What is the salary of a Medical Records Specialist?

The typical salary range is $35,175 - $70,350 per year.

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Medical & WelfareGrowingBright Outlook

Medical Records Specialist

Operational-level

Also known as: Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Clinical Documentation Specialist

Medical & WelfareBachelor's Degree

Job Description

Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry's numerical coding system. Includes medical coders.

Medical Records ManagementHealth Information ManagementMedical CodingHealthcare ComplianceHealthcareInformation TechnologyData ManagementPatient CareMedical Careers

A Day in the Life

You step into the bustling medical records department at St. Jude's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, just before 8:00 AM. Your first task is always to check for urgent requests and new admissions. You log into the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, *Epic*, and open your task queue. Emails are already piling up, flagged for follow-ups on missing patient consents or incomplete discharge summaries. You grab your coffee and mentally prioritize the day’s coding assignments.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

In-demand software

Epic SystemsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Outlook

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+7.8%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

14,000

per year (US)

Jobs today

200,700

in 2025 → 216,300 (2035)

Typical entry education

Postsecondary nondegree award

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

High

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Moderate

Working outdoors

Low

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

Moderate

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

This career is growing, with about 14,000 job openings expected each year through 2035 and a projected employment change of +7.8%. The median annual wage for this role is around $51,140. With experience, you could advance into roles focusing on health information technology, medical compliance, or managing health information departments.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Medical Administrative Assistant
Data Entry Clerk
Medical Receptionist

Medical Records Specialist

Where it can lead

Health Information Technician
Medical Compliance Analyst
Health Information Manager

Impact of AI on this Job

AI will significantly automate routine tasks for Medical Records Specialists, such as data entry, indexing, and preliminary coding, greatly enhancing efficiency. This shift will likely transform the role, requiring specialists to focus more on quality assurance, complex record validation, and managing AI-driven systems. Their expertise will pivot towards ensuring data integrity and ethical oversight, rather than solely manual processing.

Salary

$51,140

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position