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Medical records administrators are in the unique position of providing patients with a crucial medical service while having little or no contact with them. The primary goal of these professionals is to minimize mistakes and improve patient care through accuracy in health information. In assembling and maintaining patients' health records, medical records administrators verify that health information is complete, a task that demands strong attention to detail. The growing use of electronic health records demands that today's medical records administrators also be computer-savvy. Some administrators become certified in one area of health information, such as coding, which allows them to enhance their expertise.

Medical records administrators' salaries: Training & experience pay

While medical records administrators earn less on average than patient care providers, they can improve their prospects considerably through education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median medical records administrator salary in 2010 was $32,350 with the top 10 percent earning in excess of $53,430. Medical records administrators who become certified within a particular specialty tend to earn more, however: according to Salary.com, medical records coding specialists earned a median annual salary of $44,251 in June, 2011, with top earners exceeding $56,401. Those who eventually pursue higher degrees can advance to medical service management positions offering much more robust salaries; the BLS notes that these pros earned $84,270 on average in 2010, though top earners exceeded $144,000.

Salaries can also improve significantly with experience. GlassDoor.com, a company that tracks real employer salaries, lists medical records administrator salaries ranging from $22,000 for entry-level professionals to $65,000 for a more experienced workers.

Where you choose to practice can also impact your earnings. The BLS reports that the following states offered the highest average medical records administrator salary in 2010:

• New Jersey, $47,050
• Washington D.C., $43,140
• Hawaii, $42,430

It is important to consider cost of living in addition to baseline salary, however, as higher earnings can quickly be offset by higher food or housing costs. According to data provided by the BLS and the Council for Community and Economic Research, the following metro areas are among the most financially favorable relative to cost of living:

• Union, Pa.: $52,090
• Rochester, Minn.: $44,850
• Greensboro, N.C.: $40,860

How to become a medical records administrator

Because their field demands a certain level of expertise, the BLS reports that medical records administrators typically earn two-year associate degrees from medical records administrator schools. Additionally, as the demand for computer-based records grows, so do the number of programs that offer medical records administrator training online.

The BLS reports employers exceedingly prefer certification in addition to formal education. The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential and coding credentials through The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) are among the most common certifications.

Career outlook for medical records administrators

One of the major benefits of becoming a medical records administrator is knowing that your skills are in demand. According to the BLS, positions among these professionals are expected to grow by an impressive 20 percent in the decade preceding 2018--much faster than the average for all US workers. Those who are certified, have graduated from medical records administrator schools, or have electronic data management experience should fare best.