How to hire a pathology transcriptionist

How to hire a pathology transcriptionist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pathology transcriptionist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pathology transcriptionist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pathology transcriptionist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The pathology transcriptionist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a pathology transcriptionist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a pathology transcriptionist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of pathology transcriptionists.

   Type of Pathology Transcriptionist	Description	Hourly rate
   Pathology Transcriptionist	Medical transcriptionists, sometimes referred to as healthcare documentation specialists, listen to voice recordings that physicians and other healthcare professionals make and convert them into written reports. They may also review and edit medical documents created using speech recognition technology... Show more	$12-33
   Transcriber	A transcriber is primarily responsible for listening to audio and video recordings to produce written versions, ensuring accuracy in every word. Most transcribers work as freelancers, while others work full-time at different industries... Show more	$12-36
   Medical Transcription	A medical transcription worker produces written transcriptions of a physicians' voice recordings, ensuring accuracy in every word. Besides having attention to detail, they must also be knowledgeable about medical terminologies, codings, and abbreviations... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Transcription
   • Medical Terminology
   • Dictation
   • Frozen Sections
   • Pathology Transcription
   • Reference Laboratories
   • QA
   • Patient Demographics
   • Anatomic Pathology
   • Patient Reports
   • Word Processing Equipment
   • Transcribing
   • CPT
   • Radiology

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage two ambulance sets, two ambulances, and specialize high-angle rescue equipment value at $500K+.
   • Transcribe gross examination dictation, final diagnoses, bone marrow reports, and autopsy reports.
   • Interpret, and evaluate inconsistencies and inaccuracies in medical dictation, and appropriately documents.
   • Interview final eligible applicants for histology, processing, and transcription positions in the pathology department.
   • general x-ray reports/ultrasound angiograms nuclear medicine mammography
   • Provide technician support to psychologists and urologists by accurately and efficiently transcribing a wide range of medical conditions onto patient records.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pathology transcriptionist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A pathology transcriptionist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, pathology transcriptionists' average salary in alabama is 43% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level pathology transcriptionists 61% less than senior-level pathology transcriptionists.
   • Certifications. A pathology transcriptionist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a pathology transcriptionist's salary.

   Average pathology transcriptionist salary

   $43,664yearly

   $20.99 hourly rate

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   Entry-level pathology transcriptionist salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a pathology transcriptionist job description

   A pathology transcriptionist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a pathology transcriptionist job description:

   Pathology transcriptionist job description example

   How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.
   Responsibilities
   
   Pathology Reporting Specialist Under the supervision of department manager, performs a variety of tasks in support of Pathologists and other allied healthcare providers. Accountable for ensuring accuracy and completeness of all documents, tests ordered and patient case reports; which allows the Pathologists to focus on patient care. Tasks include transcribing pathology reports, as well as research and administrative documents. Responsibilities include coordinating patient case correspondence materials for sending out for consultation. Responsibilities may include: ordering tests and stains for cases, answering phones, and assisting callers with patient report, adding stains to a current case, change of patient demographics, or providing related follow through. Participation in process improvement, which includes data collection, coordinating case conference materials, and maintaining consultant calendar as appropriate. Required to follow work unit standard operating procedures, along with reviewing and ensuring accuracy of procedures. Routinely serves as a resource and mentor to others by training, educating and mentoring both new and existing members of the work unit, and trouble-shooting and resolving problems as appropriate.
   
   Qualifications
   
   Required Minimum Education: High School Diploma or equivalent required. Formal medical transcribing training preferred. Associate's degree preferred.
   
   Required Minimum Experience: Six months transcription experience in medical setting required, with pathology experience highly preferred. Knowledge of Pathology Information System billing, and Tumor Conference preparation (all genres). Pathologist's Peer Review and CAP Anatomical Tumor Forms preferred as appropriate.
   
   Required Minimum Skills : Computer skills and medical terminology with pathology specialty preferred. Demonstrates initiative, proficiency and good judgment to optimize the use of other allied healthcare providers' time. Highly organized, efficient, and multi-functional, with ability to work independently, as well as in a team. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Excellent customer service skills. High motivation and success in working independently, and in a timely manner is required.d in a timely manner is required

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5. Post your job

   To find pathology transcriptionists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any pathology transcriptionists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level pathology transcriptionists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find pathology transcriptionist candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting pathology transcriptionists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pathology transcriptionist

   Once you've selected the best pathology transcriptionist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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