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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: $51,140

Projected job growth: 7.8%

10th Percentile: $37,000

25th Percentile: $43,490

75th Percentile: $64,820

90th Percentile: $81,150

Projected job growth: 7.8%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$43,810	$30,250	$64,730
Alaska	$61,090	$46,390	$90,530
Arizona	$47,630	$36,530	$75,430
Arkansas	$41,740	$33,920	$65,090
California	$61,810	$43,800	$102,470
Colorado	$59,020	$45,280	$82,980
Connecticut	$60,940	$40,490	$88,900
Delaware	$56,060	$36,870	$77,500
District of Columbia	$72,040	$46,300	$128,010
Florida	$45,760	$36,330	$76,850
Georgia	$51,550	$36,260	$81,580
Hawaii	$63,180	$45,700	$91,650
Idaho	$53,460	$39,930	$77,840
Illinois	$56,440	$38,890	$77,520
Indiana	$47,670	$38,270	$79,270
Iowa	$50,640	$38,910	$66,390
Kansas	$48,160	$36,680	$77,910
Kentucky	$48,410	$36,290	$74,520
Louisiana	$44,610	$32,900	$77,080
Maine	$52,090	$42,210	$76,660
Maryland	$54,220	$35,400	$82,090
Massachusetts	$60,350	$43,960	$81,620
Michigan	$48,120	$37,180	$77,080
Minnesota	$61,530	$48,120	$83,020
Mississippi	$41,500	$31,010	$61,580
Missouri	$50,750	$38,880	$77,010
Montana	$50,190	$40,460	$64,540
Nebraska	$51,670	$38,620	$74,990
Nevada	$50,300	$36,990	$81,140
New Hampshire	$49,210	$39,120	$68,980
New Jersey	$50,240	$33,280	$83,650
New Mexico	$57,470	$36,600	$76,460
New York	$61,720	$40,730	$101,940
North Carolina	$49,620	$36,840	$79,670
North Dakota	$46,280	$39,580	$79,800
Ohio	$50,990	$38,060	$79,290
Oklahoma	$53,460	$36,610	$74,710
Oregon	$59,000	$44,260	$81,120
Pennsylvania	$46,840	$37,490	$77,880
Rhode Island	$63,960	$44,650	$84,540
South Carolina	$54,280	$37,240	$71,280
South Dakota	$51,610	$36,920	$76,950
Tennessee	$48,780	$37,320	$79,960
Texas	$48,860	$34,440	$78,390
Utah	$52,870	$35,720	$82,640
Vermont	$57,560	$42,130	$77,580
Virginia	$53,290	$37,630	$78,680
Washington	$62,270	$45,500	$98,130
West Virginia	$47,360	$31,610	$75,000
Wisconsin	$60,280	$46,750	$79,720
Wyoming	$54,210	$37,930	$79,530

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: $40,410

Projected job growth: -4.4%

10th Percentile: $28,250

25th Percentile: $34,150

75th Percentile: $48,000

90th Percentile: $55,950

Projected job growth: -4.4%

State data

State	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Alabama	$35,340	$26,820	$51,250
Alaska	$48,360	$33,400	$54,660
Arizona	$36,550	$31,110	$50,850
Arkansas	$35,100	$27,160	$47,020
California	$45,050	$35,990	$62,620
Colorado	$43,080	$32,010	$62,290
Connecticut	$48,190	$40,050	$59,360
Delaware	$34,070	$31,200	$40,560
District of Columbia	$45,110	$37,460	$47,370
Florida	$42,050	$28,720	$59,240
Georgia	$28,330	$24,530	$53,750
Hawaii	$44,310	$31,540	$52,310
Idaho	$38,140	$30,890	$50,030
Illinois	$45,490	$31,760	$55,070
Indiana	$41,400	$25,710	$51,240
Iowa	$45,010	$25,600	$52,660
Kansas	$35,390	$23,640	$51,580
Kentucky	$39,000	$27,940	$52,420
Louisiana	$38,040	$30,600	$51,160
Maine	$48,600	$40,280	$58,440
Maryland	$39,900	$31,840	$60,140
Massachusetts	$36,910	$36,440	$47,000
Michigan	$37,280	$30,840	$49,670
Minnesota	$50,030	$43,970	$64,580
Mississippi	$38,600	$23,660	$48,460
Missouri	$37,480	$29,570	$49,810
Montana	$41,340	$31,470	$56,350
Nebraska	$45,880	$36,370	$53,080
Nevada	$39,350	$36,400	$51,730
New Jersey	$39,020	$32,220	$55,950
New Mexico	$37,480	$30,730	$55,950
New York	$43,260	$35,950	$56,750
North Carolina	$39,300	$21,850	$51,360
North Dakota	$44,660	$26,280	$50,260
Ohio	$37,060	$28,190	$51,170
Oklahoma	$27,740	$22,110	$49,470
Oregon	$46,280	$37,080	$68,910
Pennsylvania	$41,510	$32,070	$52,510
Rhode Island	$34,790	$31,880	$56,520
South Carolina	$33,870	$29,020	$48,360
South Dakota	$46,070	$36,160	$59,870
Tennessee	$44,720	$26,420	$60,250
Texas	$42,900	$22,540	$49,410
Utah	$39,630	$27,460	$49,490
Vermont	$33,030	$32,060	$45,080
Virginia	$35,130	$27,110	$43,400
Washington	$38,690	$35,780	$59,920
West Virginia	$37,440	$32,360	$51,550
Wisconsin	$49,150	$38,900	$57,050
Wyoming	$48,100	$36,440	$63,960

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: 7.8%

Medical Transcriptionist projected job growth through 2034: -4.4%

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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