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What is a health information technician and how to become one
A health information technician is an individual responsible for managing and organizing medical records in a healthcare setting. They are responsible for ensuring that all records are accurate, complete, and up-to-date. They also ensure that patient data is kept confidential and secure. In addition to managing records, they may also be responsible for coding diagnoses and procedures for billing purposes.. This role is crucial in maintaining accurate and organized medical records in the healthcare industry.
Avg. Salary $34,604
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 11%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.26%
Asian 8.63%
Black or African American 9.24%
Hispanic or Latino 17.18%
Unknown 4.19%
White 59.50%
Genderfemale 83.46%
male 16.54%
Age - 46American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 46Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a health information technician?
Pros
High demand for health information technicians
Opportunities for advancement
Competitive salary
Ability to work in various healthcare settings
Opportunity to improve patient care
Cons
Potential for exposure to sensitive patient information
High level of responsibility
High stress environment
Some tasks can be repetitive or tedious
May need to work weekends or holidays
Health information technician career paths
Key steps to become a health information technician
Explore health information technician education requirements
Start to develop specific health information technician skills
Skills Percentages Patients 19.68% Medical Terminology 12.76% Customer Service 9.42% HIPAA 8.74% Patient Care 7.34% Complete relevant health information technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New health information technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a health information technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real health information technician resumes.Gain additional health information technician certifications
More About CertificationsHealth information technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific health information technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for health information technicians include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).
Research health information technician duties and responsibilities
- Maximize ROI by effectively managing the microfiche process.
- Assist patients and staff on filling out ROI's, and explain what exactly are being release or obtain.
- Perform analysis and assembly of emergency room and surgery records and release records according to HIPAA regulations and confidentially.
- Input data into a windows base in-house system.
Prepare your health information technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your health information technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a health information technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable health information technician resume templates
Build a professional health information technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your health information technician resume.
Apply for health information technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a health information technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first health information technician job
Are you a health information technician?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average health information technician salary
The average health information technician salary in the United States is $34,604 per year or $17 per hour. Health information technician salaries range between $26,000 and $45,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do health information technicians rate their job?
Health information technician reviews
I like making sure other patients information was not in another patient records filing the records and also triaging the records as well.
Helping with monitoring and surveillance of cancer patients data
Keeping up with different medical coding
Updated January 8, 2025
