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Medical Transcriptionists

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

Transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate abbreviations into fully understandable form. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form for review and signature, or correction.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $40,410/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$28,250$55,950

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -4.9% projected growth, 20242034 — declining.

About 7,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringTime ManagementCritical ThinkingSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingActive LearningSocial Perceptiveness
Top knowledge areas
English LanguageAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsMedicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceTelecommunicationsAdministration and ManagementMathematics
Core tasks

Return dictated reports in printed or electronic form for physician's review, signature, and corrections and for inclusion in patients' medical records.

Produce medical reports, correspondence, records, patient-care information, statistics, medical research, and administrative material.

Identify mistakes in reports and check with doctors to obtain the correct information.

Review and edit transcribed reports or dictated material for spelling, grammar, clarity, consistency, and proper medical terminology.

Transcribe dictation for a variety of medical reports, such as patient histories, physical examinations, emergency room visits, operations, chart reviews, consultation, or discharge summaries.

Distinguish between homonyms and recognize inconsistencies and mistakes in medical terms, referring to dictionaries, drug references, and other sources on anatomy, physiology, and medicine.

Set up and maintain medical files and databases, including records such as x-ray, lab, and procedure reports, medical histories, diagnostic workups, admission and discharge summaries, and clinical resumes.

Translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms to ensure the accuracy of patient and health care facility records.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Medical Transcriptionists?

The median pay for Medical Transcriptionists is $40,410 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Medical Transcriptionists?

Employment for Medical Transcriptionists is projected to change -4.9% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Medical Transcriptionists?

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

How many job openings are there each year for Medical Transcriptionists?

About 7,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.