Health information manager vs recording technician

The differences between health information managers and recording technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a health information manager and a recording technician. Additionally, a health information manager has an average salary of $63,401, which is higher than the $34,620 average annual salary of a recording technician.

The top three skills for a health information manager include patients, transcription and patient care. The most important skills for a recording technician are customer service, data entry, and database systems.

Health information manager vs recording technician overview

	Health Information Manager	Recording Technician
Yearly salary	$63,401	$34,620
Hourly rate	$30.48	$16.64
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	121,247	25,621
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	12	12

What does a health information manager do?

A Health Information Manager is someone who processes and safeguards patient information records. A health facility needs to secure patient records as it is confidential. A health information manager creates and implements policies in recording and documenting patient records and retrieve them upon request of a physician for a diagnosis. The health information manager also ensures that all patient information acquired by the healthcare facility is stored securely, adhering to all state and federal laws concerning data privacy.

What does a recording technician do?

A recording technician specializes in operating audio systems and equipment for various purposes such as recordings, broadcasts, and events. It is their responsibility to prepare equipment according to project or program requirements like microphones, audio lines, speakers, and amplifiers, ensuring everything is accounted for and is functioning efficiently. Aside from setting up equipment, they must also conduct regular maintenance checks and perform repairs as necessary. Moreover, as a recording technician, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Health information manager vs recording technician salary

Health information managers and recording technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Health Information Manager	Recording Technician
Average salary	$63,401	$34,620
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $103,000	Between $26,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	Farmington, CT	Santa Cruz, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	California
Best paying company	Huron Consulting Group	National Grid plc
Best paying industry	Health Care	Government

Differences between health information manager and recording technician education

There are a few differences between a health information manager and a recording technician in terms of educational background:

	Health Information Manager	Recording Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Computer Information Systems	Business
Most common college	University of Southern California	Stanford University

Health information manager vs recording technician demographics

Here are the differences between health information managers' and recording technicians' demographics:

	Health Information Manager	Recording Technician
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1%	Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between health information manager and recording technician duties and responsibilities

Health information manager example responsibilities.

Manage discharged medical records and confidentiality of records as per HIPAA regulations.
Achieve this goal by providing clear policies/justification for initiatives which impact designated FTE's.
Maintain integrity of CPT coding, payer contracts and library builds.
Compile & generate statistical reports for ROI purposes & physician re-appointments.
Ensure correct assignment of ICD-9-CM diagnosis code/s and sequencing of admission diagnosis for billing.
Serve as an integral part of the ICD-10 implementation team for the facility (ongoing).

Recording technician example responsibilities.

Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
Scan transcripts and financial documents into Onbase.
Perform periodic GMP audits to the manufacturing area.
Update procedures according to CFR & ISO requirements.
Assist processing, digitizing, and setting base-color on production materials.
Implement policy and procedures for HIPPA, OSHA and daily office guidelines.

Health information manager vs recording technician skills

Common health information manager skills

Patients, 23%
Transcription, 10%
Patient Care, 7%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Chart Completion, 5%
ICD-10, 4%

Common recording technician skills

Customer Service, 20%
Data Entry, 18%
Database Systems, 7%
Office Equipment, 5%
Background Checks, 4%
Computer System, 4%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Health Information Manager
Health Information Manager vs Recording Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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