Medical Biller and Coder vs Medical Transcriptionist

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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.

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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: $46,660

Projected job growth: 6.6%

10th Percentile: $29,430

25th Percentile: $36,930

75th Percentile: $59,120

90th Percentile: $74,200

Projected job growth: 6.6%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$36,930	$24,800	$59,700
Alaska	$47,820	$37,190	$76,550
Arizona	$38,450	$29,440	$60,240
Arkansas	$36,850	$27,950	$58,920
California	$51,170	$36,610	$94,310
Colorado	$47,510	$36,620	$74,250
Connecticut	$55,100	$37,130	$86,080
Delaware	$46,910	$29,400	$60,520
District of Columbia	$60,020	$37,990	$96,870
Florida	$38,580	$29,050	$63,690
Georgia	$37,500	$28,810	$67,690
Hawaii	$48,070	$37,430	$77,830
Idaho	$46,480	$29,450	$60,620
Illinois	$46,640	$32,910	$64,120
Indiana	$46,640	$29,430	$62,640
Iowa	$39,870	$30,380	$60,930
Kansas	$44,200	$29,110	$59,770
Kentucky	$40,100	$29,010	$60,580
Louisiana	$38,270	$28,150	$60,820
Maine	$37,190	$29,430	$58,810
Maryland	$48,350	$35,730	$77,810
Massachusetts	$59,120	$37,090	$93,720
Michigan	$38,740	$29,220	$61,160
Minnesota	$50,470	$37,840	$74,200
Mississippi	$36,760	$22,520	$59,180
Missouri	$46,520	$29,110	$66,020
Montana	$45,840	$29,650	$61,250
Nebraska	$39,400	$29,440	$60,240
Nevada	$37,510	$29,270	$59,380
New Hampshire	$38,180	$29,440	$60,240
New Jersey	$61,680	$46,910	$96,170
New Mexico	$38,670	$29,250	$60,930
New York	$48,350	$36,930	$77,810
North Carolina	$38,620	$29,140	$60,780
North Dakota	$47,270	$34,840	$61,250
Ohio	$46,640	$29,440	$62,610
Oklahoma	$44,180	$29,000	$60,340
Oregon	$47,940	$36,930	$75,940
Pennsylvania	$45,000	$29,550	$74,660
Rhode Island	$47,340	$36,910	$74,250
South Carolina	$41,140	$29,090	$72,470
South Dakota	$46,640	$29,400	$71,120
Tennessee	$38,890	$29,010	$61,400
Texas	$39,140	$29,030	$63,330
Utah	$46,700	$29,520	$73,740
Vermont	$46,660	$36,340	$59,770
Virginia	$47,410	$30,570	$76,240
Washington	$48,500	$36,930	$76,950
West Virginia	$37,190	$28,920	$59,800
Wisconsin	$47,340	$37,070	$62,050
Wyoming	$46,880	$29,550	$73,580

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2031. 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: $30,100

Projected job growth: -6.5%

10th Percentile: $22,810

25th Percentile: $28,220

75th Percentile: $38,220

90th Percentile: $48,190

Projected job growth: -6.5%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$30,860	$20,950	$45,710
Alaska	$37,860	$30,640	$74,270
Arizona	$29,990	$26,830	$46,210
Arkansas	$30,100	$24,320	$38,780
California	$29,120	$29,120	$48,160
Colorado	$36,630	$25,630	$50,980
Connecticut	$48,510	$43,720	$61,060
Delaware	$33,350	$22,920	$50,810
Florida	$28,900	$22,350	$46,170
Georgia	$23,150	$17,920	$43,620
Hawaii	$46,210	$30,150	$58,850
Idaho	$27,890	$24,460	$38,880
Illinois	$23,450	$22,880	$49,800
Indiana	$30,100	$22,400	$47,780
Iowa	$36,270	$22,660	$47,470
Kansas	$30,540	$23,360	$47,470
Kentucky	$36,360	$22,390	$46,330
Louisiana	$36,360	$23,700	$48,650
Maine	$36,620	$29,990	$46,550
Maryland	$42,000	$24,710	$48,510
Massachusetts	$37,050	$29,500	$48,510
Michigan	$28,560	$22,070	$46,210
Minnesota	$47,780	$25,220	$58,850
Mississippi	$29,760	$22,660	$44,550
Missouri	$35,110	$28,080	$46,210
Montana	$38,070	$35,280	$59,760
Nebraska	$36,520	$23,920	$48,960
Nevada	$37,800	$24,110	$48,150
New Hampshire	$38,220	$29,110	$48,490
New Jersey	$46,330	$29,130	$58,640
New Mexico	$23,680	$22,720	$39,260
New York	$30,640	$26,000	$46,610
North Carolina	$30,210	$17,740	$47,470
North Dakota	$37,260	$22,350	$48,150
Ohio	$24,100	$20,600	$46,040
Oklahoma	$30,380	$17,270	$58,180
Oregon	$37,860	$29,130	$58,640
Pennsylvania	$36,560	$24,460	$48,540
Rhode Island	$36,770	$24,510	$48,160
South Carolina	$30,540	$27,430	$48,300
South Dakota	$37,660	$29,280	$48,310
Tennessee	$26,680	$22,460	$45,460
Texas	$28,780	$19,130	$45,850
Utah	$38,000	$30,100	$48,150
Vermont	$38,220	$36,360	$47,470
Virginia	$28,980	$22,720	$61,220
Washington	$44,970	$30,640	$58,850
West Virginia	$29,940	$21,490	$45,160
Wisconsin	$43,060	$22,920	$48,190
Wyoming	$47,460	$36,520	$48,510

Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for all jobs is 5% through 2031. Here’s how medical billers and coders and transcriptionists compare.

Medical Biller & Coder projected job growth through 2031: 6.6%

Medical Transcriptionist projected job growth through 2031: -6.5%

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.