Median Salary
$51,140
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$24.59
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$81,150
entry level starts ~$37,000
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 195,000 employed
How much does a Medical Records Specialist make?
Medical Records Specialists in the United States bring home a median salary of $51,140 a year, or around $24.59 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $37,000, while the top 10% earn $81,150.
That is $10,250 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Medical Records Specialist salary range by percentile
Half of all Medical Records Specialists earn between $43,490 and $64,820 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,000 | $17.79 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $43,490 | $20.91 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $51,140 | $24.59 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $64,820 | $31.16 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,150 | $39.01 |
|
Highest-paying states for Medical Records Specialist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Medical Records Specialist pay at $72,040 a year, followed by Rhode Island ($63,960) and Hawaii ($63,180). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $41,500 — a gap of $30,540 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Medical Records Specialist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
District of Columbia $72,040Rhode Island $63,960Hawaii $63,180Washington $62,270California $61,810New 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
Workforce and education
About 195,000 people work as Medical Records Specialists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,790 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Records Specialist make in the United States?
The median Medical Records Specialist salary in the United States is $51,140 per year, or about $24.59 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $37,000, while the top 10% of earners make $81,150 or more.
How does Medical Records Specialist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Medical Records Specialist median of $51,140 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Medical Records Specialists the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Medical Records Specialists, with a median salary of $72,040 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Medical Records Specialist?
Becoming a Medical Records Specialist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Medical Records Specialists work in the United States?
About 195,000 people were employed as Medical Records Specialists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.