and metro is below.