Medical Records Specialist Salary in Washington, DC
Medical Records Specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $58,810 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,058 take-home, or $3,921 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical records specialist salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,877
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,646
- Medicare (1.45%)$853
- District of Columbia income tax$2,376
- Take-home pay$47,058
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,960 | $20.65 | $35,287 | $2,941 |
| 25th percentile | $48,970 | $23.54 | $39,755 | $3,313 |
| Median (50th) | $58,810 | $28.27 | $47,058 | $3,921 |
| 75th percentile | $75,140 | $36.13 | $58,253 | $4,854 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,540 | $44.49 | $69,034 | $5,753 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,810 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical records specialist's $47,058 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,218 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.60), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for medical records specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #6 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 Washington, DC?
The median medical records specialist salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $58,810 a year, or about $28.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,970 and $75,140.
What is a medical records specialist’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $58,810 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $47,058 a year ($3,921 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,376 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a medical records specialist?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $51,140. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,218 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #6 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical records specialist afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median medical records specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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