Medical record coder vs recording technician

The differences between medical record coders 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 medical record coder and a recording technician. Additionally, a medical record coder has an average salary of $54,162, which is higher than the $34,620 average annual salary of a recording technician.

The top three skills for a medical record coder include medical terminology, patients and CPC. The most important skills for a recording technician are customer service, data entry, and database systems.

Medical record coder vs recording technician overview

	Medical Record Coder	Recording Technician
Yearly salary	$54,162	$34,620
Hourly rate	$26.04	$16.64
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	51,197	25,621
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	12	12

What does a medical record coder do?

A medical record coder is responsible for translating medical files and documents to comprehensive files required by insurance companies and other non-medical institutions. Medical record coders disclose all the patients' information on the file, including their treatment procedures, diagnosis, and medications. They serve as the representative of a medical institution to respond to inquiries and concerns, resolve record discrepancies, and submit additional documents as necessary. A medical record coder must have excellent communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the medical industry to discuss medical terms accurately and efficiently.

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.

Medical record coder vs recording technician salary

Medical record coders and recording technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Record Coder	Recording Technician
Average salary	$54,162	$34,620
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $75,000	Between $26,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	-	Santa Cruz, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	National Grid plc
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between medical record coder and recording technician education

There are a few differences between a medical record coder and a recording technician in terms of educational background:

	Medical Record Coder	Recording Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Business
Most common college	University of Southern California	Stanford University

Medical record coder vs recording technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical record coders' and recording technicians' demographics:

	Medical Record Coder	Recording Technician
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3%	Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.6% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	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 medical record coder and recording technician duties and responsibilities

Medical record coder example responsibilities.

Create documentation education classes to general surgery residents, increasing the leveling of reporting which lead to increase revenues.
Obtain medical records through electronic health records (EHR).
Bill all Medicare, Medicaid, BlueCross, PPO claims electronically.
Maintain the strictest confidentiality and adhere to all HIPAA guidelines and regulations.
Code and charge ER records, apply E/M codes, correct billing errors, and code infusion records.
Process all charges receive from outside services to include CPT, ICD-9, or any other necessary information.

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.

Medical record coder vs recording technician skills

Common medical record coder skills

Medical Terminology, 12%
Patients, 12%
CPC, 10%
ICD-10-CM, 10%
Physiology, 8%
AHIMA, 8%

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
Medical Record Coder
Medical Record Coder vs Recording Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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