Medical Records Specialist Salary in Boston, MA
Medical Records Specialists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $60,460 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,957 take-home, or $3,996 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical records specialist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,075
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,749
- Medicare (1.45%)$877
- Massachusetts income tax$2,803
- Take-home pay$47,957
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Records Specialist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,540 | $21.89 | $36,714 | $3,060 |
| 25th percentile | $49,160 | $23.63 | $39,442 | $3,287 |
| Median (50th) | $60,460 | $29.07 | $47,957 | $3,996 |
| 75th percentile | $75,500 | $36.30 | $58,389 | $4,866 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,260 | $39.55 | $62,807 | $5,234 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,460 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical records specialist's $47,957 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,295 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Medical Records Specialist jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for medical records specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #4 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $65,530 | $54,833 | $49,340 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $58,950 | $47,110 | $47,082 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $57,970 | $46,034 | $44,437 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $60,460 | $47,957 | $44,295 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $51,250 | $43,359 | $43,962 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $58,810 | $47,058 | $43,218 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $61,190 | $48,639 | $43,210 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $52,140 | $44,074 | $42,753 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: medical records specialists
Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical records specialist make in Boston, MA?
The median medical records specialist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $60,460 a year, or about $29.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,160 and $75,500.
What is a medical records specialist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $60,460 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $47,957 a year ($3,996 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,803 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a medical records specialist?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $51,140. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,295 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #4 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical records specialist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 57% of a median medical records specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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