Medical Transcriptionists Salary
The median pay for a medical transcriptionists in North Carolina is $39,300/year ($18.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $42,413 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 47% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in North Carolina?
About medical transcriptionists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Medical transcriptionists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 48.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level medical transcriptionists (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Transcriptionists salary by metro in North Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $50K | +26% | 30 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $46K | +18% | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $45K | +14% | 270 |
| Winston-Salem | $44K | +11% | 70 |
| Asheville | $39K | -0% | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $31K | -21% | 150 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $27K | -32% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track medical transcriptionists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical transcriptionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 48.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical transcriptionists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical transcriptionists typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,311/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 98% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for medical transcriptionists?
North Carolina pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical transcriptionists make in North Carolina?
The median is $39,300 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,850, and experienced medical transcriptionists can clear $51,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,654/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 48.4% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 transcriptionists salary is worth about $42,413 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.