Medical Transcriptionists Salary
The median pay for a medical transcriptionists in Kennewick-Richland, WA is $34,650/year ($16.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers.
So what does $35K get you in Kennewick-Richland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kennewick-Richland’s Regional Price Parity (100.1). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About medical transcriptionists
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What this looks like in Kennewick-Richland
Pay for medical transcriptionists in Kennewick-Richland runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $935/month, which is 37.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.1) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for medical transcriptionistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical transcriptionists in metros near Kennewick-Richland, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $36K | , |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $46K | , |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $47K | , |
| Boise City | $40K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kennewick-Richland, WA
Entry-level medical transcriptionists (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Transcriptionists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Medical Transcriptionists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $50K | +24% | 270 |
| Wisconsin | $49K | +22% | 590 |
| Maine | $49K | +20% | 80 |
| Alaska | $48K | +20% | 110 |
| Connecticut | $48K | +19% | 390 |
| Wyoming | $48K | +19% | 40 |
| Oregon | $46K | +15% | 510 |
| South Dakota | $46K | +14% | 240 |
| Nebraska | $46K | +14% | 230 |
| Illinois | $45K | +13% | 970 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +12% | 70 |
| California | $45K | +11% | 5,860 |
| Iowa | $45K | +11% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +11% | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $45K | +11% | 120 |
| Hawaii | $44K | +10% | N/A |
| New York | $43K | +7% | 2,710 |
| Colorado | $43K | +7% | 610 |
| Texas | $43K | +6% | 7,520 |
| Florida | $42K | +4% | 2,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $42K | +3% | 1,130 |
| Indiana | $41K | +2% | 790 |
| Montana | $41K | +2% | 80 |
| Maryland | $40K | -1% | 230 |
| Utah | $40K | -2% | 210 |
| Nevada | $39K | -3% | 210 |
| North Carolina | $39K | -3% | 1,020 |
| New Jersey | $39K | -3% | 1,710 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -3% | 690 |
| Washington | $39K | -4% | 620 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -4% | 300 |
| Idaho | $38K | -6% | 400 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -6% | 420 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -7% | 210 |
| Missouri | $37K | -7% | 310 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -7% | 90 |
| Michigan | $37K | -8% | 1,130 |
| Ohio | $37K | -8% | 680 |
| Massachusetts | $37K | -9% | 400 |
| Arizona | $37K | -10% | 700 |
| Kansas | $35K | -12% | 420 |
| Alabama | $35K | -13% | 410 |
| Virginia | $35K | -13% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $35K | -13% | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | -14% | 80 |
| Delaware | $34K | -16% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $34K | -16% | 390 |
| Vermont | $33K | -18% | N/A |
| Georgia | $28K | -30% | 950 |
| Oklahoma | $28K | -31% | 560 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track medical transcriptionists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kennewick-Richland numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a medical transcriptionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kennewick-Richland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 37.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $935/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical transcriptionists in Kennewick-Richland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical transcriptionists typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,079/month. At HUD’s $935/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical transcriptionist a high-paying job in Kennewick-Richland?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $35K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Kennewick-Richland compare to the national average for medical transcriptionists?
Kennewick-Richland pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.1), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do medical transcriptionists make in Kennewick-Richland, WA?
The median is $34,650 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,650, and experienced medical transcriptionists can clear $48,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Kennewick-Richland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,490/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $935/month, which eats 37.6% 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 transcriptionists salary go in Kennewick-Richland?
Kennewick-Richland has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical transcriptionists salary is worth about $34,615 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical transcriptionists 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.