Medical Records Specialist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Medical Records Specialists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $59,110 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,310 take-home, or $3,943 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical records specialist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,913
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,665
- Medicare (1.45%)$857
- California income tax$1,596
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$768
- Take-home pay$47,310
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Records Specialist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,710 | $20.05 | $34,494 | $2,875 |
| 25th percentile | $47,900 | $23.03 | $39,121 | $3,260 |
| Median (50th) | $59,110 | $28.42 | $47,310 | $3,943 |
| 75th percentile | $80,630 | $38.76 | $61,236 | $5,103 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,290 | $48.70 | $73,580 | $6,132 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,110 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical records specialist's $47,310 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,659 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for medical records specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $59,110 | $47,310 | $41,659 |
*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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median medical records specialist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $59,110 a year, or about $28.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,900 and $80,630.
What is a medical records specialist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $59,110 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $47,310 a year ($3,943 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,365 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a medical records specialist?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $51,140. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,659 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #10 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical records specialist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 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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