Medical Records Specialists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,240 or more. The middle half of medical records specialists in Hickory earn between $36,690 and $48,890.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $40KMedian
- $49K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,640 | $3,637 | $20.98 |
| Median | $39,900 | $3,325 | $19.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,690 | $3,058 | $17.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,890 | $4,074 | $23.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Records Specialists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Medical records specialists in Hickory earn 21% less than the North Carolina average ($55,510) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($56,790). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $51,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $43,640 | $39,900 | $31,170 | $59,240 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $55,510 | $49,620 | $36,840 | $79,670 | 6,760 |
| United States | $56,790 | $51,140 | $37,000 | $81,150 | 194,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Medical Records Specialists salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $43,640, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $36,012 a year, or $3,001 a month and $1,385 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for medical records specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $43,640 buys what about $49,319 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Records Specialists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 15th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($60,580).
- Raleigh$60,580
- Durham$59,850
- Greenville$59,690
- Charlotte$58,080
- Winston-Salem$56,250
- Fayetteville$54,770
- Wilmington$54,530
- Goldsboro$53,190
- Jacksonville$52,590
- Hickory$43,640
Highest-paying cities for medical records specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($97,430).
- San Jose, CA$97,430
- Sacramento, CA$76,110
- Chattanooga, TN$76,090
- San Francisco, CA$75,570
- Seattle, WA$72,530
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Medical Records Specialists salary in Hickory: questions
How much do medical records specialists make an hour in Hickory?
$20.98 an hour on average, and $19.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical records specialists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical records specialists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $36,012 a year ($3,001 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,640.
Do medical records specialists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($56,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-2072; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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