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Medical Biller and Coder vs Medical Transcriptionist

Written and reported by:
All Allied Health Schools Staff

The healthcare industry generates mounds of paperwork, and it takes armies of trained professionals keep hospitals, doctor’s offices, and insurance companies on the same page.

Medical transcriptionists work with doctors and other healthcare providers, turning audio recordings about patient care into written notes that go into a patient’s file.

Medical coders work with those files, making sure they’re up-to-date and they comply with federal regulations and insurance requirements. Medical billers (a subset of medical coders) submit claims to insurance companies, Medicare, and others.

The Key Differences

Here’s more detail about how these careers, which both play a vital role in keeping the healthcare system running smoothly, differ:

Job Duties

Medical Biller & Coder

Assign alphanumeric codes to illnesses, injuries, and medical procedures
Submit claims for reimbursement
Advise providers on best documentation practices

Medical Transcriptionist

Listen to audio recordings made by doctors and other health care professionals and convert them into written reports
Edit drafts prepared by speech recognition software for accuracy and style consistency
Pinpoint inconsistencies or errors and follow up with medical professionals

Education

Medical Biller & Coder

Medical Transcriptionist

Most medical coders and billers start out with an associate’s degree, though certificates and diplomas that take less time to complete are also an option.
Employers usually prefer formally trained transcriptionists with a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree.

Licensing and Certification

Medical Biller & Coder

Medical Transcriptionist

Certification is optional but highly recommended, since many employers prefer it.
Same. Certification is optional but highly recommended, since many employers prefer it.

Median Annual Salaries and Job Growth

You can compare national salaries for both professions below.

Medical Records Specialists

National data

Median Salary: $48,780

Projected job growth: 8.5%

10th Percentile: $35,080

25th Percentile: $39,620

75th Percentile: $61,960

90th Percentile: $77,810

Projected job growth: 8.5%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$39,500	$28,390	$62,710
Alaska	$55,280	$43,230	$81,530
Arizona	$48,460	$36,150	$65,430
Arkansas	$37,340	$30,790	$63,810
California	$53,740	$38,530	$99,800
Colorado	$55,660	$40,010	$82,980
Connecticut	$61,300	$37,420	$86,440
Delaware	$50,430	$33,980	$69,830
District of Columbia	$61,320	$47,570	$108,310
Florida	$44,210	$31,520	$80,270
Georgia	$48,880	$32,330	$72,340
Hawaii	$60,940	$41,720	$87,070
Idaho	$49,650	$36,480	$69,060
Illinois	$49,900	$36,610	$75,850
Indiana	$46,410	$34,370	$65,360
Iowa	$49,190	$37,040	$61,620
Kansas	$46,750	$33,990	$67,970
Kentucky	$44,770	$31,760	$64,810
Louisiana	$48,810	$31,110	$74,300
Maine	$45,630	$37,190	$68,640
Maryland	$59,990	$38,750	$90,840
Massachusetts	$52,330	$39,170	$83,840
Michigan	$47,810	$35,810	$66,620
Minnesota	$60,570	$45,740	$76,140
Mississippi	$38,200	$28,300	$61,520
Missouri	$50,920	$34,450	$76,660
Montana	$46,830	$37,200	$61,560
Nebraska	$46,440	$34,490	$66,800
Nevada	$45,270	$34,440	$66,070
New Hampshire	$47,960	$36,200	$67,100
New Jersey	$58,520	$40,900	$91,480
New Mexico	$45,240	$34,140	$67,440
New York	$59,050	$38,340	$82,850
North Carolina	$46,440	$33,050	$69,250
North Dakota	$49,320	$37,620	$70,940
Ohio	$48,010	$35,430	$72,580
Oklahoma	$49,510	$33,330	$67,510
Oregon	$54,080	$39,110	$83,250
Pennsylvania	$46,160	$36,590	$63,720
Rhode Island	$53,920	$39,000	$78,530
South Carolina	$51,310	$35,260	$72,340
South Dakota	$49,950	$34,080	$74,240
Tennessee	$49,340	$35,040	$78,760
Texas	$44,180	$31,090	$68,510
Utah	$49,750	$35,230	$90,770
Vermont	$49,610	$38,570	$69,630
Virginia	$50,600	$37,170	$77,700
Washington	$58,580	$41,130	$86,880
West Virginia	$41,680	$29,520	$64,100
Wisconsin	$51,870	$38,540	$70,240
Wyoming	$51,360	$37,300	$75,590

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Medical Transcriptionists

National data

Median Salary: $37,060

Projected job growth: -3.8%

10th Percentile: $27,190

25th Percentile: $31,200

75th Percentile: $45,780

90th Percentile: $52,880

Projected job growth: -3.8%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$39,310	$29,460	$48,740
Alaska	$43,580	$30,740	$60,160
Arizona	$34,550	$29,420	$49,190
Arkansas	$32,970	$23,270	$45,340
California	$38,130	$34,130	$61,310
Colorado	$40,670	$30,630	$51,580
Connecticut	$48,050	$37,880	$56,130
Delaware	$42,250	$24,560	$55,690
District of Columbia	$35,580	$34,840	$39,420
Florida	$36,870	$27,860	$53,770
Georgia	$27,590	$22,810	$49,920
Hawaii	$47,840	$41,430	$55,120
Idaho	$34,620	$27,570	$46,660
Illinois	$34,410	$29,540	$46,070
Indiana	$39,490	$30,270	$53,800
Iowa	$41,720	$25,030	$51,160
Kansas	$31,570	$21,980	$48,940
Kentucky	$36,670	$22,800	$50,630
Louisiana	$34,150	$24,350	$53,750
Maine	$46,820	$35,540	$51,960
Maryland	$37,440	$28,620	$55,360
Massachusetts	$43,180	$35,500	$54,930
Michigan	$33,290	$27,770	$46,190
Minnesota	$49,290	$40,360	$63,770
Mississippi	$33,280	$26,010	$48,640
Missouri	$29,890	$27,030	$45,850
Montana	$41,920	$35,570	$49,680
Nebraska	$34,940	$21,840	$52,200
Nevada	$35,960	$34,670	$52,010
New Hampshire	$35,360	$24,170	$54,620
New Jersey	$38,190	$30,960	$61,190
New Mexico	$28,460	$25,170	$52,000
New York	$39,690	$33,190	$50,380
North Carolina	$28,150	$22,230	$46,160
North Dakota	$44,690	$33,620	$53,840
Ohio	$36,150	$25,480	$51,900
Oklahoma	$28,640	$21,180	$49,700
Oregon	$39,520	$32,920	$58,930
Pennsylvania	$36,520	$25,090	$50,680
Rhode Island	$44,980	$28,740	$53,050
South Carolina	$34,320	$26,140	$48,570
South Dakota	$42,120	$32,980	$54,730
Tennessee	$36,610	$27,470	$46,230
Texas	$34,710	$21,400	$55,620
Utah	$36,830	$30,170	$45,170
Virginia	$37,660	$24,990	$52,910
Washington	$47,800	$34,360	$47,950
West Virginia	$31,630	$22,820	$52,160
Wisconsin	$47,640	$27,720	$55,350
Wyoming	$49,820	$39,660	$58,360

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for all jobs is 3% through 2032. Here’s how medical billers and coders and transcriptionists compare.

Medical Biller & Coder projected job growth through 2032: 8.5%

Medical Transcriptionist projected job growth through 2032: -3.8%

What’s Next?

Medical Biller & Coder: Getting certified as an advanced or specialty coder is one way to advance your career.
Medical Transcriptionist: Getting certified as a Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) or Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) can help you stand out when applying for jobs.