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Job outlook for medical scribes in the United States
Are medical scribe jobs in demand?
Medical scribe job and salary trends over time
Medical scribe jobs over time
Medical scribe job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,396 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,314 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,324 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,143 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,016 | 0.00% |
Average medical scribe salary over time
Medical scribe salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $30,045 | $14.44 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $29,165 | $14.02 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $28,168 | $13.54 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $27,221 | $13.09 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $26,433 | $12.71 | +3.1% |
Medical scribe jobs by state
Most common states for medical scribes
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,820 | 33% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 239 | 32% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 327 | 31% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 546 | 30% |
| 5 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 401 | 30% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,965 | 29% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,077 | 28% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,638 | 27% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 255 | 27% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 171 | 27% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 508 | 26% |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 178 | 26% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,199 | 25% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 856 | 24% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 139 | 24% |
| 16 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,524 | 23% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,328 | 23% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 698 | 23% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,526 | 22% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 372 | 22% |
Most common cities for medical scribes
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlottesville | 7 | 15% | $23,731 |
| 2 | Belleville | 3 | 8% | $29,197 |
| 3 | Greenacres | 3 | 7% | $23,084 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant | 3 | 4% | $20,872 |
| 5 | Lakewood | 3 | 3% | $28,779 |
| 6 | Newark | 6 | 2% | $29,162 |
| 7 | Scottsdale | 4 | 2% | $25,971 |
| 8 | Phoenix | 12 | 1% | $26,058 |
| 9 | Tucson | 6 | 1% | $25,768 |
| 10 | Washington | 6 | 1% | $31,410 |
| 11 | Raleigh | 4 | 1% | $21,455 |
| 12 | New York | 14 | 0% | $29,653 |
| 13 | Dallas | 4 | 0% | $23,804 |
| 14 | Houston | 4 | 0% | $23,964 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $32,344 |
| 16 | Fort Worth | 3 | 0% | $23,844 |
| 17 | Memphis | 3 | 0% | $21,666 |
| 18 | Seattle | 3 | 0% | $29,560 |
Medical Scribe job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of medical scribe experts
Midstate College
University of Montana
Georgia State University
Misericordia Home
Carlow University
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
University of Charleston
Eastern Michigan University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Bellevue College
Fairfield University
What general advice would you give to a Medical Scribe?
Candace Keck: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. This positive job outlook ensures future job opportunities and career stability.
What will help Medical Scribes increase their earning potential?
Candace Keck: I don't have an answer to this question. I'm not scheduled to work in the hospital any time soon so would not have the opportunity to ask.
What general advice would you give to a Medical Scribe?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: To maximize salary for a medical assistant obtaining certification from one of the credentialing organizations such as American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) can make a new hire more competitive. Continuing educations along with developing any specialized skills such as phlebotomy. Demonstrating professionalism initiative and reliability, along with gaining a strong reference from previous employers.
What will help Medical Scribes increase their earning potential?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: To meet the demands of evolving healthcare and provide high-quality care to patients technological proficiency (EHR systems, Telehealth support), clinical skills (any skills that can enhance what you’ve learned in school. Phlebotomy, point of care testing devices), communication and soft skills (adaptability, problem-solving, empathy and compassion) are a must. I feel a lot of the younger generation lacks the soft skills needed in healthcare/professional jobs. Administrative skills and patient care and safety (infections control and chronic disease management).
What general advice would you give to a Medical Scribe?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): -LIKE- People who enjoy working as a Medical Assistant do it because they get a
great satisfaction from help other people. They are often the first contact with the
patient in the medical facility, which sets the tone for the rest of the visit.
They feel good making sure that their patients have the right information that they
need, the appropriate medical care they need, and helping patients feel better.
Good problem-solving skills, compassion, understanding, patience and keeping
up with a fast-paced office is very rewarding.
-DISLIKE- Some Medical Assistants have determined that there are
area/tasks/etc. that they dislike, listed below are some of these things:
You’re always around people who are sick
Long work hours can include 10 or 12-hour days
Lower starting salary, which is usually based on education and
experience level
Having to deal with stressful situations and difficult patients
Dealing with patients who are angry, cranky, anxious or not feeling well
Working under pressure from extremely tight deadlines
What Medical Scribe skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): duties vary, depending on the medical office/hospital/urgent/specialty clinics
where they are employed. Below are some specific job duties that are very
common in the day-in-the-life of a Medical Assistant (these duties include, but
are not limited to the following):
Greeting patients and checking them in at the Waiting room window
Collecting vital signs from patients
Answer phones as needed
Assist with scheduling patient appointments
Data entry of patient information in an electronic medical record (EMR)
Using various computer applications
Transmitting prescription refills
Insurance coding & billing
Obtain or completing procedures for preauthorizations/hospital
admissions/outside testing/etc.
Collecting specimens for Point-of-Care testing or send outs to reference
labs
Venipuncture/Examination Assistance to provider/other duties as needed
What will help Medical Scribes increase their earning potential?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): Medical Assistants
have become a vital member to any health care team! Below are some specific
educational areas and training that a face-to-face or hybrid Medical Assistant
Program offers and what students will do on a daily basis (or during class and lab
sessions) that will help provide training quality assurance: (these are just some of
the areas of training and education that students will receive in an CAAHEP
(Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accredited
Medical Assistant Program:
Interacting with patients
Hands-on training with hypodermic needles used for injections and
venipuncture
Using other medical equipment like the various thermometers, pulse
oximeter, EKG machine, nebulizer, etc.
Experience with scheduling/accounting/EMR software applications
Students learn and practice many clinical procedures like patient transfers,
wound care, disease transmission prevention, completion of various
requisitions for medical testing, emergency procedures, caring for adult
and pediatric patients, and much more.
Students also learn and practice Pharmacology procedures which include
medication administration, adult and pediatric medication dosing,
medication uses, side effects/adverse effects/toxicity/etc.
Laboratory Procedures allows students to learn and practice how to
perform Point-of-Care testing, venipuncture, laboratory testing results,
urinalysis, etc.
Finally, Students will complete a Medical Assistant Program Externship at
a medical office/hospital/urgent care/specialty clinic to practice the skills
and training in real life.
Michelle Boller
Chair, Business Technology, Associate Professor and Program DirectorUniversity of Montana
Business Technology Depatment
What soft skills should all Medical Scribes possess?
Michelle Boller: Good therapeutic communication skills, including positive patient and coworker interaction, excellent phone skills, ability to compose emails, reliability, consistently positive attitude.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Medical Scribes?
Michelle Boller: Familiar with and competent in all Medical Assisting skills, including taking vitals, phlebotomy, medication and vaccine administration, ECGs.
What skills will help Medical Scribes earn the most?
Michelle Boller: Proficiency in all of the expectations of your particular clinic, as well as all skills that fall under a medical assistant's scope of practice, will bring promotions to supervisory or management roles. Consistently gaining knowledge in all things medicine and clinical skills will bring pay increases.
What skills stand out on Medical Scribe resumes?
Michelle Boller: Various experiences, including being proficient as a phlebotomist, experience with care coordination, computer skills, and familiarity with MA skills and administrative medical knowledge.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Medical Scribe job market given the pandemic?
Joan Cranford: -Increase in hiring
-More internshipsprograms to prepare new nurses
-More across state line licensin
-Increased telehealth training to care for non-COVID patients
-Unemployed and retired nurses returning to work
-Ability to cope in stressful situations
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Medical Scribes to find work opportunities?
Joan Cranford: California, New York, Atlanta, GA, D.C, New Jersey
What general advice would you give to a Medical Scribe?
Abby Murray: Smile! The gesture of a simple smile is so important when exploring new opportunities and while working. Your future employer and co-workers want to work with friendly and positive employees.
Janice Nash
Professor, Director of the Undergraduate Nursing ProgramCarlow University
College of Health and Wellness
What skills stand out on Medical Scribe resumes?
Janice Nash: Graduates who had internships or experience working in healthcare in addition to the required clinical courses are at an advantage. An applicant who highlights their ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and problem-solve will be noticed.
What general advice would you give to a Medical Scribe?
Jason Mott Ph.D.: I think the best advice for new graduates is to be flexible. Things are going to change daily. It is essential to be able to go with the flow. Also, take time for yourself. As the numbers of covid patients increase, staff members are at high risk of developing burnout. It is essential to take time for yourself to relax and get away from everything, even if for only a few minutes. That way, you can prevent becoming burned out.
What experience really stands out on Medical Scribe resumes?
Amy Bruce: -Most importantly volunteer - shows humility
-Variety - shows flexibility
-Consistency - shows loyalty
Michael Williams Ph.D.
Director and Associate ProfessorEastern Michigan University
School of Nursing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Medical Scribe job market given the pandemic?
Michael Williams Ph.D.: So much has changed with the current pandemic. With the initial surge of Covid-19 cases, nurses and nursing assistants were in high demand. Nurses were re-deployed within the healthcare system to areas overrun with Covid-19 issues. Elective surgeries and clinic visits were halted, and the healthcare agencies suffered significant financial challenges. As a result, some nursing assistants and nurses were subsequently furloughed.
However, as the healthcare systems recover from economic difficulties, or there is a second surge of Covid-19 cases, nursing assistants and nurses will again be in high demand. Nurses, working within any aspect of the healthcare system, are working harder than ever before. Staffing shortages, even short term, create additional stressors to the nurses providing care to patients.
Nursing administrators are challenged to provide sufficient staff to prevent physical and emotional distress among their nurses. Nursing faculty are working even more, challenged to prepare nursing students for this new world of healthcare. Education for nursing students has changed dramatically. Students are learning much more from simulation and virtual reality than has previously been used.
As a result, new nurse graduates will need more and additional support when they transition from nursing students to full-fledged registered nurses! All nurses will need more generous support from society with the stress of the pandemic. Nurses are, regrettably, at greater risk for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicide ideations due to the epidemic's prolonged strain. The physical and emotional health of nurses and all healthcare providers needs to be a societal priority. Despite all of these challenges, nurses will be there!
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Medical Scribes in the next 3-5 years?
Michael Williams Ph.D.: Many technologies are growing in importance in healthcare. Healthcare trackers, wearables, and sensors will continue to grow and allow patients to self-monitor and report their health findings to providers in real-time. Wearable diabetes monitors that provide real-time blood sugar reports and control have revolutionized a person's life with diabetes. FitBit and other technologies can monitor heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation will also expand in use.
The electronic health record (EHR) integration continues to build in decision aids and artificial intelligence for making better decisions. The EHR has made accessing patient information more available to other practitioners and patients themselves. Another technology that will continue to expand in use is a point of care testing (POC). POC allows for greater flexibility to meet the patient wherever they are, and will see continued expansion. And perhaps, the technology that has indeed expanded, out of necessity during the pandemic, is telehealth.
While telehealth has been available for many years, particularly in rural areas, it wasn't nearly as common in high population areas--patients were expected to go to the provider. Telehealth can eliminate many unnecessary "non-emergency" visits to emergency rooms and can be available, quite easily, in off-hours.
How do you envision technology impacting Medical Scribes in the next 5 years?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.: As technology continues to evolve and change healthcare, there will always be a role for nurses. Technology will continue to provide ways to diagnose and treat many more conditions with less invasiveness and lost time. Technology will be used to improve communication between the patient and healthcare providers as telehealth grows. New robotic surgery techniques will allow patients to recover quicker than more invasive procedures. Electronic platforms for storing health care information will improve from the current time-intensive frameworks. As the improvements continue to emerge, there will be no replacement for the problem-solving and patient-teaching skills that the registered nurse brings to the health care arena.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Medical Scribes to find work opportunities?
Katrina Malkin: Rather than a geographic location, I think graduates should think outside of previous conventions of where a new grad finds a point of entry into the profession. How about telehealth? How about tech industry advisors? How about virtual health education? That is having been said; our students are graduating and finding jobs where they always have - major metropolitan areas, hospital systems like Swedish, Virginia Mason, the Veterans Health Administration, Overlake Hospital. Hospital systems now run well-developed nursing residency programs. Many of these are provided to the hospital through subcontractors who specialize in residency programs. They range from 3-6 months, include significant off-unit classes and training, and don't always lead to a job on the unit, where the graduate goes initially. Understanding what is out there in terms of nursing residencies, getting a job as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), or other support roles is one of the very best ways to get a job in the hospital where you want to work as an RN after graduation.