Medical Transcriptionists Salary
The median pay for a medical transcriptionists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $38,540/year ($18.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $35,397 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 84.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $39K actually covers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Medical transcriptionists pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 84.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for medical transcriptionists in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $30K | $32K |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $36K | $39K |
| Richmond | $35K | $36K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $37K | $38K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level medical transcriptionists (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $15K 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 |
| Missouri | $37K | -7% | 310 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -7% | 210 |
| 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 with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track medical transcriptionists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a medical transcriptionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 84.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical transcriptionists typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,278/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 99% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for medical transcriptionists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do medical transcriptionists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $38,540 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,580, and experienced medical transcriptionists can clear $47,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,648/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 84.8% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 transcriptionists salary is worth about $35,397 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.