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The differences between medical records technicians 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 records technician and a recording technician. Additionally, a medical records technician has an average salary of $37,087, which is higher than the $34,620 average annual salary of a recording technician.
The top three skills for a medical records technician include patients, medical terminology and HIPAA. The most important skills for a recording technician are customer service, data entry, and database systems.
| Medical Records Technician | Recording Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,087 | $34,620 |
| Hourly rate | $17.83 | $16.64 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 67,660 | 25,621 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A medical records technician is responsible for performing administrative duties, handling patients' medical records for medical purposes. Medical records technicians keep an organized database of patients' information, including medical history, diagnosis, healthcare treatments, laboratory schedules, and insurance details using specific healthcare coding procedures. Medical records technicians must be detail-oriented and highly organizational, especially on maintaining the accuracy and confidentiality of patients' information. This job is critical in the healthcare industry for the doctors' reference and determining treatment costs.
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 records technicians and recording technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Records Technician | Recording Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,087 | $34,620 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $26,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Long Branch, NJ | Santa Cruz, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Guidehouse | National Grid plc |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a medical records technician and a recording technician in terms of educational background:
| Medical Records Technician | Recording Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Health Care Administration | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between medical records technicians' and recording technicians' demographics:
| Medical Records Technician | Recording Technician | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.8% Female, 81.2% | Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.3% 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% |