Career comparison
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist vs. Medical Transcriptionist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Medical billing and coding specialists earn more at the median ($51,140 vs. $40,410), while medical billing and coding specialists usually get to work faster (4–12 months of training). Medical billing and coding specialists translate medical records into codes and claims so providers get paid correctly. Medical transcriptionists turn doctors’ dictation into accurate medical records.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist | Medical Transcriptionist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $51,140 ($24.59/hr) | $40,410 ($19.43/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $37,000 – $81,150 | $28,250 – $55,950 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.8% (much faster than average) | -4.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 14,000 | 6,200 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 4–12 months | Under 1 year |
| Key credential | CPC (AAPC) | RHDS (AHDI) |
| Work setting | Medical billers and coders work for hospitals, physician practices, billing companies, insurance companies and outsourcing firms. | Most work remotely from home; others work in hospitals or documentation companies.. |
What each job does
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
- Review physician notes, operative reports and other documentation
- Assign ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and CPT/HCPCS procedure codes
- Apply modifiers and check codes against payer and NCCI edits
- Prepare and submit claims electronically through a clearinghouse
- Post payments and review explanations of benefits
Medical Transcriptionist
- Listen to dictated reports
- Edit speech-recognition drafts
- Correct grammar and terminology
- Format medical reports
- Flag inconsistencies
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, working independently, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose medical billing and coding specialist if…
- I enjoy detailed, accurate work at a computer
- I want a healthcare job without patient contact
- I can stay focused and productive on my own
Choose medical transcriptionist if…
- I want remote work
- I type fast and accurately
- I like medical language
Still torn? Take the Medical Billing and Coding Specialist fit quiz and the Medical Transcriptionist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical billing and coding specialist or medical transcriptionist?
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists earn more at the median: $51,140 versus $40,410 for medical transcriptionists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists typically train faster (4–12 months) than medical transcriptionists (Under 1 year).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical billing and coding specialists to grow +7.8% from 2025–35, compared with -4.4% for medical transcriptionists.