Medical records specialists
SOC Code: 29-2072Also known as:
Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Clinical Documentation Specialist, Clinical Office Technician (Clinical Office Tech)
Median Annual Salary
$50,250
+7.1% growth (2024-2034)
14K
Openings/Year
195K
Current Jobs
What Medical records specialists Do
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.
💰 Salary
$50,250
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+7.1%
Faster than average
🎓 Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
14K
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
194,800
Projected Employment (2034)
208,600
Related Careers
Health information technologists and medical registrars
$67,310 •
+14.7% growth
Medical assistants
$44,200 •
+12.5% growth
Medical transcriptionists
$37,550 •
-4.9% growth
File clerks
$41,270 •
-15.9% growth
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
$44,640 •
+4.2% growth
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Most common requirement
Degree Programs for Medical records specialists
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a medical records specialists:
Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician
11,828 degrees awarded •
333 colleges offer this program
Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
10,171 degrees awarded •
367 colleges offer this program
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator
2,781 degrees awarded •
131 colleges offer this program
Disease Registry Data Management
22 degrees awarded •
3 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Medical records specialists
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become medical records specialists.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical records specialists make?
The median annual salary for medical records specialists is $50,250.
What education do medical records specialists need?
Most medical records specialists positions require a postsecondary nondegree award.
Common degree programs include Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician, Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder, Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator.
Is becoming medical records specialists a good career choice?
Medical records specialists is projected to see +7.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is faster than average for all occupations. With approximately 14,200 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for medical records specialists?
Top colleges for aspiring medical records specialists include
University of Central Florida, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, University of Illinois Chicago, Rasmussen University-Minnesota, Lorain County Community College.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to medical records specialists?
Medical records specialists may also be known as: Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Clinical Documentation Specialist, Clinical Office Technician (Clinical Office Tech), Coder, Coding Specialist, Disability Rater, Electronic Health Records Specialist (EHR Specialist), Fee Coder, Health Informatics Specialist, Health Information Clerk, Health Information Coder, Health Information Management Hospital Coder (HIM Hospital Coder), Health Information Management Inpatient Coding Auditor (HIM Inpatient Coding Auditor), Health Information Management Technician (HIM Tech), Health Information Specialist, Health Information Systems Technician (Health Information Systems Tech), Health Information Technician (Health Information Tech), Health Record Technician (Health Record Tech).
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.