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Healthcare career
Medical Transcriptionist
Also called: Healthcare Documentation Specialist · Medical Scribe · Transcription Editor · Medical Language Specialist
What medical transcriptionists do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a medical transcriptionist do?
Medical transcriptionists listen to recordings from physicians and other providers and turn them into written reports, often editing drafts produced by speech recognition software. The median pay is $40,410 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Under 1 year, and employment is projected to grow -4.4% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$40,410$19.43/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-4.4%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year6,200Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationPostsecondary nondegree awardBLS classification
- Time to trainUnder 1 yearTypical program length
- U.S. jobs42,000Employment, 2025
What medical transcriptionists do
Medical transcriptionists, now often called healthcare documentation specialists, make sure medical records are accurate. They listen to dictation, edit speech-recognition drafts, correct errors, format reports such as discharge summaries and operative notes, and flag inconsistencies for providers.
Most complete a postsecondary certificate in medical transcription. BLS projects employment to decline as speech recognition improves, but editing and scribe roles remain.
Typical duties
- Listen to dictated reports
- Edit speech-recognition drafts
- Correct grammar and terminology
- Format medical reports
- Flag inconsistencies
- Meet turnaround deadlines
- Protect patient privacy
Work environment and schedule
Most work remotely from home; others work in hospitals or documentation companies.
Schedule: Many work flexible or production-based schedules, including evenings.
A day in the life
- Log in and check the work queue.
- Edit a discharge summary draft.
- Transcribe an operative report.
- Look up an unfamiliar drug name.
See a full day in the life of a medical transcriptionist →
Medical Transcriptionist salary
Half of medical transcriptionists earned more than $40,410 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $28,250 for the lowest 10% to $55,950 for the top 10%.
Full medical transcriptionist pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a medical transcriptionist
- Learn medical terminology
- Complete a program
- Build typing speed
- Earn RHDS
- Advance
A postsecondary certificate in medical transcription or healthcare documentation is typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a medical transcriptionist →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Medical terminology
- Typing speed
- Editing
- Grammar
- Pharmacology basics
People skills
- Attention to detail
- Focus
- Self-discipline
- Integrity
All medical transcriptionist skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Remote work
- Flexible schedules
- Healthcare without patient contact
- Short training
Cons
- Declining employment
- Production pay pressure
- Repetitive work
- Screen and hearing fatigue
Certifications and licenses
- RHDS (AHDI): Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist.
- CHDS (AHDI): Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist.
- Medical scribe certification: Scribe roles.
- Medical terminology course: Foundation.
Career path
- Transcriptionist: Edit and transcribe.
- Senior Editor: Complex reports.
- QA Specialist: Review work.
- HIM or Coding Role: Move into records.
Learn the job before day one
Our Medical Transcriptionist training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as edit a speech-recognition draft and research an unfamiliar term, safety and how to land your first job.
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Medical Transcriptionist FAQ
Is medical transcription disappearing?
Employment is projected to decline, but editing and documentation roles remain.
Can transcriptionists work from home?
Yes, most do.
Do you need certification?
It helps; employers often prefer it.
How much does a medical transcriptionist make?
The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists was $40,410 ($19.43 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $28,250 and the highest 10% earned more than $55,950.
How long does it take to become a medical transcriptionist?
Most people need about Under 1 year of training. A postsecondary certificate in medical transcription or healthcare documentation is typical.
Do you need a degree to be a medical transcriptionist?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “postsecondary nondegree award” as the typical entry-level education.
More medical transcriptionist questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 31-9094 (Medical transcriptionists).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Medical transcriptionists (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.