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: $47,180

Projected job growth: 8.5%

10th Percentile: $31,710

25th Percentile: $37,510

75th Percentile: $60,170

90th Percentile: $75,460

Projected job growth: 8.5%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$37,190	$25,710	$61,210
Alaska	$51,290	$40,520	$77,430
Arizona	$41,850	$31,170	$62,560
Arkansas	$35,460	$29,520	$60,590
California	$56,900	$36,470	$100,330
Colorado	$50,000	$34,110	$77,720
Connecticut	$60,390	$40,980	$78,520
Delaware	$45,870	$31,090	$65,440
District of Columbia	$62,140	$43,950	$95,790
Florida	$44,560	$30,680	$70,450
Georgia	$41,950	$29,570	$71,130
Hawaii	$63,650	$40,730	$84,200
Idaho	$46,550	$34,900	$64,210
Illinois	$48,510	$33,950	$70,010
Indiana	$46,220	$30,750	$69,950
Iowa	$46,590	$35,100	$64,150
Kansas	$43,440	$30,490	$62,560
Kentucky	$42,640	$30,040	$62,120
Louisiana	$46,830	$30,020	$69,420
Maine	$47,470	$35,360	$66,560
Maryland	$54,900	$36,880	$80,520
Massachusetts	$52,620	$37,880	$82,330
Michigan	$42,630	$31,830	$62,940
Minnesota	$51,810	$40,400	$79,450
Mississippi	$36,750	$23,350	$59,420
Missouri	$48,070	$30,630	$68,350
Montana	$43,250	$32,500	$63,680
Nebraska	$46,120	$32,900	$62,560
Nevada	$37,980	$28,840	$62,170
New Hampshire	$44,680	$31,640	$63,310
New Jersey	$64,760	$40,320	$100,310
New Mexico	$45,100	$31,330	$64,400
New York	$49,390	$36,240	$81,120
North Carolina	$45,200	$30,700	$65,350
North Dakota	$46,800	$35,980	$61,560
Ohio	$46,070	$32,600	$64,880
Oklahoma	$46,610	$30,320	$64,610
Oregon	$50,680	$37,850	$79,160
Pennsylvania	$45,660	$35,400	$67,630
Rhode Island	$49,310	$36,900	$72,140
South Carolina	$50,640	$31,010	$75,840
South Dakota	$47,330	$32,160	$68,770
Tennessee	$47,190	$30,990	$74,130
Texas	$39,410	$29,710	$64,270
Utah	$46,000	$31,830	$80,640
Vermont	$48,290	$36,400	$63,220
Virginia	$48,550	$34,320	$76,020
Washington	$54,850	$38,460	$81,790
West Virginia	$38,610	$27,960	$62,000
Wisconsin	$49,750	$36,340	$65,470
Wyoming	$49,370	$34,300	$76,390

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 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: $34,730

Projected job growth: -3.8%

10th Percentile: $24,340

25th Percentile: $29,120

75th Percentile: $43,950

90th Percentile: $51,280

Projected job growth: -3.8%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$35,500	$22,620	$48,750
Alaska	$30,720	$28,150	$67,200
Arizona	$32,940	$29,030	$47,760
Arkansas	$34,430	$25,840	$47,180
California	$32,860	$29,120	$53,670
Colorado	$37,970	$28,880	$49,880
Connecticut	$51,160	$37,590	$62,620
Delaware	$43,530	$22,570	$56,730
District of Columbia	$32,750	$32,250	$35,570
Florida	$32,220	$23,720	$48,430
Georgia	$24,270	$17,130	$48,100
Hawaii	$49,630	$37,700	$54,830
Idaho	$40,140	$26,920	$53,260
Illinois	$40,210	$24,960	$52,990
Indiana	$35,930	$23,170	$49,740
Iowa	$38,310	$22,830	$49,270
Kansas	$35,360	$27,310	$48,420
Kentucky	$38,730	$24,340	$49,530
Louisiana	$29,870	$22,220	$48,170
Maine	$41,800	$33,640	$50,670
Maryland	$30,370	$26,000	$49,100
Massachusetts	$39,920	$33,410	$49,830
Michigan	$33,570	$22,370	$48,330
Minnesota	$51,330	$35,140	$64,440
Mississippi	$33,620	$27,290	$41,600
Missouri	$33,870	$25,400	$45,790
Montana	$40,890	$24,530	$45,600
Nebraska	$29,560	$22,600	$46,220
Nevada	$40,460	$36,130	$56,220
New Hampshire	$38,050	$22,130	$51,950
New Jersey	$36,170	$28,360	$56,320
New Mexico	$23,920	$23,920	$43,800
New York	$35,200	$30,400	$47,110
North Carolina	$34,770	$21,530	$47,380
North Dakota	$37,880	$21,770	$47,430
Ohio	$32,170	$23,410	$51,480
Oklahoma	$27,040	$17,890	$55,700
Oregon	$39,880	$30,240	$58,770
Pennsylvania	$40,850	$23,210	$53,820
Rhode Island	$30,440	$26,400	$48,880
South Carolina	$31,200	$22,530	$43,380
South Dakota	$38,720	$30,290	$55,090
Tennessee	$34,730	$18,180	$48,230
Texas	$32,750	$22,070	$53,970
Utah	$31,720	$21,990	$42,520
Vermont	$43,070	$40,360	$62,210
Virginia	$35,690	$22,950	$46,890
Washington	$35,520	$30,140	$52,370
West Virginia	$33,970	$22,980	$53,960
Wisconsin	$44,530	$26,140	$50,440
Wyoming	$45,620	$37,050	$54,570

Job Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for all jobs is 5% 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.