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The current average salary for a Referral Specialist is $36,143 annually. This figure represents the baseline for many professionals in the field, but actual earnings can differ significantly based on various factors.
Entry-level Referral Specialists typically start with lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $45,000. Experience level plays a crucial role in salary progression.
Different states offer varying salaries for Referral Specialists. For instance, states with higher living costs tend to provide more competitive salaries. Researching specific states can yield insights into where professionals earn the most.
Positions within specialized healthcare facilities or large medical organizations often command higher salaries. Networking and applying for jobs in these sectors can be beneficial for maximizing earnings.
For those considering a career as a Referral Specialist, leveraging this salary information is vital for making informed career decisions. Check Zippia for job openings and salary insights across the United States.
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The highest-paying states for referral specialists are Connecticut, Minnesota, and Alaska. The lowest average referral specialist salary states are Utah, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $42,305 | $20.34 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $44,526 | $21.41 |
| 3 | Vermont | $41,970 | $20.18 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $41,237 | $19.83 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $37,907 | $18.22 |
| 6 | Washington | $39,335 | $18.91 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $37,803 | $18.17 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $44,525 | $21.41 |
| 9 | Maine | $35,743 | $17.18 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $49,833 | $23.96 |
| 11 | Delaware | $40,525 | $19.48 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $37,978 | $18.26 |
| 13 | Alabama | $37,692 | $18.12 |
| 14 | Virginia | $39,826 | $19.15 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $34,892 | $16.77 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $37,061 | $17.82 |
| 17 | Maryland | $40,524 | $19.48 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $36,449 | $17.52 |
| 19 | Michigan | $35,332 | $16.99 |
| 20 | New York | $38,927 | $18.71 |
| 21 | Oregon | $36,379 | $17.49 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $33,921 | $16.31 |
| 23 | Arizona | $34,607 | $16.64 |
| 24 | California | $39,421 | $18.95 |
| 25 | Kansas | $35,832 | $17.23 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $33,392 | $16.05 |
| 27 | Illinois | $35,296 | $16.97 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $36,379 | $17.49 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $34,075 | $16.38 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $33,805 | $16.25 |
| 31 | Florida | $33,680 | $16.19 |
| 32 | Indiana | $33,909 | $16.30 |
| 33 | Iowa | $33,542 | $16.13 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $33,537 | $16.12 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $33,432 | $16.07 |
| 36 | Georgia | $34,834 | $16.75 |
| 37 | Colorado | $34,359 | $16.52 |
| 38 | Missouri | $34,302 | $16.49 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $34,162 | $16.42 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $33,348 | $16.03 |
| 41 | Ohio | $33,011 | $15.87 |
| 42 | Nevada | $33,625 | $16.17 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $31,558 | $15.17 |
| 44 | Idaho | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $29,976 | $14.41 |
| 46 | Texas | $31,847 | $15.31 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $31,492 | $15.14 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $32,302 | $15.53 |
| 49 | Utah | $31,602 | $15.19 |
| 50 | Montana | $30,548 | $14.69 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $26,308 | $12.65 |
The highest-paying cities for referral specialists are Washington, DC, Eagan, MN, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $49,855 | $23.97 |
| 2 | Eagan, MN | $44,428 | $21.36 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $41,278 | $19.85 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $40,631 | $19.53 |
| 5 | Vancouver, WA | $39,536 | $19.01 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $39,519 | $19.00 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $38,925 | $18.71 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $37,976 | $18.26 |
| 9 | Manchester, NH | $37,841 | $18.19 |
| 10 | Harrisburg, PA | $37,727 | $18.14 |
| 11 | Greenville, NC | $36,742 | $17.66 |
| 12 | Springfield, OR | $36,492 | $17.54 |
| 13 | Portland, ME | $35,842 | $17.23 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $35,321 | $16.98 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $34,834 | $16.75 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,623 | $16.65 |
| 17 | Denver, CO | $34,369 | $16.52 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $34,294 | $16.49 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $34,162 | $16.42 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $33,815 | $16.26 |
A referral specialist's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $43,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $36,143 | $3,012 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of referral specialists are specialist, credentialing specialist, and scheduler.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduler | $40,565 | $3,380 | $19.50 | 56,890 |
| Patient Care Representative | $33,709 | $2,809 | $16.21 | 133,317 |
| Medical Office Administrator | $34,252 | $2,854 | $16.47 | 179,503 |
| Medical Scheduler | $32,201 | $2,683 | $15.48 | 67,831 |
| Referral Coordinator | $35,179 | $2,932 | $16.91 | 65,934 |
Top companies hiring referral specialists now:
Referral specialist salaries at Cognizant and The University of Chicago are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average referral specialist salary at companies like Southcoast Health and Medical University of South Carolina are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cognizant | $51,074 | $24.55 |
| 2 | The University of Chicago | $45,059 | $21.66 |
| 3 | Southcoast Health | $43,881 | $21.10 |
| 4 | Medical University of South Carolina | $43,681 | $21.00 |
| 5 | ASRC Federal | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| 6 | Care New England Health System | $41,668 | $20.03 |
| 7 | Grene Vision Group | $41,491 | $19.95 |
| 8 | Mayo Clinic | $41,345 | $19.88 |
| 9 | Lifespan | $40,755 | $19.59 |
| 10 | Sutter Health | $40,728 | $19.58 |
| 11 | Progressive Community Health Centers | $40,572 | $19.51 |
| 12 | Teaneck High School | $40,455 | $19.45 |
| 13 | East Texas Council Of Governments | $40,122 | $19.29 |
| 14 | Loudoun County Social Svc | $40,110 | $19.28 |
| 15 | City of Hope | $40,088 | $19.27 |
| 16 | John Muir Health | $39,882 | $19.17 |
| 17 | Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County | $39,722 | $19.10 |
| 18 | Shriners Hospitals for Children | $39,498 | $18.99 |
| 19 | Boston ElderINFO | $39,492 | $18.99 |
| 20 | OSF HealthCare | $39,164 | $18.83 |
The average referral specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $37,335 | $17.95 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $36,639 | $17.61 |
| 3 | Health Care | $36,047 | $17.33 |
| 4 | Insurance | $34,848 | $16.75 |
The average referral specialist salary has risen by $6,087 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average referral specialist earned $30,056 annually, but today, they earn $36,143 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for referral specialists over the last decade.
Compare referral specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare referral specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $36,100 | $17.38 | +2.1% |
| 2025 | $35,400 | $17.02 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $34,600 | $16.64 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $33,500 | $16.10 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $32,600 | $15.69 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutterhealth | Transfer & Referral Specialist | Sacramento, CA | 06/30/2025 | $69,414 |
| North Clinic | Referral Specialist | Brooklyn Park, MN | 06/29/2025 | $38,610 |
| Mact Health Board Inc. | Referral Specialist | Sonora, CA | 06/29/2025 | $53,344 |
| Hawaii Island Community Health Center | Referrals Specialist | Hawaii | 06/29/2025 | $40,697 |
| Toolworks | Aging and Disability Resource Center (Adrc) Information & Referral Specialist | San Francisco, CA | 06/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Confederated Tribes and Bands of The Yakama Nation | Referral Specialist/Benefits Coordinator-PRC | Toppenish, WA | 06/28/2025 | $44,057 |
| Choice Healthcare Services | Pedo-Ortho Referral Specialist | San Francisco, CA | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Us Oncology, Inc. | MOA Referral Specialist | Peoria, IL | 06/26/2025 | $33,392 |
| Anthos Home | Referral Coordination Specialist | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $65,000 |
| Yakama Nation Tribal School | Referral Specialist/Benefits Coordinator-PRC | Toppenish, WA | 06/26/2025 | $44,057 |
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