Medical Records Specialists Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a medical records specialists in Columbia, SC is $65,960/year ($31.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $70,425 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 29.4% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $66K get you in Columbia?
About medical records specialists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level medical records specialists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K.Top earners bring in $67K or more - a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Records Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $65K | +29% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $63K | +26% | 850 |
| Hawaii | $63K | +25% | 450 |
| Washington | $62K | +24% | 5,280 |
| Nevada | $61K | +20% | 2,980 |
| New York | $60K | +19% | 8,510 |
| California | $60K | +19% | 19,750 |
| Minnesota | $59K | +18% | 3,250 |
| Maryland | $59K | +18% | 2,810 |
| South Carolina | $59K | +16% | 2,940 |
| Connecticut | $58K | +16% | 1,280 |
| Oregon | $57K | +14% | 2,550 |
| Massachusetts | $57K | +14% | 3,450 |
| Alaska | $57K | +13% | 1,360 |
| Wisconsin | $55K | +10% | 3,290 |
Track medical records specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do medical records specialists make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $65,960 a year - that works out to about $31.71 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,470, and experienced medical records specialists can clear $66,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 29.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a medical records specialists salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical records specialists salary is worth about $70,425 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical records specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.