Medical clerk vs claims clerk

The differences between medical clerks and claims clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a medical clerk, becoming a claims clerk takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a claims clerk has an average salary of $32,815, which is higher than the $32,439 average annual salary of a medical clerk.

The top three skills for a medical clerk include patients, medical terminology and data entry. The most important skills for a claims clerk are data entry, customer service, and clerical support.

Medical clerk vs claims clerk overview

	Medical Clerk	Claims Clerk
Yearly salary	$32,439	$32,815
Hourly rate	$15.60	$15.78
Growth rate	-8%	-3%
Number of jobs	166,322	78,588
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	49	44
Years of experience	2	4

What does a medical clerk do?

A medical clerk works in the administrative area of a medical facility or hospital. The medical clerk collects all patient information and medical records. The clerk also does all the clinic or hospital paperwork and generates reports of all transactions that transpired in a day's work. The medical clerk also processes admission and discharge papers, medical charts, properly file and safeguard all patient records and secure them from unauthorized access. The medical clerk is expected to be highly organized, capable of handling pressure, and has good communication skills.

What does a claims clerk do?

Claims clerks review the forms and documents for insurance claims to check for missing information and attachments. The data they obtain is entered into their database for safekeeping and quick retrieval. They should know the answers to their clients' questions about the regulations, policies, and procedures covered by their insurance policy. These clerks prepare documents that their agents use to present to their clients. When working for this position, a person must have the ability to communicate well and be familiar with computer applications.

Medical clerk vs claims clerk salary

Medical clerks and claims clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Clerk	Claims Clerk
Average salary	$32,439	$32,815
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $27,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	-
Highest paying state	Minnesota	-
Best paying company	Brinks Gilson	-
Best paying industry	Government	-

Differences between medical clerk and claims clerk education

There are a few differences between a medical clerk and a claims clerk in terms of educational background:

	Medical Clerk	Claims Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 26%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Medical clerk vs claims clerk demographics

Here are the differences between medical clerks' and claims clerks' demographics:

	Medical Clerk	Claims Clerk
Average age	49	44
Gender ratio	Male, 15.5% Female, 84.5%	Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 13.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 3.9% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	11%

Differences between medical clerk and claims clerk duties and responsibilities

Medical clerk example responsibilities.

Evaluate all EOB's to insure accurate payment is received and when necessary will file appeals to achieve optimal payments.
Follow HIPPA patient confidentiality guidelines making patients or facility have filled proper forms to release records.
File results of laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG's, etc., in patients records.
Respond and resolve patient inquiries with compassion and patience.
Prepare request for EKG tests, eye examinations, audio and dental records.
Enter deficiencies into MediTech program.

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Claims clerk example responsibilities.

Manage adding and removing vendors through claims automate system to ensure they are in compliance with IRS regulations.
File commercial, worker's comp, Medicare, and Medicaid claims to insurance carriers and employers.
Open and sort mail by claim types (HCPA UB 92 and T18).
Process medical HMO claims, POS claims, PPO claims and fee for service claims.
Review, scan, and file HCFA forms
Audit paper claims for accuracy in CPT and ICD9 codes.

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Medical clerk vs claims clerk skills

Common medical clerk skills

Patients, 32%
Medical Terminology, 6%
Data Entry, 6%
Phone Calls, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Telephone Calls, 3%

Common claims clerk skills

Data Entry, 26%
Customer Service, 9%
Clerical Support, 7%
Computer System, 5%
Medical Claims, 4%
Process Claims, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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