Medical records administrator vs technician

The differences between medical records administrators and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a medical records administrator, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical records administrator has an average salary of $80,519, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.

The top three skills for a medical records administrator include patients, medical terminology and HIPAA. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Medical records administrator vs technician overview

	Medical Records Administrator	Technician
Yearly salary	$80,519	$38,045
Hourly rate	$38.71	$18.29
Growth rate	28%	1%
Number of jobs	103,325	596,842
Job satisfaction	-	2
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age	47	40
Years of experience	6	2

What does a medical records administrator do?

Medical records administrators oversee written and electronic medical records and reports. The duties of a medical records administrator are to maintain patient records, collect admission reports, liaise with other medical staff, compile documentation from different medical records, respond to enquiries and records requests from patients and physicians, and create a database for patient records. They are also tasked with ensuring the records comply with all policies protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.

What does a technician do?

Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.

Medical records administrator vs technician salary

Medical records administrators and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Records Administrator	Technician
Average salary	$80,519	$38,045
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $108,000	Between $24,000 And $58,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Delaware	Hawaii
Best paying company	Long Island, FQHC, Inc	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Health Care	Telecommunication

Differences between medical records administrator and technician education

There are a few differences between a medical records administrator and a technician in terms of educational background:

	Medical Records Administrator	Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	-

Medical records administrator vs technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical records administrators' and technicians' demographics:

	Medical Records Administrator	Technician
Average age	47	40
Gender ratio	Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8%	Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	12%	2%

Differences between medical records administrator and technician duties and responsibilities

Medical records administrator example responsibilities.

Manage medical records in accordance with federal and state HIPAA guidelines, maintaining confidentiality of patient information.
Bill Medicaid and pertinent insurance companies for payment on services.
Respond swiftly to provider questions and ensure claims are processed through MMIS system properly to meet Medicaid eligibility.
Demonstrate knowledge of HIPAA privacy and security regulations by appropriately handling patient information.
Ensure evacuated patients are moved to the appropriate medical treatment facility or warrior transition units.
Interact with patients and associate medical professionals in order to supply and forward correct documentation for clinical visits.

Technician example responsibilities.

Achieve multiple ASE certifications within first year of employment.
Implement and manage UHF radio base stations, repeaters, and command network, effectively linking all regional headquarters.
Manage telecommunications installation and repair for hospital Nortel network.
Maintain numerous automate scripts to assist in managing Linux systems.
Manage, troubleshot and repair multiple wireless technologies including fiber optic transmission switches.
Install peripherals including printers, fax machines, scanners, and smartphones.

Medical records administrator vs technician skills

Common medical records administrator skills

Patients, 28%
Medical Terminology, 12%
HIPAA, 7%
Patient Care, 7%
Patient Charts, 7%
Transcription, 4%

Common technician skills

Patients, 16%
Customer Service, 14%
Patient Care, 8%
Hand Tools, 6%
Diagnosis, 5%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%

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Medical Records Administrator
Medical Records Administrator vs Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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