Medical Records Specialists Salary
The median pay for a medical records specialists in Wisconsin is $60,280/year ($28.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $63,903 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Wisconsin?
About medical records specialists
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for medical records specialists, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level medical records specialists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Records Specialists salary by metro in Wisconsin
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $66K | +9% | 750 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $65K | +7% | 70 |
| Appleton | $64K | +5% | 100 |
| Madison | $62K | +3% | 490 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $60K | -1% | 60 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $58K | -3% | 60 |
| Green Bay | $52K | -14% | 180 |
| Wausau | $51K | -16% | 60 |
| Eau Claire | $50K | -18% | 130 |
| Fond du Lac | $49K | -19% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track medical records specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical records specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 29.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical records specialists in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical records specialists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,805/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $60K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for medical records specialists?
Wisconsin pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical records specialists make in Wisconsin?
The median is $60,280 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,750, and experienced medical records specialists can clear $79,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,027/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 29.8% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $63,903 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.