How To Gain A Top Medical Transcription Salary


To start with we need to be clear on the difference between medical transcription salary and wages.

Salary and wages are the main forms of payments made to an employee. Generally they are considered to be payments made:

• To an individual

• As remuneration for services, and

• Provided under a contract of service (employment contract).

Unless specifically exempted from tax, all salary and wage income must be declared on your tax return.

Workers may also work as medical transcription contractors. There are criteria around contracting work as well.


What is the difference between salary and wages?

A salary is a fixed periodical payment paid to a person for regular work or services, whereas a wage is usually paid by the day or week for work or services which are of a more irregular nature.

Examples

Emily is employed as a medical transcription editor and receives medical transcription salary income. She has regular set working hours and receives an annual income of $52,000 which is paid to her on a fortnightly basis.

Francine is employed as a medical transcriptionist and receives medical transcription wage income on a weekly basis. Her working hours change from week to week in line with current workload, and her annual income is dependant on the number of hours she works.

Medical transcriptionist wages and salary increase with both your competence and experience. Your location is another important factor.

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2006 the mean hourly medical transcription wage was US$14.74. The mean annual wage was US$30,660.

As you read on you will see how you can far surpass these figures of return.

The top paying industries for a medical transcriptionist salary were in Agencies, Brokerages and Other Insurance Related Activities.

In May 2002 a survey was conducted by the AHDI that reported an average medical transcriptionist salary to be US$31,400.

A survey conducted towards the end of 2002 by the magazine Advance for Health Information Professionals revealed that certified medical transcriptionists (CMT’s) earned more than their non-certified counterparts.

The average medical transcriptionists salary was US$29,732 with the CMT’s earning an average of US$36,225 annually.


Primary Factors Affecting Medical Transcription Salary

1. Competence

2. Area of Specialty

3. Experience

4. Speed and Efficiency

5. Flexibility

6. Geographic Location (this is becoming less important with technology changes) The region that you work in is important when determining the medical transcription salary you will be paid. There is more demand for medical transcriptionists in some regions, than in others. California in recent times has been the top paying state in the US.

Two important factors in your income are your ability to negotiate the best package, and your productivity. Remember you also need the accuracy.

To gain the medical transcription wage you deserve our medical transcription team recommend this to fast track your success!

A positive self image and good people skills help when negotiating your medical transcription salary.

As you gain experience, and if you chose to become an independent contractor, you are in a position to increase your earnings. Overheads need to be deducted from your income when you are a contractor.

Those specializing in areas of health like acute care, multi-specialty clinic ER, Oncology and Radiology are in demand and this increases the salary paid to the competent transcriptionist.

When looking for the best position consider the medical transcription jobs employee benefits that go along with the position.

Summing it all up to achieve the best medical transcription salary you need to:

• Become certified

• Specialize in an in demand field that you enjoy

• Get your speed and accuracy up

• Pick up as many skills as you can

• Master new technology

• Be professional

• Relate well to those around you

Achieve the above and you will always have plenty of work and be rewarded with a great medical transcription salary







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