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.
Associate's degree
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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.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Health information technologists and medical registrars work at the intersection of health data, technology, and analysis. This career combines computers and information technology with mathematics, science, and strong critical and analytical thinking. With national employment of 42,000 and a projected growth rate of 14.7%, the field shows a solid path for expansion. The national median annual salary of $67,310 reflects the value placed on professionals who can work with complex information while using skills such as writing and reading, speaking and listening, and project management. Creativity, innovation, leadership, and adaptability are also central to success in this role, supporting work in evolving health information environments. For students, career changers, and professionals interested in data-focused work in health contexts, this occupation offers a blend of technical and analytical challenges along with opportunities in varied locations across the United States, from national employers to specific high-opportunity states and metro areas.
The national median annual salary for health information technologists and medical registrars is $67,310, but pay varies considerably by location. Among the top states, California stands out with a median salary of $90,750, followed by Massachusetts at $81,420, New York at $75,320, and Colorado at $78,470. Washington’s median of $59,640 reflects a lower typical wage level among these leading states. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro reports a median salary of $126,670, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro shows $111,480. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ offers $77,860, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH stands at $82,780 and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV at $66,570. These figures highlight substantial earning potential variation by region within this career.
Health information technologists and medical registrars have a national employment level of 42,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 14.7%. This projected increase indicates that the total number of positions is expected to rise over time. With 3,000 annual openings, there is a recurring flow of opportunities each year for new entrants and career movers. The same 14.7% growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting a consistent projected expansion in multiple regions rather than being concentrated in a single area. For job seekers, this combination of existing employment, projected growth, and ongoing annual openings points to a field where both current positions and future opportunities are present. Individuals developing the core skills associated with this occupation can look toward a labor market that is expected to add roles while also regularly needing to fill positions that open each year.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for health information technologists and medical registrars. Among states, California has the highest median salary at $90,750 and the largest employment count at 2,920, along with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also show strong combinations of salary and opportunity, with median wages of $81,420 and $75,320 and opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, respectively. Colorado and Washington round out the top states, offering opportunity scores above 56 with growth rates of 14.7%. At the metro level, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area stands out with a median salary of $126,670 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 2,340. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also offer notable combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for health information technologists and medical registrars is an associate’s degree. This level of education supports entry into a role that blends technical, analytical, and communication skills. Key skills associated with this occupation include computers and information technology, mathematics, and science, indicating a strong technical and quantitative foundation. Critical and analytical thinking is central to working effectively with health information, while writing and reading, along with speaking and listening, support clear communication of data and findings. Leadership and project management skills are important for organizing work and contributing to projects and initiatives. Creativity and innovation, together with adaptability, help professionals respond to changing needs and tools within health information environments. For students and career changers, focusing education and training on these areas can align well with the expectations of this occupation and support long-term growth in the field.
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