Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder
Healthcare · $51,140 median · ~4 months–1 year training · Structurally WPE-eligible
How we know this
The wage and outlook figures are verified against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS/OOH 2025), last reviewed August 25, 2026. We show our sources so you can check every number yourself.
Honest tradeoffs
The most AI-exposed job in this corpus after court reporting
Coding is rule-based work on structured documents, which is exactly what automated coding tools do well. Certification and audit work hold up better than straightforward chart coding. Weigh that against the low training cost and the genuine remote-work options.
Wages
Earnings by career stage
range · estimatedResearched estimates by experience level, setting, and region — see the full breakdown below. The BLS median is the one figure verified directly against bls.gov.
Pay by stage & setting
- Records clerk or coding trainee $37-46K
- Certified coder (CPC/CCS) $50-62K
- Auditor or HIM supervisor $65-82K. Remote work is genuinely common once you are certified.
Workforce Pell eligibility
This path's typical training duration fits under the federal Workforce Pell 599-hour cap. State approval status varies — check the Workforce Pell tracker.
Open the Workforce Pell tracker →Training
Cost vs. payoff
- Training cost
- $1,000–$15,000
- Training pays for itself in
- about 3 months
The low end is the cheapest route in — a paid apprenticeship, community college, or employer-paid program (sometimes free); the high end is a private or for-profit school. The range is about which route you take, not extra certifications.
Getting started — your first moves
- 1
Start training
Complete a short training program — about 16 weeks to the basics.
- 2
Get hired and grow
Land an entry role and start building experience — pay climbs as you move up the career ladder above.
See it where you live
The figures above are national. Pay and programs vary a lot by state — pick yours and we'll send you straight to the official local data, no guessing.
Career ladder
Records clerk / trainee
Entry$42,000Certified coder
Year 3$55,000Auditor or supervisor
Year 7$72,000
In your state
State licensure
Licensure is required in most states, but the verified per-state list is still pending — check your state licensing board before enrolling. See “Data limitations” below.
Data limitations
- • The wage figures come from BLS. Training length, cost, and the pay figures on the career ladder are researched estimates - treat them as a guide, not a quote.
- • We have not compiled which states license this job yet. Check your state board before you enroll.
- • BLS does not publish a growth projection for this job - it has no Occupational Outlook Handbook profile of its own - so we cannot tell you whether demand is rising or falling.
Common questions
How much does a Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder make?
The median wage is $51,140 per year (BLS OEWS 2025). Most earn between $37,000 and $81,150. Actual pay varies by region, employer, and experience.
How long does it take to become a Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder?
Typical training runs about 4 months. This is a non-degree path — no four-year college degree is required.
Do you need a college degree to become a Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder?
No. Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder is a non-degree career path — you qualify through training, certification, and/or on-the-job experience rather than a four-year degree.
Is Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder eligible for Workforce Pell funding?
Structurally, yes — the typical program length fits the federal Workforce Pell hour cap. Whether you can actually use it depends on your state approving the specific program, so check the Workforce Pell tracker.
Do you need a license to work as a Medical Records Specialist / Medical Coder?
Licensure is required in most states, but the exact per-state list is still being verified. Check your state licensing board before you enrol.
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