Just a very quick question for anyone involved with or has looked into the medical transcription world.
I read a lot of posts or sites saying pay is usually per line (of 64 characters). If I type 120 words per minute, how much per hour do you think I could earn?
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Medical transcriptionists actually don’t make that much. I did it for 5 years and the most I ever made one year was 30K and I had to type my butt off that year. Of course, it all depends. It depends on who you work for and how much work they give you. But being able to type 120 wpm would be a plus in the field.
Realistically you’ll end up making $18 to $28 per hour. You will make more after a few months if you have skills with respect to templates (or saved reports) which need merely be modified. Double that. Then triple it with proper training.
Here’s the scoop. Your speed rocks! You will be on the lower side until you learn many of the proprietary words used in their field. You also get used to the same voices over and over again. Some exams are routine, such as a Chest X-Ray or a mammo. So you save the templates, paste them and modify/ input the patient name, date and minor variables. Other reports require a complete type-out, such as a diagnostic exam where something is found. Finally, learn your PACS software. I type 45 – 55 WPM. But I can make more money than you if i know the PACS software, the software inputs names and dates automatically and if I template smartly. If you invest the time on those latter two points, you make even more than $28 per hour. Plus you can work remotely with a flexible schedule.
In order to maximize your $$$, the software vendor (be it PACS, HIS, RIS, PowerScribe, whatever) needs to train you. If I trained you, for example, you would be worth over $75 an hour for the hours that you work.
I have did TONS of research on Medical Transcription..I am looking for the best online courses for me to take as of right now. Hoping to start within a month. Alot of things that I have been reading about says that you can charge like 12 cents per line or 16, or 18 (is the most that i have heard of) You charge by line not words. So if you charge like 12 cents per line than you make 30,000 + a year so thats pretty good. Or you can work for a doctor and then get paid what they pay per hour. Like a doctor around where I live pays starting out $16 an hour. So good luck and if you want to e-mail me go ahead cause I am interested about transcription and want to start soon! Good luck!
Pay is usually per line (65 characters). As to how much you can earn, you certainly have the typing skills but there are many other factors to consider. One is how efficient you are at using tools to increase production. Another is the expertise of the dictators. Some are very good, others are very bad, most fall somewhere in the middle.
If you have not already received training, I urge you to be very careful of the school you choose for your training. Some schools are actually affiliated with companies who hire their graduates, others say they are "affiliated" but they are not necessarily in a partnership with companies who hire their students.