California Median
$61,810
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.72
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+21% vs US median
US median $51,140
State Rank
#5 of 51
18,700 employed here
How much does a Medical Records Specialist make in California?
Medical Records Specialists in California take home a median of $61,810 annually — roughly $29.72 an hour — which runs 21% above the national median of $51,140.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $43,800 while the top 10% make $102,470 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,000 and $80,630 a year.
Medical Records Specialist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,800 | $21.06 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,000 | $23.56 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,810 | $29.72 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $80,630 | $38.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,470 | $49.26 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories for Medical Records Specialist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Medical Records Specialist salary in other states
District of Columbia $72,040Rhode Island $63,960Hawaii $63,180Washington $62,270New York $61,720Minnesota $61,530Alaska $61,090Connecticut $60,940Massachusetts $60,350Wisconsin $60,280Colorado $59,020Oregon $59,000Vermont $57,560New Mexico $57,470Illinois $56,440Delaware $56,060South Carolina $54,280Maryland $54,220Wyoming $54,210Idaho $53,460Oklahoma $53,460Virginia $53,290Utah $52,870Maine $52,090Nebraska $51,670South Dakota $51,610Georgia $51,550Ohio $50,990Missouri $50,750Iowa $50,640Nevada $50,300New Jersey $50,240Montana $50,190North Carolina $49,620New Hampshire $49,210Texas $48,860Tennessee $48,780Kentucky $48,410Kansas $48,160Michigan $48,120Indiana $47,670Arizona $47,630West Virginia $47,360Pennsylvania $46,840North Dakota $46,280Florida $45,760Louisiana $44,610Alabama $43,810Arkansas $41,740Mississippi $41,500
Working as a Medical Records Specialist in California
Nationally, about 195,000 people work as Medical Records Specialists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($61,810) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Records Specialist make in California?
The median Medical Records Specialist salary in California is $61,810 per year, or about $29.72 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $43,800 at the entry level to $102,470 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Medical Records Specialists about 21% more than the national median of $51,140. California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Medical Records Specialists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $61,810 a year. About 18,700 Medical Records Specialists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Medical Records Specialist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.