Career comparison
Medical Transcriptionist vs. Typist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Typists earn more at the median ($49,280 vs. $40,410), while typists usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Medical transcriptionists turn doctors’ dictation into accurate medical records. Typists type and format documents, letters and reports.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical Transcriptionist | Typist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $40,410 ($19.43/hr) | $49,280 ($23.69/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $28,250 – $55,950 | $36,810 – $65,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -4.4% (a projected decline) | -34.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 6,200 | 1,900 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Under 1 year | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | RHDS (AHDI) | Microsoft Office Specialist |
| Work setting | Most work remotely from home; others work in hospitals or documentation companies.. | Typists work in offices and sometimes remotely.. |
What each job does
Medical Transcriptionist
- Listen to dictated reports
- Edit speech-recognition drafts
- Correct grammar and terminology
- Format medical reports
- Flag inconsistencies
Typist
- Type documents
- Format reports
- Proofread
- Transcribe recordings
- Manage templates
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, remote-friendly work, working independently, and steady routines. They sit in different fields, healthcare and business & office, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and accuracy.
Which should you choose?
Choose medical transcriptionist if…
- I want remote work
- I type fast and accurately
- I like medical language
Choose typist if…
- I type fast
- I spot typos
- I like formatting
Still torn? Take the Medical Transcriptionist fit quiz and the Typist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical transcriptionist or typist?
Typists earn more at the median: $49,280 versus $40,410 for medical transcriptionists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Typists typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than medical transcriptionists (Under 1 year).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical transcriptionists to grow -4.4% from 2025–35, compared with -34.4% for typists.