Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Medical records specialists work at the intersection of healthcare information, accuracy, and organization. This career offers a national median annual salary of $50,250 and employs about 195,000 people across the country. The field is projected to grow by 7.1%, with around 14,000 openings each year, indicating ongoing demand. The work draws heavily on computers and information technology, strong writing and reading skills, and a high level of detail orientation. Interpersonal, customer service, and speaking and listening skills also play a role, alongside fine motor abilities and physical strength and stamina. Science knowledge and project management skills contribute to handling records and processes efficiently. For students, career changers, and experienced workers, this role can appeal if you enjoy working with information, maintaining accuracy, and supporting healthcare processes. It can also serve as a stable path for those who prefer a defined education requirement and a clear set of core skills to develop over time.
Medical records specialists earn a national median annual salary of $50,250, providing a clear benchmark for evaluating offers and planning a career path. Earnings vary by location, with some states and metro areas offering notably higher median salaries. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median salary of $62,270, California $61,810, New York $61,720, Massachusetts $60,350, and Colorado $59,020. At the metro level, pay can be even higher. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $86,890, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $74,400. Other leading metros such as New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offer median salaries between about $58,810 and $61,190. These figures show that earnings potential can differ significantly depending on where you work.
Medical records specialists have a sizable national workforce of about 195,000, indicating a well-established occupation with a broad employment base. The projected employment growth of 7.1% suggests that total employment in this field is expected to increase over time. In addition, there are about 14,000 annual openings, which include both new positions and opportunities created when workers change jobs or leave the occupation. Together, these indicators point to a labor market with ongoing hiring activity. The consistent 7.1% projected growth rate also appears across the top states and metro areas listed, which can be useful if you are considering relocation while remaining in the same occupation. For job seekers and career changers, these numbers highlight a field with active demand and regular opportunities to enter or advance within the profession in different regions of the country.
Location has a meaningful impact on both opportunity and pay for medical records specialists. Among states, California has the highest employment level listed, with 18,700 workers and a median salary of $61,810, along with a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. New York (employment 9,080; $61,720; score 65.78) and Massachusetts (3,500; $60,350; score 65.87) also rank highly. Washington and Colorado show smaller employment counts—5,010 and 1,780, respectively—but still offer median salaries near or above $59,020 and opportunity scores above 56. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads in both salary and opportunity, with a median of $86,890 and a 77.42 opportunity score, despite employment of 920. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has higher employment at 8,090, a median salary of $61,190, and a similarly strong 77.27 score. Other metros such as San Francisco, Washington DC region, and Boston combine solid salaries and opportunity scores, giving multiple geographic options to consider.
Medical records specialists typically need a postsecondary nondegree award, providing an entry route that does not require a full college degree. This educational path can appeal to students and career changers who want to move into a healthcare-related information role with a clear, focused training program. Success in this occupation relies on a specific mix of skills. Computers and information technology are central, reflecting the importance of working with digital systems. Writing and reading skills, along with strong detail orientation, support accuracy and documentation quality. Speaking and listening, interpersonal abilities, and customer service skills help in working with others. Fine motor skills and physical strength and stamina are also part of the role’s demands, along with a foundation in science. Project management skills round out the profile, supporting the ability to organize tasks and processes within medical records environments.
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