Medical Records Specialists Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 29-2072 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$51,147
$24.59/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Medical Records Specialists is $51,147 per year ($24.59/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $43,493 and $64,834 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $81,141 per year. There are approximately 194,720 medical records specialists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system. Includes medical coders.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+7.1%
Faster than average
Annual openings
14K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
195K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
10% from new growth90% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
52K
$59,460
Offices of Physicians
NAICS 621100
35K
$47,120
Management of Companies and Enterprises
NAICS 551100
15K
$60,980
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
NAICS 623100
10K
$46,940
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
NAICS 541600
10K
$43,880
Wage range across top 5 industries: $43,880 to $60,980 (39% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$17.79
$37,003
P25
$20.91
$43,493
P50MEDIAN
$24.59
$51,147
P75
$31.17
$64,834
P90
$39.01
$81,141
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · health sector
Hot
Openings Rate
5.4%
Quits Rate
1.9%
Health Care & Social Assistance openings rebounded to 1.36M (+87K) in March with rate at 5.4%. Hires rose to 700K (+75K). The sector remains structurally tight; compensation pressure persists for clinical roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average medical records specialists salary?
The national median salary for Medical Records Specialists is $51,147 per year ($24.59/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $43,493 and $64,834 annually.
How much do top-earning medical records specialists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Medical Records Specialists is $81,141 per year ($39.01/hr). The 75th percentile is $64,834 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for medical records specialists?
Entry-level Medical Records Specialists (10th percentile) earn approximately $37,003 per year ($17.79/hr). The 25th percentile is $43,493 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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