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Medical Biller and Coder vs Medical Transcriptionist

By: All Allied Health Staff

Updated: December 10, 2025

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: $50,250

Projected job growth: 7.1%

10th Percentile: $35,780

25th Percentile: $41,600

75th Percentile: $64,070

90th Percentile: $80,950

Projected job growth: 7.1%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$38,540	$28,300	$62,660
Alaska	$56,740	$45,780	$84,810
Arizona	$49,790	$37,460	$68,890
Arkansas	$39,920	$32,430	$67,010
California	$59,700	$41,740	$104,560
Colorado	$55,410	$42,640	$83,840
Connecticut	$58,250	$37,310	$85,140
Delaware	$52,020	$34,710	$72,570
District of Columbia	$64,690	$44,850	$123,410
Florida	$45,990	$33,250	$76,220
Georgia	$48,990	$34,500	$78,300
Hawaii	$62,990	$41,790	$91,140
Idaho	$48,940	$37,310	$74,930
Illinois	$49,420	$36,900	$74,520
Indiana	$47,170	$36,380	$70,860
Iowa	$51,580	$38,610	$64,020
Kansas	$48,670	$36,140	$76,430
Kentucky	$48,020	$34,150	$67,440
Louisiana	$43,820	$31,960	$71,770
Maine	$48,990	$38,780	$66,960
Maryland	$59,140	$40,740	$107,870
Massachusetts	$57,220	$40,830	$83,540
Michigan	$48,220	$36,990	$70,570
Minnesota	$59,310	$46,630	$77,200
Mississippi	$39,970	$29,440	$63,290
Missouri	$49,150	$36,590	$75,230
Montana	$49,930	$38,610	$62,200
Nebraska	$48,420	$37,200	$65,500
Nevada	$60,530	$36,730	$94,990
New Hampshire	$48,250	$38,640	$66,190
New Jersey	$49,910	$33,280	$85,380
New Mexico	$50,340	$35,310	$70,570
New York	$59,750	$40,260	$98,910
North Carolina	$47,840	$35,170	$79,250
North Dakota	$53,550	$37,160	$77,820
Ohio	$51,420	$37,470	$82,080
Oklahoma	$48,590	$34,510	$70,590
Oregon	$57,260	$40,670	$80,720
Pennsylvania	$46,730	$35,040	$74,680
Rhode Island	$63,330	$43,110	$81,290
South Carolina	$58,510	$35,740	$67,930
South Dakota	$50,320	$34,150	$77,030
Tennessee	$49,740	$35,930	$78,830
Texas	$47,230	$31,550	$77,140
Utah	$47,710	$35,360	$82,740
Vermont	$48,610	$40,160	$64,430
Virginia	$51,780	$35,560	$76,560
Washington	$62,250	$44,100	$96,740
West Virginia	$43,710	$30,260	$66,960
Wisconsin	$55,270	$41,140	$74,590
Wyoming	$53,550	$35,600	$77,950

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. 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: $37,550

Projected job growth: -4.9%

10th Percentile: $26,370

25th Percentile: $31,200

75th Percentile: $45,680

90th Percentile: $53,890

Projected job growth: -4.9%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$32,590	$24,210	$47,980
Alaska	$34,000	$31,940	$62,630
Arizona	$36,360	$30,660	$51,890
Arkansas	$31,710	$24,760	$45,180
California	$39,090	$34,970	$57,490
Colorado	$38,340	$31,220	$56,230
Connecticut	$46,800	$39,090	$54,810
Delaware	$36,910	$35,600	$58,160
District of Columbia	$37,070	$36,400	$44,970
Florida	$38,430	$28,090	$52,000
Georgia	$27,750	$23,830	$51,610
Hawaii	$45,760	$43,050	$57,290
Idaho	$36,000	$27,650	$48,610
Illinois	$36,610	$30,870	$50,790
Indiana	$38,240	$23,880	$50,050
Iowa	$43,230	$37,110	$51,380
Kansas	$35,270	$23,900	$47,310
Kentucky	$37,600	$23,820	$48,640
Louisiana	$36,920	$25,230	$58,960
Maine	$48,520	$34,980	$60,940
Maryland	$44,760	$31,800	$67,720
Massachusetts	$37,850	$35,100	$56,720
Michigan	$36,230	$29,010	$48,260
Minnesota	$52,190	$42,330	$64,410
Mississippi	$43,950	$31,400	$60,240
Missouri	$30,060	$28,710	$48,460
Montana	$43,560	$36,110	$57,250
Nebraska	$41,540	$24,960	$59,770
Nevada	$40,000	$36,320	$57,130
New Hampshire	$43,170	$35,350	$55,760
New Jersey	$43,280	$32,180	$57,770
New Mexico	$34,730	$28,740	$54,600
New York	$42,700	$34,490	$54,640
North Carolina	$27,390	$19,610	$47,400
North Dakota	$44,810	$39,230	$52,320
Ohio	$29,540	$24,700	$49,680
Oklahoma	$28,920	$20,590	$46,280
Oregon	$39,630	$31,530	$60,030
Pennsylvania	$36,190	$30,190	$50,890
Rhode Island	$33,510	$30,720	$53,090
South Carolina	$31,480	$27,660	$49,190
South Dakota	$45,580	$36,180	$59,790
Tennessee	$40,570	$29,910	$49,920
Texas	$29,080	$21,340	$49,250
Utah	$38,900	$31,910	$48,050
Virginia	$37,120	$31,820	$49,280
Washington	$37,120	$33,860	$58,540
West Virginia	$35,770	$31,490	$69,850
Wisconsin	$48,820	$37,470	$55,640
Wyoming	$50,510	$36,140	$61,610

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. 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 2034. Here’s how medical billers and coders and transcriptionists compare.

Medical Biller & Coder projected job growth through 2034: 7.1%

Medical Transcriptionist projected job growth through 2034: -4.9%

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.

Medical Biller and Coder vs Medical Transcriptionist

The Key Differences

Job Duties

Education

Licensing and Certification

Median Annual Salaries and Job Growth

Job Growth

What’s Next?

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