Medical records clerk vs registration clerk

The differences between medical records clerks and registration clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a medical records clerk, becoming a registration clerk takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical records clerk has an average salary of $32,491, which is higher than the $30,061 average annual salary of a registration clerk.

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

Medical records clerk vs registration clerk overview

	Medical Records Clerk	Registration Clerk
Yearly salary	$32,491	$30,061
Hourly rate	$15.62	$14.45
Growth rate	11%	-
Number of jobs	129,998	123,390
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 29%	Associate Degree, 28%
Average age	45	42
Years of experience	12	2

What does a medical records clerk do?

Medical records clerks are employees in hospitals or clinics who manage office records. They are in charge of creating, updating, and filing patient-related medical records and other related documents. They ensure that all documents are correctly filled out and labeled before storing them safely in their respective storage areas. They may also be in charge of digitizing forms for easier access to files and back up purposes. They ensure that medical records are exact and updated. Medical records clerks should be organized and must always be on top of all tasks related to patient or medical records.

What does a registration clerk do?

A registration clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical tasks for patients' admission in a health care setting. Registration clerks assist patients with filling out hospital forms, verifying their medical histories, and confirming their insurance details. They also respond to the patients' inquiries and concerns, as well as directing them to the appropriate facility for their medical needs. A registration clerk must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on managing appointments and ensuring that the patients receive the highest quality of health care.

Medical records clerk vs registration clerk salary

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

	Medical Records Clerk	Registration Clerk
Average salary	$32,491	$30,061
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $40,000	Between $22,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Rochester, NY	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Hancock Wellness
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between medical records clerk and registration clerk education

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

	Medical Records Clerk	Registration Clerk
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 29%	Associate Degree, 28%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Medical records clerk vs registration clerk demographics

Here are the differences between medical records clerks' and registration clerks' demographics:

	Medical Records Clerk	Registration Clerk
Average age	45	42
Gender ratio	Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%	Male, 11.8% Female, 88.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 7.8% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 4.4% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between medical records clerk and registration clerk duties and responsibilities

Medical records clerk example responsibilities.

Manage transition from in-house transcription system to outsource transcription service.
Manage front office check-in, insurance verification and certifications from doctors.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Perform infant labs and update the system with results, triage incoming patients, perform necessary resuscitation to baby and mom.
Provide information to medical facilities and patients when necessary and respond to subpoenas and other general release of patient information.
Experience in CPT and ICD-10 coding.

Registration clerk example responsibilities.

Use EMR software to manage patient records and files, reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
Perform EKG for cardiac patients.
Verify eligibility for Medicaid patients register through insurance websites.
Conduct initial intake interview and register patients for hospital procedures and day surgery.
Register patients, including radiology inpatient and outpatient for medical services accordance of insurance guidelines.
Procure past EKG and additional information as per physicians request from ALTHA.

Medical records clerk vs registration clerk skills

Common medical records clerk skills

Patients, 27%
Customer Service, 9%
Data Entry, 7%
Medical Terminology, 6%
HIPAA, 5%
Patient Care, 4%

Common registration clerk skills

Patients, 40%
Medical Terminology, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Patient Registration, 3%
Computer System, 3%
Insurance Verification, 3%

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Medical Records Clerk
Medical Records Clerk vs Registration Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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