### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			Health information technologists and medical registrarsHealth information technologists and medical registrars work with computerized healthcare systems.							
						Quick Facts:     Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars2023     Median Pay
            						$62,990     per year
										$30.28     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    37,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    16% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    6,200What Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars Do
                                                
                        
                        
Health information technologists and medical registrars advise organizations on computerized healthcare systems and analyze clinical data.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Health information technologists and medical registrars usually work in an office setting and may spend many hours at a computer. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar
                                                
                        
Education requirements for health information technologists and medical registrars vary. Some workers typically need an associate’s degree; others need a bachelor’s or higher degree. Certification may be required or preferred.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for health information technologists and medical registrars was $62,990 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow							 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,100 openings for health information technologists and medical registrars are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for health information technologists and medical registrars.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of health information technologists and medical registrars with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about health information technologists and medical registrars by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars Do 
            

			Health information technologists and medical registrarsHealth information technologists and medical registrars help to design and develop electronic healthcare systems.			
Health information technologists and medical registrars advise organizations on computerized healthcare systems and analyze clinical data.
Duties
Health information technologists and medical registrars typically do the following:
Help to determine requirements for computerized healthcare systems
Evaluate and support implementation of health information systems
Organize and update information in clinical databases or registries
Compile data and generate reports, such as for disease registry or treatment
Track patient outcomes for quality assessment
Validate the integrity of patient data
Ensure privacy, security, and confidentiality of patients' health informationHealth information technologists and medical registrars help to design and develop electronic healthcare systems. They abstract, collect, and analyze clinical data related to medical treatment, followup, and results. Their work supports the delivery and improvement of patient care.
***Health information technologists*** apply their knowledge of information technology (IT) and healthcare concepts in a variety of ways. Some specialize in the electronic health records systems used for storing and retrieving patient data, which may include implementing the systems and educating staff on their use. Others analyze healthcare data for a range of purposes, such as for research or to evaluate programs and services.
***Medical registrars*** create and maintain databases of information, such as those used to track a particular disease or condition. For example,*******cancer registrars* collect and analyze information for facility, regional, and national databases of cancer patients. They review patients’ records and pathology reports to verify completeness and accuracy; assign classification codes to represent the diagnosis and treatment of cancers and benign tumors; and track treatment, survival, and recovery.
For information about workers who compile, process, and maintain patient files, see the profile for medical records specialists.
 Work Environment
			Health information technologists and medical registrarsHealth information technologists and medical registrars may spend many hours at a computer.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Health information technologists and medical registrars held about 37,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of health information technologists and medical registrars were as follows:
        Hospitals; state, local, and private
                50%Offices of physicians
                7Management of companies and enterprises
                7Professional, scientific, and technical services
                7Administrative and support services
                5Health information technologists and medical registrars usually work in an office setting and may spend many hours at a computer.
Work Schedules
Most health information technologists and medical registrars work full time.
 How to Become a Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar

			Health information technologists and medical registrarsHealth information technologists and medical registrars typically need at least an associate's degree.			
Education requirements for health information technologists and medical registrars vary. Some workers typically need an associate’s degree; others may need a bachelor’s or higher degree. Certification may be required or preferred.
Education
Health information technologists and medical registrars typically need at least an associate’s degree to enter the occupation. Some positions require a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
High school students interested in becoming a health information technologist or medical registrar may benefit from taking classes that include anatomy and physiology, biology, computer science, and math.
A degree may be in health information management or another healthcare and related field or in nonmedical subjects, such as computer and information technology.
The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management accredits programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree level. The National Cancer Registrars Association accredits programs in cancer registry management. Programs may include courses in medical terminology, health data requirements, medical ethics, and classification and coding systems.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Employers may prefer to hire health information technologists and medical registrars who have certification, or they may expect applicants to earn certification after being hired.
Credentials for a variety of specializations are available from professional organizations. For example, certifications from the American Health Information Management Association include the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), the Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP), and the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA). Individuals may hold multiple certifications.
Cancer registrars may need the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) credential. This certification requires completion of a formal education program and experience, along with passing an exam.
Advancement
Health information technologists and medical registrars sometimes advance to become medical and health services managers. Employers may require that workers seeking to advance have a higher level certification or a bachelor’s or master’s degree in health information management or a related field.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Health information technologists and medical registrars must be able to interpret data and use their findings to suggest improvements.
***Detail oriented.*** To ensure accuracy, health information technologists and medical registrars need to be precise when working with clinical data.
***Integrity.*** Health information technologists and medical registrars must exercise discretion and act ethically when working with patient data to protect patient confidentiality, as required by law.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Health information technologists and medical registrars must collaborate with other members of the healthcare team.
***Problem-solving skills.*** These workers must be able to identify and address issues related to the use of healthcare information systems.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsMedian annual wages, May 2023Health information technologists and medical registrars$62,990  Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations$61,020  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for health information technologists and medical registrars was $62,990 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,650.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for health information technologists and medical registrars in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Management of companies and enterprises
                $77,170Administrative and support services
                67,920Professional, scientific, and technical services
                66,470Hospitals; state, local, and private
                62,580Offices of physicians
                50,790Most health information technologists and medical registrars work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Health information technologists and medical registrars16%  Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations11%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow				 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,100 openings for health information technologists and medical registrars are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The volume of electronic health information generated by healthcare providers and patients continues to grow. As a result, more health information technologists will be needed to analyze these vast quantities of data and offer insight to help make informed decisions.
Similarly, the increasing availability of medical data will contribute to more demand for medical registrars to update clinical registries, abstract relevant details, and convert data into meaningful information. Organizations continue to rely on these workers for insight into improving the quality of care, to control costs, and for other purposes.
			

                        Employment projections data for     health information technologists and medical registrars, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Health information technologists and medical registrars**
			29-9021
			37,900
			44,100
			16
			6,200
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Health information technologists and medical registrars **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of health information technologists and medical registrars. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Medical and Health Services Managers**
            Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers.
            Bachelor's degree
            $110,680**Medical Assistants**
            Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $42,000**Medical Records Specialists**
            Medical records specialists compile, process, and maintain patient files.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $48,780**Medical Transcriptionists**
            Medical transcriptionists use electronic devices to convert voice recordings from physicians and other healthcare workers into formal reports.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $37,060
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about health information technologists and medical registrars, including details about certification, visit
American Health Information Management Association
For a list of accredited training programs, visit
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
For more information about cancer registrars, including certification requirements and accredited training programs, visit
National Cancer Registrars Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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