Medical Transcriptionist salary in the U.S.
Medical Transcriptionists in the U.S. earn a median of $40,410 a year ($19.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,550 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,950 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $41,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for medical transcriptionists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| 25th percentile | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Median | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| 75th percentile | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| Average (mean) | $41,710 | $20.05 |
Half of medical transcriptionists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,367.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,683.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,554.23 |
| Weekly | $777.12 |
| Hourly | $19.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Medical Transcriptionist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $50,030 | 270 |
| Wisconsin | $49,150 | 590 |
| Maine | $48,600 | 80 |
| Alaska | $48,360 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $48,190 | 390 |
| Wyoming | $48,100 | 40 |
| Oregon | $46,280 | 510 |
| South Dakota | $46,070 | 240 |
| Nebraska | $45,880 | 230 |
| Illinois | $45,490 | 970 |
| District of Columbia | $45,110 | 70 |
| California | $45,050 | 5,860 |
| Iowa | $45,010 | 180 |
| Tennessee | $44,720 | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $44,660 | 120 |
| Hawaii | $44,310 | n/a |
| New York | $43,260 | 2,710 |
| Colorado | $43,080 | 610 |
| Texas | $42,900 | 7,520 |
| Florida | $42,050 | 2,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,510 | 1,130 |
| Indiana | $41,400 | 790 |
| Montana | $41,340 | 80 |
| Maryland | $39,900 | 230 |
| Utah | $39,630 | 210 |
| Nevada | $39,350 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $39,300 | 1,020 |
| New Jersey | $39,020 | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $39,000 | 690 |
| Washington | $38,690 | 620 |
| Mississippi | $38,600 | 300 |
| Idaho | $38,140 | 400 |
| Louisiana | $38,040 | 420 |
| Missouri | $37,480 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $37,480 | 210 |
| West Virginia | $37,440 | 90 |
| Michigan | $37,280 | 1,130 |
| Ohio | $37,060 | 680 |
| Massachusetts | $36,910 | 400 |
| Arizona | $36,550 | 700 |
| Kansas | $35,390 | 420 |
| Alabama | $35,340 | 410 |
| Virginia | $35,130 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $35,100 | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $34,790 | 80 |
| Delaware | $34,070 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $33,870 | 390 |
| Vermont | $33,030 | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $31,200 | 140 |
| Georgia | $28,330 | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $27,740 | 560 |
Best-paying metro areas for medical transcriptionists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,240 | 680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,420 | 200 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $55,890 | 30 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $55,320 | 30 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $54,830 | 100 |
| Rapid City, SD | $53,840 | 30 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $53,330 | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $50,400 | 310 |
| Madison, WI | $50,310 | 80 |
| Chico, CA | $50,020 | 120 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $49,780 | 190 |
| Wilmington, NC | $49,590 | 30 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $49,560 | 110 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,960 | 130 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $48,890 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most medical transcriptionists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,910 | $44,010 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,290 | $38,650 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,300 | $34,910 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 780 | $27,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 720 | $38,700 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 710 | $45,420 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 680 | $28,330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 680 | $58,240 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 620 | $38,540 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 560 | $36,360 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 550 | $37,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 500 | $42,990 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 450 | $46,240 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 430 | $38,220 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 420 | $38,680 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9094. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical transcriptionist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for medical transcriptionists in the U.S. is $40,410 a year, or $19.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid medical transcriptionists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of medical transcriptionists in the U.S. earn at least $55,950 a year. The top 25% earn $48,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for medical transcriptionists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,250 a year, and a quarter of medical transcriptionists earn $34,150 or less.
How many medical transcriptionists work in the U.S.?
About 41,550 medical transcriptionists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.