# Medical Records Specialists

> Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry's numerical coding system. Includes medical coders.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-records-specialists
- SOC code: 29-2072.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $51,140 (10th percentile $37,000, 90th percentile $81,150)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +7.8%
- Openings a year: 14,000
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CIS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 31 |
| Investigative (I) | 56 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 40 |
| Enterprising (E) | 15 |
| Conventional (C) | 99 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 93/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 88/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 76/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 73/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 72/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 71/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking, Time Management, Writing, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Administrative, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Communications and Media, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Personnel and Human Resources, Law and Government

## Also called

Certified Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Coder, Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Clinical Documentation Specialist, Coder, Coding Consultant, Coding Specialist, Disability Rater, EHR Specialist (Electronic Health Records Specialist), Fee Coder

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5107) (CIP 5107, 1,585 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $143,686 | $11,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,456 | $110,204 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $92,810 | not reported |
| [Baptist Health System School of Health Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baptist-health-system-school-of-health-professions-175) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $60,194 | $85,145 | not reported |
| [Stonehill College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stonehill-college-2610) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $82,254 | not reported |
| [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-university-chicago-1551) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $59,113 | $82,040 | $25,000 |
| [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center-737) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $61,698 | $81,184 | $15,460 |
| [Oregon Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-institute-of-technology-2034) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $80,944 | $27,820 |

## Related careers

- [Medical Transcriptionists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-transcriptionists): $40,410 median pay
- [Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars): $68,020 median pay
- [Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-secretaries-and-administrative-assistants): $45,930 median pay
- [Medical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-assistants): $45,690 median pay
- [File Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/file-clerks): $43,600 median pay
- [Patient Representatives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/patient-representatives): $50,290 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.