Medical Records Specialist Salary in Houston, TX
Medical Records Specialists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $51,250 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,359 take-home, or $3,613 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical records specialist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,970
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,178
- Medicare (1.45%)$743
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,359
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Records Specialist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,150 | $18.34 | $32,834 | $2,736 |
| 25th percentile | $45,350 | $21.80 | $38,619 | $3,218 |
| Median (50th) | $51,250 | $24.64 | $43,359 | $3,613 |
| 75th percentile | $65,650 | $31.56 | $54,930 | $4,577 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,510 | $38.71 | $65,469 | $5,456 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,250 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical records specialist's $43,359 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,962 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 about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for medical records specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #5 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.
Medical Records Specialist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $52,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical records specialist make in Houston, TX?
The median medical records specialist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $51,250 a year, or about $24.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,350 and $65,650.
What is a medical records specialist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $51,250 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $43,359 a year ($3,613 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a medical records specialist?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $51,140. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,962 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #5 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical records specialist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median medical records specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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