Becoming a Medical Transcriptionist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering medical transcription courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
medical transcriptionists,
medical assistants,
medical billing specialists,
medical secretaries,
medical office assistants, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 82,810 people employed as
medical transcriptionists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$33,350.
Medical records and health information technicians make on average $33,880
per year and there are about 170,580
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Medical Transcriptionist
- science lab
- hospital
- doctors office
- nuclear medicine lab
- radiology clinic
- radiology lab
- a military base
- a government facility
- a foreign embasy
- an airport medical clinic
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Medical Transcriptionist
- technical support available
- opportunities for advancement
- meet new people
- decent pay
- fulfill career goals
- benefits
- paid vacation
- learn more about the medical field
- help people
- work inside
Potential Drawbacks
- long hours
- stressful work
- late nights
- eye strain
- boring work
- learn more than you wanted to know
- spend alot of time alone
- have trouble staying awake during long stretches of work boredom
- less time for family
- have to deal with unsatisfied bosses
Related Professions to Consider
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Health Professions Admissions Counselor
- Transcriptionist
- Pathology Medical Transcriptionist
- Medical Transcriptionist On-Site At Mercy Scranton
- Experienced Meeting Transcriptionist
- Medical Assisting Instructor
- Retail Bookstore Clerk
- Product Development Manager
- Provider Data Professional
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Medical Transcriptionist
- How did you learn medical transcription?
- What is strength and weaknesses of your current job?
- Have you received any higher education?
- Which companies are hiring?
- What courses did you take to further your understanding of medical terminology?
- What is your experience as a secretary?
- What is your greatest strength?
- Which companies have you worked for?
- Do you want to work from home?
- How fast do you type?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Entry Level Medical Transcription
- Lead Medical Transcriptionist
- PCA/Medical Transcriptionist (Medical Secretary) Job
- Medical Secretary- Endocrine Research Job
- Medical Transcriptionist Lab Ball Memorial Hospital
- Transcriptionist
- Work from home as a medical transcriptionist
- Medical Secretary Hematopathology Job
- Medical Transcriptionist - Word Processing
- Medical Secretary-Transcriptionist-Administrative-Medical Clerk
Medical Transcriptionist Training books
Medical Transcriptionist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Anatomy and physiology
- Basic pharmacology
- Editing and proofreading
- Medical administrative procedures
- Medical law and ethics
- Medical terminology
- Medical transcription
- Records and information management
- Word processing/keyboarding
- Word processing
Medical Transcriptionist Salary Information
Category: Medical records and health information technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
170,580 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.29/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.03 |
$11.96 |
$15.04 |
$19.49 |
$24.76 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$33,880 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,850 |
$24,870 |
$31,290 |
$40,540 |
$51,510 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.7% |
34.2% |
31.6% |
16.1% |
12.3% |
1.3% |
0.8% |
|
Medical records and health information technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$21.99/hr
|
$45,750
|
| Indiana |
$19.88/hr
|
$41,340
|
| Florida |
$19.85/hr
|
$41,290
|
| Alaska |
$18.99/hr
|
$39,490
|
| Mississippi |
$18.91/hr
|
$39,330
|
| Missouri |
$18.9/hr
|
$39,310
|
| Colorado |
$18.53/hr
|
$38,550
|
| Oklahoma |
$18.33/hr
|
$38,130
|
| Connecticut |
$18.15/hr
|
$37,750
|
| Nebraska |
$18.09/hr
|
$37,630
|
| Virginia |
$17.67/hr
|
$36,760
|
| Delaware |
$17.47/hr
|
$36,350
|
| New York |
$17.23/hr
|
$35,850
|
| Tennessee |
$16.81/hr
|
$34,970
|
| Montana |
$16.49/hr
|
$34,290
|
| Kansas |
$16.33/hr
|
$33,960
|
| Arkansas |
$16.15/hr
|
$33,590
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.79/hr
|
$32,840
|
| North Carolina |
$15.69/hr
|
$32,630
|
| New Mexico |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Utah |
$15.46/hr
|
$32,150
|
| Wyoming |
$15.46/hr
|
$32,150
|
| Hawaii |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,130
|
| Iowa |
$15.33/hr
|
$31,880
|
| District of Columbia |
$15.31/hr
|
$31,840
|
| South Carolina |
$15.31/hr
|
$31,840
|
| Washington |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,770
|
| New Hampshire |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,630
|
| Maryland |
$15.12/hr
|
$31,440
|
| Maine |
$15.07/hr
|
$31,350
|
| West Virginia |
$15.05/hr
|
$31,310
|
| Michigan |
$15/hr
|
$31,210
|
| Louisiana |
$14.94/hr
|
$31,080
|
| Kentucky |
$14.9/hr
|
$30,990
|
| Guam |
$14.87/hr
|
$30,930
|
| Ohio |
$14.85/hr
|
$30,890
|
| New Jersey |
$14.81/hr
|
$30,800
|
| Oregon |
$14.78/hr
|
$30,750
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.76/hr
|
$30,710
|
| California |
$14.66/hr
|
$30,500
|
| Pennsylvania |
$14.61/hr
|
$30,380
|
| South Dakota |
$14.51/hr
|
$30,190
|
| Idaho |
$14.32/hr
|
$29,790
|
| Alabama |
$13.85/hr
|
$28,800
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.73/hr
|
$28,550
|
| Nevada |
$12.72/hr
|
$26,460
|
Category: Medical assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
495,970 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$14.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.98 |
$11.57 |
$13.77 |
$16.23 |
$19.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$29,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,750 |
$24,060 |
$28,650 |
$33,760 |
$39,970 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Medical assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$18.17/hr
|
$37,790
|
| Alaska |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,400
|
| Missouri |
$16.58/hr
|
$34,490
|
| Delaware |
$16.44/hr
|
$34,200
|
| Nebraska |
$15.8/hr
|
$32,870
|
| North Dakota |
$15.75/hr
|
$32,760
|
| New York |
$15.73/hr
|
$32,730
|
| Connecticut |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,550
|
| Indiana |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,140
|
| Tennessee |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,070
|
| Virginia |
$15.37/hr
|
$31,960
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,640
|
| Mississippi |
$15.18/hr
|
$31,570
|
| Colorado |
$14.89/hr
|
$30,980
|
| North Carolina |
$14.7/hr
|
$30,570
|
| District of Columbia |
$14.69/hr
|
$30,550
|
| Kansas |
$14.59/hr
|
$30,340
|
| Arkansas |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,070
|
| Michigan |
$14.17/hr
|
$29,480
|
| Louisiana |
$13.96/hr
|
$29,050
|
| Iowa |
$13.9/hr
|
$28,910
|
| Hawaii |
$13.84/hr
|
$28,780
|
| Utah |
$13.78/hr
|
$28,670
|
| Montana |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,460
|
| Washington |
$13.66/hr
|
$28,410
|
| Oregon |
$13.63/hr
|
$28,340
|
| New Jersey |
$13.58/hr
|
$28,240
|
| Idaho |
$13.55/hr
|
$28,180
|
| New Mexico |
$13.54/hr
|
$28,160
|
| Kentucky |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| South Carolina |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,370
|
| Wisconsin |
$13.04/hr
|
$27,120
|
| Wyoming |
$12.99/hr
|
$27,020
|
| Guam |
$12.95/hr
|
$26,940
|
| Ohio |
$12.79/hr
|
$26,590
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| Maine |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$12.77/hr
|
$26,560
|
| Maryland |
$12.73/hr
|
$26,470
|
| California |
$12.55/hr
|
$26,100
|
| South Dakota |
$12.48/hr
|
$25,950
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.26/hr
|
$25,490
|
| Nevada |
$12.17/hr
|
$25,310
|
| West Virginia |
$12.11/hr
|
$25,190
|
| Alabama |
$11.86/hr
|
$24,670
|
Category: Medical transcriptionists
| Total # Employed in the US |
82,810 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.03/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.78 |
$13.09 |
$15.68 |
$18.76 |
$21.97 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$33,350 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22,430 |
$27,230 |
$32,600 |
$39,020 |
$45,700 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Medical transcriptionists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$20.62/hr
|
$42,880
|
| Alaska |
$20.5/hr
|
$42,640
|
| Colorado |
$19.76/hr
|
$41,100
|
| Indiana |
$18.72/hr
|
$38,950
|
| North Dakota |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,750
|
| Florida |
$18.14/hr
|
$37,730
|
| Delaware |
$18.01/hr
|
$37,450
|
| Mississippi |
$17.97/hr
|
$37,370
|
| Virginia |
$17.8/hr
|
$37,030
|
| Tennessee |
$17.47/hr
|
$36,340
|
| Nebraska |
$17.43/hr
|
$36,250
|
| Connecticut |
$17.42/hr
|
$36,240
|
| North Carolina |
$16.94/hr
|
$35,220
|
| Arkansas |
$16.93/hr
|
$35,210
|
| New York |
$16.76/hr
|
$34,860
|
| District of Columbia |
$16.75/hr
|
$34,840
|
| Oklahoma |
$16.47/hr
|
$34,260
|
| Kansas |
$16.3/hr
|
$33,900
|
| Wyoming |
$15.87/hr
|
$33,000
|
| Michigan |
$15.7/hr
|
$32,660
|
| Iowa |
$15.63/hr
|
$32,520
|
| Oregon |
$15.53/hr
|
$32,310
|
| Montana |
$15.5/hr
|
$32,240
|
| New Jersey |
$15.44/hr
|
$32,110
|
| Utah |
$15.43/hr
|
$32,090
|
| New Hampshire |
$15.37/hr
|
$31,970
|
| Idaho |
$15.17/hr
|
$31,550
|
| Louisiana |
$15.09/hr
|
$31,390
|
| South Carolina |
$15.02/hr
|
$31,250
|
| Wisconsin |
$14.92/hr
|
$31,040
|
| Kentucky |
$14.86/hr
|
$30,910
|
| Hawaii |
$14.86/hr
|
$30,910
|
| Puerto Rico |
$14.84/hr
|
$30,880
|
| Washington |
$14.66/hr
|
$30,490
|
| Guam |
$14.57/hr
|
$30,310
|
| New Mexico |
$14.47/hr
|
$30,090
|
| Maine |
$14.37/hr
|
$29,890
|
| Massachusetts |
$14.03/hr
|
$29,180
|
| California |
$14.03/hr
|
$29,180
|
| Maryland |
$13.81/hr
|
$28,730
|
| West Virginia |
$13.66/hr
|
$28,410
|
| Alabama |
$13.62/hr
|
$28,340
|
| Nevada |
$13.56/hr
|
$28,200
|
| Ohio |
$13.41/hr
|
$27,890
|
| South Dakota |
$13.39/hr
|
$27,850
|
| Pennsylvania |
$13.32/hr
|
$27,700
|
Category: Medical secretaries
| Total # Employed in the US |
469,740 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$15.12/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.13 |
$12.0 |
$14.51 |
$17.71 |
$21.18 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$31,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21,080 |
$24,950 |
$30,190 |
$36,830 |
$44,060 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.6% |
33.0% |
34.6% |
13.1% |
14.1% |
2.1% |
0.4% |
|
Medical secretaries — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$20.31/hr
|
$42,240
|
| Missouri |
$18.22/hr
|
$37,890
|
| Delaware |
$17.74/hr
|
$36,890
|
| North Dakota |
$17.71/hr
|
$36,830
|
| Puerto Rico |
$17.43/hr
|
$36,250
|
| Nebraska |
$17.11/hr
|
$35,590
|
| Alaska |
$16.99/hr
|
$35,330
|
| New York |
$16.86/hr
|
$35,060
|
| Indiana |
$16.86/hr
|
$35,070
|
| Kansas |
$16.69/hr
|
$34,720
|
| Virginia |
$16.67/hr
|
$34,670
|
| Mississippi |
$16.3/hr
|
$33,900
|
| North Carolina |
$16.27/hr
|
$33,840
|
| Oklahoma |
$16.23/hr
|
$33,770
|
| Connecticut |
$15.95/hr
|
$33,180
|
| Colorado |
$15.82/hr
|
$32,910
|
| Tennessee |
$15.81/hr
|
$32,890
|
| District of Columbia |
$15.33/hr
|
$31,890
|
| Arkansas |
$14.91/hr
|
$31,020
|
| Montana |
$14.72/hr
|
$30,620
|
| Kentucky |
$14.49/hr
|
$30,150
|
| Utah |
$14.45/hr
|
$30,050
|
| Idaho |
$14.23/hr
|
$29,600
|
| Ohio |
$14.12/hr
|
$29,360
|
| Iowa |
$14.11/hr
|
$29,350
|
| Michigan |
$14.09/hr
|
$29,320
|
| West Virginia |
$14.08/hr
|
$29,290
|
| Pennsylvania |
$14.06/hr
|
$29,240
|
| New Mexico |
$14/hr
|
$29,120
|
| New Hampshire |
$13.99/hr
|
$29,090
|
| South Carolina |
$13.72/hr
|
$28,530
|
| Oregon |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,460
|
| Wyoming |
$13.59/hr
|
$28,270
|
| Louisiana |
$13.58/hr
|
$28,240
|
| Washington |
$13.45/hr
|
$27,970
|
| Hawaii |
$13.43/hr
|
$27,940
|
| New Jersey |
$13.35/hr
|
$27,760
|
| Guam |
$13.27/hr
|
$27,600
|
| Alabama |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| Maine |
$13.14/hr
|
$27,330
|
| Wisconsin |
$12.95/hr
|
$26,930
|
| South Dakota |
$12.9/hr
|
$26,840
|
| Maryland |
$12.89/hr
|
$26,810
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.27/hr
|
$25,520
|
| Nevada |
$12.23/hr
|
$25,440
|
