Hiring guide · Healthcare
How to Hire a Health Information Technologist
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring health information technologists, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $68,020), recruit through community college and vocational program career centers, verify RHIT (AHIMA) where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for health information technologists
There are about 42,000 health information technologists employed in the U.S., with roughly 3,000 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +15.9% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $39,830–$48,940 | $19.15–$23.53 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $68,020 | $32.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,630 | $45.98 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $117,420 | $56.45 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Associate's degree (typical entry level)
- Health information management
- Attention to detail
Nice-to-haves
- RHIT (AHIMA)
- CTR (NCRA)
- RHIA (AHIMA)
- Experience with electronic health records
Where to find health information technologists
- Community college and vocational program career centers
- Clinical externship and student-placement partnerships
- State nurse aide registries and healthcare job boards
- Employee referral programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: RHIT, Medical Registrar, Cancer Registrar, Health Data Analyst
Screening checklist
- Verify certifications and state registry or license status with the issuing body
- Background checks and federal exclusion-list (OIG LEIE) screening as required for your organization
- Immunization records, TB testing and drug screening according to policy and law
- Current BLS/CPR certification
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Why health information?”
What a strong answer includes: Share interest.
2. “How do you protect privacy?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “What systems have you used?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
4. “Are you credentialed?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “How do you ensure accuracy?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Process a Records Request (see the steps)
- Abstract a Cancer Case (see the steps)
- Audit Record Access (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as EHR, HIM, HIPAA
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Health Information Technologist 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Health Information Technologist training. Show them the path forward: HIM Technician → Registrar or Analyst → HIM Supervisor → HIM Director.
Hiring health information technologists: FAQ
How much should I pay a health information technologist?
The U.S. median wage for health information technologists is $68,020 per year ($32.70/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($48,940), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($95,630). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a health information technologist have?
BLS lists “associate's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for RHIT (AHIMA) and CTR (NCRA) where relevant, plus skills such as health information management, ehr systems, and hipaa and privacy.
How long does it take to train a new health information technologist?
Becoming qualified typically takes 2 years. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”