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Medical transcriptionist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$40,410median pay per year, or $19.43 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $28,250lowest 10% earn less
  2. $34,15025th percentile
  3. $40,410median
  4. $48,00075th percentile
  5. $55,950top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Medical transcriptionists had a median pay of $40,410 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to decline 4.4% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-4.4%[2]
Openings per year
6,200[5]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[6]

How much do medical transcriptionists make?

The median wage for Medical Transcriptionists was $40,410 a year, or $19.43 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $41,710 a year, or $20.05 an hour[7].

For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sat below the all-occupations figure.

Pay varied a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,250 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $55,950[3]. The middle half earned between $34,150 and $48,000[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th[3][9] $28,250 $13.58
25th[3][9] $34,150 $16.42
75th[3][9] $48,000 $23.08
90th[3][9] $55,950 $26.90

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 41,550 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Minnesota had the highest median wage at $50,030, followed by Wisconsin at $49,150 and Maine at $48,600[12]. Georgia ($28,330) and Oklahoma ($27,740) were at the bottom of the published list[12].

Texas had the most jobs with 7,520, then California with 5,860 and New York with 2,710[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $58,240, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $57,420 and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT at $54,830[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 2,910, with a median of $44,010[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Minnesota[12]$50,030270
Wisconsin$49,150590
Maine$48,60080
Alaska$48,360110
Connecticut$48,190390
Wyoming$48,10040
Oregon$46,280510
South Dakota$46,070240
Nebraska$45,880230
Illinois$45,490970
District of Columbia$45,11070
California$45,0505,860
Iowa$45,010180
Tennessee$44,7201,450
North Dakota$44,660120
Hawaii$44,310n/a
New York$43,2602,710
Colorado$43,080610
Texas$42,9007,520
Florida$42,0502,650
Pennsylvania$41,5101,130
Indiana$41,400790
Montana$41,34080
Maryland$39,900230
Utah$39,630210
Nevada$39,350210
North Carolina$39,3001,020
New Jersey$39,0201,710
Kentucky$39,000690
Washington$38,690620
Mississippi$38,600300
Idaho$38,140400
Louisiana$38,040420
Missouri$37,480310
New Mexico$37,480210
West Virginia$37,44090
Michigan$37,2801,130
Ohio$37,060680
Massachusetts$36,910400
Arizona$36,550700
Kansas$35,390420
Alabama$35,340410
Virginia$35,130n/a
Arkansas$35,100280
Rhode Island$34,79080
Delaware$34,070n/a
South Carolina$33,870390
Vermont$33,030n/a
Georgia$28,330950
Oklahoma$27,740560

How to become a medical transcriptionist

BLS lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6]. People who know medical terms from other health jobs may catch up through refresher courses[18]. In an O*NET survey of 16 workers, 39% said a post-secondary certificate was required, 34% said some college courses, 17% a high school diploma and 11% an associate's degree[20].

What medical transcriptionists do

They turn recordings from physicians and other healthcare practitioners into written reports[21]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as Medical Scribe, Documentation Specialist and Radiology Transcriptionist[23]. Good computer, listening, critical-thinking and writing skills matter[24][25][26][27].

Where they work

Offices of physicians were the largest employer, at 39% of jobs in 2025[28]. Transcription service companies and temporary help firms also employ them[29].

Some work from home, getting dictation and sending drafts electronically[30]. The work may be stressful because reports must be accurate and fast[30]. Most are full time, but part-time work is common[31]. Home-based workers may work outside typical business hours and may have flexible schedules[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 42,000 to 40,200 jobs[2]. For all occupations, BLS projects 3.5% growth over the same years[32]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS points to AI tools that automate medical transcription and reduce the need for transcriptionists[33].

Even so, about 6,200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings also come from workers who retire or change occupations, not only from new jobs[5]. Each year 5.9% of workers leave the labor force and 9.7% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The training is short and BLS lists no related experience as typical[6][16]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4]. Employment is projected to shrink while jobs overall grow[2][32]. Openings still exist because workers leave or switch jobs[5][34]. Someone weighing this path may want to look at related jobs, such as medical records specialists with a median of $51,140 and projected growth of 7.8%[35].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a medical transcriptionist make an hour?
The median was $19.43 an hour in May 2025 and the average was $20.05[1][7].
How long does it take to become a medical transcriptionist?
Programs typically can be completed in less than 1 year, and associate's degree programs may take longer[16].
What education do you need to be a medical transcriptionist?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education[6].
Is medical transcription in demand?
BLS projects a 4.4% decline from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations[2][32]. About 6,200 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for medical transcriptionists?
Minnesota, with a median of $50,030, then Wisconsin at $49,150[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Transcriptionists in the US was $40,410 per year and $19.43 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Medical Transcriptionists is projected to decline 4.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 42,000 to 40,200 jobs (a change of -1,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Transcriptionists: 10th percentile $28,250, 25th percentile $34,150, 75th percentile $48,000, 90th percentile $55,950. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,200 openings for Medical Transcriptionists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Medical Transcriptionists: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Transcriptionists was $41,710 per year and $20.05 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Transcriptionists: 10th percentile $13.58, 25th percentile $16.42, 75th percentile $23.08, 90th percentile $26.90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 41,550 people were employed as Medical Transcriptionists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Medical Transcriptionists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Medical Transcriptionists jobs: Texas 7,520; California 5,860; New York 2,710; Florida 2,650; New Jersey 1,710. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Medical Transcriptionists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $58,240; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $57,420; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $54,830; Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $50,400; Chico, CA $50,020; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $49,780; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $49,560; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $48,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Medical Transcriptionists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,910 (median $44,010); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,290 (median $38,650); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,300 (median $34,910); San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 780 (median $27,400); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 720 (median $38,700); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 710 (median $45,420). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 31-9094.00 survey of workers (16 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 39%, Some College Courses 34%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 17%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET description of Medical Transcriptionists. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Medical Transcriptionists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 31-9094.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Clinical Medical Transcriptionist, Documentation Specialist, Medical Language Specialist, Medical Scribe, Medical Transcriber, Medical Transcriptionist, Pathology Transcriptionist, Radiology Transcriptionist. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of medical transcriptionists in 2025: Offices of physicians 39%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Medical Transcriptionists: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as automation of the medical transcription process by artificial intelligence (AI) tools reduces the need for medical transcriptionists. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Medical Transcriptionists: 5.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 9.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.