Occupation · SOC 31-9094
Medical Transcriptionists
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.
Median wage
$37,550
$26,370–$53,890
Projected growth
-4.8%
Declining
Annual openings
-220
per year
Employed (US)
43,070
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
21 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingMonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingTime Management
Knowledge areas
English LanguageAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsMedicine and Dentistry
Technology & tools
Medical softwareWord processing softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareOffice suite softwareVoice recognition software
Representative 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.Perform data entry and data retrieval services, providing data for inclusion in medical records and for transmission to physicians.Take dictation using shorthand, a stenotype machine, or headsets and transcribing machines.Perform a variety of clerical and office tasks, such as handling incoming and outgoing mail, completing and submitting insurance claims, typing, filing, or operating office machines.Decide which information should be included or excluded in reports.Receive and screen telephone calls and visitors.Receive patients, schedule appointments, and maintain patient records.Answer inquiries concerning the progress of medical cases, within the limits of confidentiality laws.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic medical terminology and anatomical vocabulary — recognize and apply under direct supervision when transcribing routine physician dictation in a clinical setting.Word processing software and office suite tools — operate to format and produce standard medical documents following provided templates and style guides.Dictated patient histories and physical examination reports — transcribe with guidance, replaying audio segments as needed to capture accurate content.Printed and electronic transcribed reports — prepare and route to supervising physicians for review, signature, and filing in patient medical records.Spelling and grammar errors in transcribed text — identify and flag for supervisor review before documents are finalized or distributed.Medical files and database systems — enter basic patient records such as lab results and admission summaries under close supervision in a healthcare facility.Voice recognition software — operate to assist transcription workflows, correcting common recognition errors with support from senior staff.Common medical abbreviations and acronyms — look up and expand into full terminology using provided reference dictionaries and drug guides.Active listening skills — apply when processing dictated audio to distinguish spoken words accurately in a supervised transcription environment.Time management practices — follow assigned schedules and turnaround deadlines for routine transcription tasks under the direction of a team lead.
developing
Dictation for diverse medical report types — transcribe independently, including emergency room visits, operative notes, and consultation summaries, with minimal oversight.Homonyms and similar-sounding medical terms — distinguish accurately during routine transcription by referencing anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology resources without prompting.Transcribed reports and physician-dictated material — review and edit for clarity, consistency, grammar, and correct medical terminology before submission.Errors and inconsistencies in completed medical reports — identify and initiate follow-up with the appropriate physician to obtain corrections in a timely manner.Medical jargon, abbreviations, and shorthand — translate into expanded standard forms consistently across patient records and clinical correspondence.Medical databases and electronic health record systems — set up and maintain organized files including x-ray reports, diagnostic workups, and discharge summaries.Medical research documents and administrative materials — produce with accuracy and proper formatting in support of clinical and operational staff needs.Electronic mail and scheduling software — use to coordinate report delivery, manage physician correspondence, and track document turnaround in a busy clinical environment.Reading comprehension of complex clinical language — apply when auditing completed transcripts against source dictation to ensure fidelity and completeness.Quality monitoring of own transcription output — conduct routine self-checks against established accuracy benchmarks within a healthcare transcription department.
proficient
Full range of medical report types — transcribe and produce autonomously, including complex operative notes, chart reviews, and clinical resumes, meeting all regulatory and facility standards.Non-routine or unclear dictation passages — resolve independently by cross-referencing multiple medical references, anatomy texts, and drug databases to ensure document accuracy.Patient-care information, statistics, and clinical records — compile and produce for inclusion in comprehensive medical records and health facility reporting systems.Critical discrepancies and clinical inconsistencies in transcribed documents — evaluate and escalate appropriately, applying sound judgment to protect patient record integrity.Medical terminology across multiple specialties — apply category flexibility to shift accurately between cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, and other domains within a single workflow.Electronic and printed reports — finalize and deliver to physicians with a complete quality audit trail, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and facility documentation policies.Information retrieval and search software — use proficiently to validate unusual drug names, procedures, and clinical terminology encountered in specialized dictation.Transcription databases and records systems — maintain at an advanced level, including structured organization of diagnostic workups, admission summaries, and clinical resumes for audit readiness.Selective attention and speech recognition capabilities — sustain across high-volume dictation queues to consistently meet accuracy and turnaround standards without supervisory guidance.Judgment in decision-making — exercise when determining whether ambiguous dictated content requires physician clarification or can be resolved through authoritative reference sources.
advanced
Departmental transcription quality standards and accuracy benchmarks — establish and enforce across a team of transcriptionists in a large healthcare facility or outsourced service environment.Training programs for emerging and developing transcriptionists — design and deliver, covering medical terminology, software tools, editing protocols, and compliance requirements.Workflow systems and turnaround protocols — architect and optimize to maximize throughput and minimize errors across multi-specialty transcription operations.Voice recognition and medical transcription software platforms — evaluate, select, and lead implementation of new technology solutions to improve departmental efficiency.Organizational policies for medical record documentation — develop and maintain in alignment with regulatory frameworks including HIPAA, CMS guidelines, and accreditation standards.Cross-functional relationships with physicians, nursing staff, and health information management — lead coordination efforts to resolve systemic documentation issues at the organizational level.Performance data and transcription error trend reports — analyze and present to clinical leadership as the basis for targeted quality improvement initiatives.Style guides, terminology standards, and documentation templates — author and update for use across the transcription team to ensure consistency and compliance organization-wide.Strategic planning for transcription services — contribute to executive-level decisions regarding staffing models, outsourcing arrangements, and technology investment in healthcare settings.Mentorship and professional development pathways — lead for transcription staff, fostering achievement orientation and perseverance to build a high-reliability documentation workforce.
Also known as
68 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force 4N031F)Patient Administration Specialist (Army 68G)Clinical ScribeMedical ScribeAerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force 4N051G)Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N071B)Medical Records ClerkAerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force 4N031C)Medical Transcription EditorAerospace Medical Service Helper, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011B)Aerospace Medical Service Helper, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force 4N011H)Health Services Management Manager (Air Force 4A000)Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011F)Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force 4A091)TranscriberMedical StenographerRegistered Medical TranscriptionistHealth Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force 4A071S)TranscriptionistAerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force 4N071F)Certified Medical TranscriptionistAerospace Medical Service Helper (Air Force 4N011)Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force 4N071H)Health Services Management Helper (Air Force 4A011)Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N051B)Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011C)Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force 4N031G)Provider ScribeAerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force 4N071G)Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force 4A051)Documentation SpecialistAerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force 4N051C)Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Allergy/Immunization Technician (Air Force 4N031D)Hospital Corpsman (Navy HM)Emergency Medical ScribeHealth Services Management (Air Force 4A0X1)Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Allergy/Immunization Technician (Air Force 4N011D)Transcribing-Machine OperatorRadiology TranscriptionistAerospace Medical Service Superintendent (Air Force 4N091)