Average Pay Qualifications

• The average annual pay for medical transcriptionists in the U.S. is $33,350, or an hourly wage of $16.03, according to the most recent data released by the BLS in May 2009. Although a formal education after high school is not technically required, most employers do prefer to hire medical transcriptionists who have completed a two-year associate degree or one-year certification program in medical transcription. Earning a bachelor degree may provide transcriptionists with a competitive edge when it comes to higher salaries. Coursework includes subjects such as medical terminology, anatomy and legal issues, along with English grammar, punctuation, and writing and computer skills. Certification is also not required by law, but many transcriptionists seek certification anyway, as it usually leads to higher wages. The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity grants two certificates, the Registered Medical Transcriptionist and Certified Medical Transcriptionist.
  
  

Location

• The range of salaries for medical transcriptions is usually not wide, but location can have an influence on wages primarily due to demand for the service and cost of living. According to the most recent data released by the BLS in May 2009, South Dakota has the highest concentration of medical transcriptionists and a relatively low cost of living, and the average salary for transcriptionists is $28,410 a year. However, in Massachusetts, where the number of transcriptionists per capita is much lower, and rent prices are much higher, the average wage is $42,880 a year. The nationwide average salary for a medical transcriptionist in the U.S. is $33,350 annually.
  
  

Type of Employer

• Most medical transcriptionists are employed by general hospitals, and these positions pay an annual mean wage in the U.S. of $34,480, according to the May 2009 BLS data. Doctors' offices are also a common workplace for transcriptionists, but salaries are a little lower at $32,410 a year. There are some industries that pay consistently higher than average. For example, medical and diagnostic laboratories only provide about 2,500 jobs throughout the country, but medical transcriptionists working for one of these facilities can expect an average wage of $38,680 a year.
  
  

Experience, Advancement and Higher Salaries

• Entry-level medical transcriptionists and proofers will earn the bottom 10 percent of salaries, averaging just $22,430 a year, according to the May 2009 BLS data. With experience and continuing education, however, these transcriptionists may be promoted to supervisory positions, work with medical coding or own their own medical transcription businesses. Those with more experience and credentials earning the top 10 percent of salaries who are employed on staff in the field can average as much as $45,700 annually.