Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Using computers, software, digital systems, and technology to complete work and solve problems.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist Medical transcription programs may be offered online by vocational schools, community colleges, and career institutes. Medical transcriptionists typically need postsecondary
Education
that leads to a certificate. Prospective medical transcriptionists must know basic medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and rules of grammar. Some choose to become certified. Education Employers may prefer to hire transcriptionists who have completed postsecondary education in medical transcription. Medical transcription programs may be offered online as well as in person by vocational schools, community colleges, and career institutes. They vary in length but typically may be completed in less than 1 year; programs that lead to an associate's degree may take longer. Programs typically include coursework in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, laws relating to healthcare documentation, and English grammar and punctuation. These programs may include the opportunity to gain experience through supervised transcription. Prospective transcriptionists who are familiar with medical terminology from working in other healthcare occupations, such as nursing assistants or medical secretaries, may become proficient through refresher courses and
Training
.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Although certification is not required, some medical transcriptionists choose to become certified. Certifications typically require passing an exam and are valid for a specified number of years. In order to recertify, individuals must earn continuing education credits. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of medical transcriptionists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 6,200 openings for medical transcriptionists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Technological advances in speech recognition and natural language processing allow physicians to document patient encounters in real time, reducing the need for medical transcriptionists. In addition, these technologies increase medical transcriptionists' productivity, allowing more transcription by fewer workers. Medical Transcriptionists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Other healthcare support occupations 10% Total, all occupations 3% Medical transcriptionists -4% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Medical Transcriptionists Do
Medical transcriptionists, sometimes referred to as healthcare documentation specialists, use electronic devices to convert voice recordings from physicians and other healthcare workers into formal reports. Transcriptionists also may edit medical records for accuracy and return documents for review and approval.
Duties
Medical transcriptionists typically do the following:
- Listen to the recorded dictation of a physician or other healthcare worker
- Interpret and transcribe the dictation for medical reports, such as patient histories, discharge summaries, and physical examinations
- Review and edit drafts prepared by speech recognition software, making sure that the transcription is accurate, complete, and consistent in style
- Translate medical abbreviations and jargon into the appropriate long form
- Identify inconsistencies, errors, and missing information in a report that could compromise patient care
- Submit reports to physicians and other healthcare providers for review and approval
- Follow patient confidentiality guidelines and legal documentation requirements
- Enter medical reports into electronic health records (EHR) systems
Medical transcriptionists use a variety of equipment to produce reports. The most common is speech recognition technology, which involves specialized software that automatically prepares an initial draft of a report. The transcriptionist then listens to the voice file and reviews the draft for accuracy, identifying any errors and editing the report, as necessary. A less common technology requires these workers to use audio-playback equipment for listening to and transcribing dictation. Transcriptionists also use word-processing and other software to prepare the transcripts, as well as medical reference materials when needed.
Medical transcriptionists must be familiar with medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. Additionally, they must have knowledge of English grammar in order to ensure that their transcriptions are correct. Transcriptionists’ ability to understand the healthcare worker's recording, to correctly transcribe that information, and to identify inaccuracies in the transcript is critical to preventing ineffective or even harmful treatment.
Medical transcriptionists who work in physicians’ offices may have other duties, such as answering phones and greeting patients.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Medical transcriptionists held about 42,000 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of medical transcriptionists were as follows:
| Offices of physicians | 39% |
| Administrative and support services | 30 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Outpatient care centers | 4 |
| Offices of other health practitioners | 4 |
Administrative and support services includes companies that provide transcription services and temporary help firms.
Medical transcriptionists may work from home, receiving dictation and submitting drafts electronically. Their work may be stressful because they need to ensure that reports are accurate and completed within a quick turnaround time.
Work Schedules
Most medical transcriptionists are full time, but part-time work is common. Medical transcriptionists who work from home may work outside typical business hours and may have flexibility in determining their schedules.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Computer skills. Medical transcriptionists must know how to operate electronic health records (EHR) systems and should be comfortable using software to prepare reports. Critical-thinking skills. Medical transcriptionists must assess medical reports and correct any inaccuracies and inconsistencies in finished drafts. Listening skills. Medical transcriptionists must pay attention to hear and interpret the intended meaning of dictations. Time-management skills. Medical transcriptionists must organize their schedules well because they may need to produce transcriptions under tight deadlines. Writing skills. Medical transcriptionists need a good understanding of English grammar in order to ensure that transcribed reports are correct.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about medical transcriptionists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.