Medical Records Specialist Salary in Chicago, IL
Medical Records Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $57,970 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,034 take-home, or $3,836 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical records specialist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,776
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,594
- Medicare (1.45%)$841
- Illinois income tax$2,725
- Take-home pay$46,034
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,460 | $19.93 | $33,586 | $2,799 |
| 25th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 | $38,328 | $3,194 |
| Median (50th) | $57,970 | $27.87 | $46,034 | $3,836 |
| 75th percentile | $65,490 | $31.49 | $51,704 | $4,309 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,470 | $37.73 | $60,294 | $5,025 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,970 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical records specialist's $46,034 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,437 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 Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for medical records specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 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 Chicago, IL?
The median medical records specialist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $57,970 a year, or about $27.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,750 and $65,490.
What is a medical records specialist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $57,970 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $46,034 a year ($3,836 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,725 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a medical records specialist?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $51,140. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,437 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical records specialist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median medical records specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Pharmacist — $140,880
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740
- Physician Assistant — $127,940
- Physical Therapist — $105,720
- Registered Nurse — $100,490
- Dental Hygienist — $100,260
- Occupational Therapist — $99,860
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $98,490
- Physicians, All Other — $94,820
- Respiratory Therapist — $87,060
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $82,140