Medical Records Specialists Salary
The median pay for a medical records specialists in Washington is $62,270/year ($29.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $61,043 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 42.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Washington?
About medical records specialists
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for medical records specialists, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 42.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level medical records specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Records Specialists salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $66K | +5% | 2,830 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $63K | +2% | 100 |
| Longview-Kelso | $61K | -3% | 30 |
| Bellingham | $60K | -4% | 140 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $59K | -6% | 100 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $58K | -6% | 130 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $57K | -9% | 420 |
| Walla Walla | $57K | -9% | 30 |
| Yakima | $53K | -16% | 140 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $52K | -16% | 120 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $52K | -17% | 170 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical records specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 42.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical records specialists in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical records specialists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,730/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical records specialist a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $62K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for medical records specialists?
Washington pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical records specialists make in Washington?
The median is $62,270 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,500, and experienced medical records specialists can clear $98,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,339/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 42.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a medical records specialists salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical records specialists salary is worth about $61,043 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.