How much does a medical typist make?
a year · about $19 an hour
A typical medical typist in the United States makes $40,410 a year, about $19 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a computer, they check doctors' recordings or speech-software drafts, correct medical terms, and file notes in electronic records. They protect patient privacy and send reports to doctors for approval.
Did you know? Speech software often makes the first draft of a doctor's note, but a medical typist must catch mistakes that could affect a patient's treatment.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $28,250 and $55,950How do you become one?
After high school, take a postsecondary certificate program in medical transcription, often under a year, to study medical terms, anatomy, grammar, and supervised practice. Certification is optional; new graduates can choose AHDI’s RHDS exam.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience, useful training or certification, location, and employer type, such as a hospital, doctor's office, or transcription service. Some workers are paid by the amount they finish, while others earn hourly or salary pay; part-time or unusual schedules also affect total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Wisconsin ($49,150), lowest in Oklahoma ($27,740).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $28,250 | $40,410 | $55,950 | about 42,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $49,150 | about 590 |
| Oregon | $46,280 | about 510 |
| Illinois | $45,490 | about 970 |
| California | $45,050 | about 6,000 |
| Tennessee | $44,720 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate abbreviations into fully understandable form. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form for review and signature, or correction.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-transcriptionists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/31-9094.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- ahdionline.org/rhds-rmt
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY