How Much Money Does a Medical Transcriptionist Make in Florida?

Medical transcriptionists may not have super powers, but they deal with translating the stereotypical impossible-to-read physician scribbles into electronic documents. Medical transcriptionists also work with audio recordings, making records of physicians' comments about medication, surgical procedures and patient vitals. For their translation work, medical transcriptionists in Florida earned below-average salaries in 2009.

In-State Totals

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its Occupational Employment and Wages study that the 2009 average salary for medical transcriptionists countrywide was $33,350. The Sunshine State's statewide salary fell below this figure, averaging $30,470 per year. Salaries for the state's approximately 4,420 medical transcriptionists (in May 2009) ranged widely. Transcriptionists earning at the state's highest 90th percentile salary took in $40,430, as compared to transcriptionists at the bottom 10th percentile who received $22,430.

Cities at the Forefront

Location within Florida had a significant effect on medical transcriptionist salaries. Transcriptionists in the Naples-Marco Island areas had the highest average salaries, at $34,250, higher than both the state and country's averages. Transcriptionists in Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice also beat both figures, with average salaries of $33,930. The highest-paid transcriptionists were in Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, earning a 90th percentile salary of $45,790, followed by those in Tallahassee, earning $44,470 at the 90th percentile.

Lowest-Paid Transcriptionists

On the lower end of the average salary scale were medical transcriptionists in Ocala, earning $28,960 at the 50th percentile, but they weren't the lowest paid in the state. The bottom-rung salaries went to medical transcriptionists in Gainesville, earning $15,450 at the 10th percentile, followed closely by transcriptionists earning $15,850 in the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach areas.

How to Train

While there is no single requirement for medical transcription employment in Florida, prospective applicants may beef up their resumes and education by enrolling In one of the hundreds of one- to two-year certificate or degree programs in medical transcription accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. In-state education is not required to gain Florida employment, but the state does have more than 10 accredited programs, including at Miami Dade College, ITT Technical Institute (multiple locations), Central Florida Community College and Florida State College.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Transcriptionists
• State University: Medical Transcriptionist Job Description
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics
• Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education: Accredited Program Directory