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Transcriptionist vs data entry clerk

The differences between transcriptionists and data entry clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a transcriptionist has an average salary of $44,118, which is higher than the $31,582 average annual salary of a data entry clerk.

The top three skills for a transcriptionist include transcription, patients and dictation. The most important skills for a data entry clerk are data entry, customer service, and computer database.

Transcriptionist vs data entry clerk overview

TranscriptionistData Entry Clerk
Yearly salary$44,118$31,582
Hourly rate$21.21$15.18
Growth rate-7%-5%
Number of jobs270132,345
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4144
Years of experience-2

What does a transcriptionist do?

A transcriptionist is responsible for listening to audio files and converting them to a written document, following transcribing rules and processes depending on the clients' specifications. Transcriptionists must also have excellent researching skills, especially to understand foreign terminologies and jargon, ensuring the written transcription accuracy. They also review drafts from various speech software to identify inconsistencies and revise speech discrepancies. A transcriptionist must have excellent communication skills, including written and listening mastery and time-management, submitting work on deadlines with the highest efficiency.

What does a data entry clerk do?

Data entry clerks are employees who work on the proper documentation of the data sets within the organization. They are responsible for copying in or typing in items from a source to the company database. In doing so, they provide and validate essential information to the organization. Data entry clerks are expected to assess the data and ensure that they are correct before logging them into the company database. They are required to have good attention to detail, to be able to type swiftly and accurately, and to be able to work with minimal supervision.

Transcriptionist vs data entry clerk salary

Transcriptionists and data entry clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

TranscriptionistData Entry Clerk
Average salary$44,118$31,582
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $57,000Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-General Dynamics Mission Systems
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between transcriptionist and data entry clerk education

There are a few differences between a transcriptionist and a data entry clerk in terms of educational background:

TranscriptionistData Entry Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationBusiness
Most common college--

Transcriptionist vs data entry clerk demographics

Here are the differences between transcriptionists' and data entry clerks' demographics:

TranscriptionistData Entry Clerk
Average age4144
Gender ratioMale, 11.3% Female, 88.7%Male, 19.9% Female, 80.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 14.4% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 7.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage9%5%

Differences between transcriptionist and data entry clerk duties and responsibilities

Transcriptionist example responsibilities.

  • Manage two ambulance sets, two ambulances, and specialize high-angle rescue equipment value at $500K+.
  • Transcribe cardiology, urology, and oncology reports.
  • Transcribe medical office dictation from outpatient facilities (internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, radiology).
  • Transcribe a variety of medical reports for different physician practices including specialties of psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery and orthopedics.
  • Transcribe dictation for MRI scans of the body.
  • Job description: medical transcription of ultrasound, biopsy, and mammography reports.
  • Show more

Data entry clerk example responsibilities.

  • Prepare, maintain and manage PowerPoint presentations.
  • Enter contractual data into AS400 computer terminal, implementing alphanumeric and 10-key data entry.
  • Work in multiple windows to process information.
  • Create a backup copy for one specific table on the SQL database.
  • Process radiology reports into MDIV program while meeting department month- end billing cycle.
  • Establish the ability to type approximately 58 wpm and type 10 key by touch.
  • Show more

Transcriptionist vs data entry clerk skills

Common transcriptionist skills
  • Transcription, 25%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Dictation, 8%
  • Transcription Services, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • WPM, 4%
Common data entry clerk skills
  • Data Entry, 23%
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Computer Database, 12%
  • Computer System, 6%
  • Word Processing, 5%
  • WPM, 3%

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