Medical Transcriptionist Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Medical Transcriptionists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$40,410
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$19.43
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$55,950
entry level starts ~$28,250
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 42,000 employed

How much does a Medical Transcriptionist make?

A Medical Transcriptionist earns a median annual salary of $40,410 in the United States, which works out to roughly $19.43 per hour for full-time work. Most Medical Transcriptionists earn between $28,250 at the entry level and $55,950 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $34,150 and $48,000 a year.

That is $20,980 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Medical Transcriptionist salary range by percentile

Half of all Medical Transcriptionists earn between $34,150 and $48,000 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$28,250$13.58
25th percentile (early career)$34,150$16.42
50th percentile (median)$40,410$19.43
75th percentile (experienced)$48,000$23.08
90th percentile (top earners)$55,950$26.90

Highest-paying states for Medical Transcriptionist

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Minnesota leads the country for Medical Transcriptionist pay at $50,030 a year, followed by Wisconsin ($49,150) and Maine ($48,600). At the other end, Oklahoma posts the lowest median at $27,740 — a gap of $22,290 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Minnesota$50,030$24.05+24%
2Wisconsin$49,150$23.63+22%
3Maine$48,600$23.37+20%
4Alaska$48,360$23.25+20%
5Connecticut$48,190$23.17+19%

Workforce and education

About 42,000 people work as Medical Transcriptionists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $41,710 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Medical Transcriptionist make in the United States?
The median Medical Transcriptionist salary in the United States is $40,410 per year, or about $19.43 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,250, while the top 10% of earners make $55,950 or more.
How does Medical Transcriptionist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Medical Transcriptionist median of $40,410 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Medical Transcriptionists the most?
Minnesota is the highest-paying state for Medical Transcriptionists, with a median salary of $50,030 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Medical Transcriptionist?
Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist typically requires 6 to 18 months of training. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
How many Medical Transcriptionists work in the United States?
About 42,000 people were employed as Medical Transcriptionists 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.