Recording technician vs medical records clerk

The differences between recording technicians and medical records clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a recording technician and a medical records clerk. Additionally, a recording technician has an average salary of $34,620, which is higher than the $32,491 average annual salary of a medical records clerk.

The top three skills for a recording technician include customer service, data entry and database systems. The most important skills for a medical records clerk are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Recording technician vs medical records clerk overview

	Recording Technician	Medical Records Clerk
Yearly salary	$34,620	$32,491
Hourly rate	$16.64	$15.62
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	25,621	129,998
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Associate Degree, 29%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	12	12

What does a recording technician do?

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.

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.

Recording technician vs medical records clerk salary

Recording technicians and medical records clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Recording Technician	Medical Records Clerk
Average salary	$34,620	$32,491
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $45,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Santa Cruz, CA	Rochester, NY
Highest paying state	California	Alaska
Best paying company	National Grid plc	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Government	Health Care

Differences between recording technician and medical records clerk education

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

	Recording Technician	Medical Records Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Associate Degree, 29%
Most common major	Business	Health Care Administration
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Recording technician vs medical records clerk demographics

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

	Recording Technician	Medical Records Clerk
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6%	Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
Race ratio	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%	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%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between recording technician and medical records clerk duties and responsibilities

Recording technician example responsibilities.

Utilize SharePoint and Accutrac to convert information, by ensuring constant communication with department records coordinator and project leads.
Scan transcripts and financial documents into Onbase.
Perform periodic GMP audits to the manufacturing area.
Update procedures according to CFR & ISO requirements.
Assist processing, digitizing, and setting base-color on production materials.
Implement policy and procedures for HIPPA, OSHA and daily office guidelines.

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.

Recording technician vs medical records clerk skills

Common recording technician skills

Customer Service, 20%
Data Entry, 18%
Database Systems, 7%
Office Equipment, 5%
Background Checks, 4%
Computer System, 4%

Common medical records clerk skills

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

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Recording Technician
Recording Technician vs Medical Records Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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