A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Salary Question - Me

Posted: Mar 31, 2011

I am currently making 42,000.00 a year in medical transcription. Am I really going to make much more than that if I get an AA degree in medical coding ? I am wondering if school is a waste. My daughter says that an entry level job for me will only pay in the 30's and if thats the case, I think I should stay with transcription. I am 50 years old and just a bit scared of whats to come.

Salaries - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Right, entry level coding positions usually start in the $30s, but who stays "entry level" for long? I know people who got starting salaries in the 40s, too.

There is a salary survey on the AAPC website. You can easily see how salaries are affected by experience, credentials, and specialty.

I am not sure I would spend the time or money to get an AA in coding, though, and I would definitely not get an AA in medical record technology thinking it would enable me to code. The statistical evidence would weigh against that. You do not NEED an AA for coding -- you need a course that will enable you to pass the CPC and CCS on graduation. Most people don't realize that an AA will take 3 or more years to complete on a part-time basis, which is a long time if you need job skills in a reasonable timeframe.

A CPC and CCS are accepted measures of coding ability. An AA is not, especially if you are trying to impress physicians or someone with an MBA. While any degree is nice, they will be more concerned with demonstrated ability in coding.

If you do not have a degree and really aspire to one, learn to code first. When you are working in coding, then you can go back to school and do an online degree program.

Your current salary is good, but if you are worried about it staying that good, you might want to consider learning to code. I do not know that you would have to accept a starting salary much lower than that, but I did because I saw the potential to make more in the long run. My income increased rapidly to the 50s and 60s, and my skills now enable me to moonlight doing remote coding part-time. The income from that is good, too.

Advancement - Anonymous

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In regard to salaries and advancement, a lot also depends on where you live. Metropolitan areas with large facilities are going to pay more and have more employment opportunities for coders than small towns and cities with one or two hospitals and a few physician's offices. It takes time to gain experience; none of this happens overnight, it's probably desirable to stay in your first position for a year or two. And I hate to bring up the age thing, but we 50-somethings have a harder time getting jobs. Just my opinion, but I think the EMR and electronic billing and computer assisted coding are changing the employment outlook for coders just as VR and offshoring are for MTs.

Why oh why did I not learn to code years ago - 50-somthing

[ In Reply To ..]
Your post is correct in my case. Rural living and small groups of docs and hospitals, but I had the opportunity to get into coding (along with being an MT) and told them forget it, it was so boring. I have kicked myself for the last few years. I am interested, but is it worth it? I have been an MT over 30 years so I was in the heyday, and am still doing okay. With EMR and VR and offshoring just wiping out our industry, I have been searching for my niche.

I don't find it boring at all, but it may depend on how it is presented - nm

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nm

Boring? Not! - Coder

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If you thought it was boring, I wonder if what you saw wasn't actually coding?

People often believe that copying codes from charge tickets onto bills is coding, or that taking a dictated code number and checking it to be sure it matches the dictated diagnosis is coding. Those things are clerical work or "billing," not coding.

Coding is a lot more than that. While it might be possible for someone to find it too difficult or to require too much work for their tastes, I have never encountered anyone who actually understood what it was and still found it boring.

I have seen coders who code straight from the listed diagnoses and procedures, but that's not correct. We code from all of the documentation, reading it and determining what the diagnoses and procedures should be. They get the record corrected, if necessary. And then they juggle reams of CMS and local carrier decisions regarding coverage and medical necessity. Inpatient coders read every word in a record. They even review labs and procedures to determine if something might have been overlooked.

I guess it's possible to find that boring, but I don't understand how. Impossibly difficult, yes. I have seen people who do not have the ability to do it. But boring? No.

It seems TEDIOUS. - n/msg

[ In Reply To ..]
X

Can you explain why it seems tedious? That statement is - Stunningly off base.

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What are you seeing that you think looks tedious???

If you said you were an MT and I didn't know better, I would say that typing the same words all day would seem tedious.

If you think coding is tedious, maybe you're not seeing the reality of it? If you would explain what you think you are seeing, maybe we can help you see what's wrong with that view.

Explain? - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Coding is not for everyone, I imagine quite a few people think it seems tedious. It sounds as if you are saying this person is not entitled to have an opinion and that you intend to change it. It doesn't make them "off base" because they don't see things your way.

Not the person you are addressing but the 3-word message left me wanting more too - Curious

[ In Reply To ..]
When I saw the words, "It seems tedious", I really was hoping to open the message and see more about why it seems that way. What part of it seems tedious?

I certainly agree that coding is not for everyone. It would be horrible if we all liked the same kind of work. I'd be willing to bet that coding is very much the wrong career for the OP, because of that comment. The OP knows that it is too tedious for her/him. I'm still curious to know more, if the OP is still around to expand on that and would be so kind as to fill us in. I certainly won't be trying to convince the OP otherwise, just wanting more information. Maybe coding really is tedious and I just never noticed.

Also Curious - MTC

[ In Reply To ..]
The "tedious" comment appeared to me to be a "drive-by" quip and made me wonder what the commenter actually knows about coding. I'm glad someone asked for clarification.

Sounded like a drive-by to me, too. - Just Me

[ In Reply To ..]
Made me wonder what the commenter knew about coding, as well.

My first exposure to coding made me think it must be tedious. I thought they just took the diagnoses and applied numbers to them, then typed them into the system. It sounded like brainless drudgery and I really resented what the coders got paid for doing it. Plus, I didn't really think I was a "math" person . . . all those numbers, you know.

I got into it totally by accident and mostly out of an interest in improving my salary. It was nothing like I thought it would be.

It's a lot like inviting a person to dine at an excellent Italian restaurant and having them decline because they hate Rice-A-Roni.

LOL! - nm

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nm

Can - you share

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what part of the country you are located in? Do you do hospital coding or Dr. office coding?

Why? - Coder

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Why do you need to know that? It's Southeast and I do both, but I don't think that information is helpful to you.

If you want to know about salaries, they are easily found on the latest American Association of Professional Coders salary survey. It is on their website.

well gee - I was

[ In Reply To ..]
really just curious to hear from a real person about where they worked and what they do. I look at that salary thing all the time. It does not match me and my area at all, so I like to hear from other people too. It is helpful to me, thanks.

salaries - That is

[ In Reply To ..]
Good. I have been coding for 3 years and I do not make that. It probably depends on area too.

Just curious - WorkerBee

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If you're making 42K yearly as an MT, I assume that you own your own service. Is that correct?

If not, would you mind if I ask in what capacity you are working? Thanks.

well i ........... - Me

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i do 1600 to 2000 lines a day 6 days a week and no I dont own my own service. Hope this helps!

50-something - Anonymous

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I'm also an MT and love it, I'm trying to hang on for as long as I can. I wanted to learn to code in case I needed to change jobs; being able to continue doing both is what I would really like. I'm in a small city so if I get a coding job it will probably be in an outpatient setting with other duties attached. I know we're not supposed to discuss salaries, but I also don't own a service and my MT salary last year was comparable to yours.

how can make haf of that - Suzie

[ In Reply To ..]
Hi:

My name is Suzanne and I would love to make half of 42,000 a year as a transcriptionist. I have been a transcriptionist for almost 10 years and have only made about 10,000 a year. I work part time for ImeDx, which used to be Medware and I am going to be starting school, The Andrew's School, for medical coding tomorrow; it is online. I am not the fastest typist, but I am accurate. About 99% of the work I do is speech. I am just so frustrated about this. I am 54 and I feel like a loser because I do not make much money. Thanks for letting me vent.

Fondly,

Suzanne

Hang in there Suzie - Not a loser

[ In Reply To ..]

Why are you envious of someone who is obviously working a lot more than you are? She wrote: “i do 1600 to 2000 lines a day 6 days a week” and you only work part-time.

For some perspective, if she only does 1600 lines a day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year, making $42,000 a year gross means she makes 8 cents per line straight transcription. If she is an employee, there may be incentives, bonuses, or overtime pay involved. If she is an Independent Contractor, then she has extra to pay out for taxes, etc.

She is really no farther ahead than you are. There is no reason for you to feel like a “loser.” You can make $42,000 a year also, if you want to marry your job and work 6 days a week. Some people prefer to make time for friends and family.

I am really beginning to dislike when people say they make such-and-such per year without qualifying HOW they make that much, and whether it is from all straight transcription or mostly Speech Recognition Editing. Nine times out of ten it is gross pay which includes bonuses, incentives, overtime, working 6 or 7 days a week, having 3 or 4 different jobs, and basically being tied to their work all day, every day; and very seldom is it because they are straight transcribing 400 lines per hour or making 9 or 10 cents per line (or editing 1000 lines per hour).

If you are making 8 cents per line (which appears to be the industry standard nowadays), then you are just as good as everyone else, and definitely not a loser.

Hang in there. Just keep telling yourself you are as good as everyone else.

Good Luck on your new career. I hope it turns out to be what you expect and want in life.

Suzie - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for posting and sharing your experience and good for you for starting Andrews school. My situation is unique in that I work on site and get paid by the hour. The MTs are paid well where I work and I know I am very fortunate, because for me it could be gone any day. I did not notice that the other person was working 6 days a week to make what she does. I think you are doing well considering that you work part-time. I'm 56 and just finished my coding progam at a different school. The fact that you are willing to change careers and improve your circumstances shows that you are definitely not a "loser." Good luck with Andrews and coding, I hope you enjoy it.

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