Some people think medical scribes get paid as much as doctors. But. that’s not true. While doctors invest years in education and training to earn six-figure salaries, medical scribes play a supportive yet crucial role in healthcare and earn significantly less.
For physicians and healthcare providers, understanding the cost of hiring a Medical Scribe Assistant in 2025 is essential for budgeting effectively.
If you’re looking to improve patient documentation and reduce your administrative burden, knowing the salary of a Medical Scribe Assistant in 2025 can help you make informed hiring decisions.
This article will walk you through the latest salary trends and offer insights into the value they bring to your practice. Before jumping into the details of salaries, let’s first understand what’s the difference between a medical scribe and a medical assistant. Let’s get into it.
What is the Difference Between a Medical Assistant and a Medical Scribe?
Employers often get confused between a medical scribe and a medical assistant. Most of them consider them as same but these two are different professions.
A medical assistant handles clinical tasks such as taking patient vitals, administering medications, and preparing exam rooms. They may also assist with minor medical procedures under a doctor’s supervision.
On the other hand, medical scribes focus solely on documenting patient interactions in real time, ensuring accurate and timely updates to electronic health records (EHRs).
While both roles contribute to the smooth operation of healthcare settings, their responsibilities and scope of work are distinct and complementary.
What is the Average Salary of a Medical Scribe Assistant?
Many people ask what the average salary of a medical scribe is. Surprisingly, there is no fixed answer. However, the average hourly pay for a Med Scribe in the United States is $18.26 an hour.
ZipRecruiter reported that hourly wages are as high as $24.5 and as low as $9.13, the majority of Med Scribe wages currently range between $15.14 to $20.43 across the United States.
The Average salaries of medical scribe assistants significantly vary from country to country and even within countries and cities.
According to Salary.com, the average salary of a medical scribe assistant is $19/hour in the U.S. and this makes an annual salary of an annual salary ranging from $31,089 to $41,057, depending on experience and location.
However, in the UK the average salary for a medical scribe is around £19,953 per year. This amount can vary based on experience, education, and the healthcare facility. The more experience a scribe has the more higher salary they will be paid.
In Australia, medical scribes typically earn between AUD 50,000 to AUD 70,000 annually. However, specific data may vary based on location and healthcare settings.
What are the Factors that Influence the Average Salary of a Medical Scribe?
You might have noticed that salaries for medical scribes vary among cities. Many factors influence the average salary of a medical scribe. Here we have discussed a few of them:
- Experience Level: More experienced scribes tend to earn higher salaries due to their familiarity with medical terminology and practices.
- Entry-Level (0-1 year): Medical scribes with less than one year of experience typically earn around $15 to $18 per hour. This translates to an annual salary of approximately $31,000 to $37,440.
- Mid-Level (1-3 years): With 1 to 3 years of experience, salaries can increase to about $18 to $22 per hour, resulting in an annual income of $37,440 to $45,760.
- Experienced (3+ years): Scribes with over three years of experience can command higher wages, often ranging from $22 to $25+ per hour, which equates to an annual salary between $45,760 and $52,000 or more.
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- Education: Higher educational qualifications such as degrees in health sciences can lead to better-paying positions. These qualifications provide a deeper understanding of medical terminology and healthcare processes, allowing scribes to take on more complex tasks and responsibilities. Some specific certifications that can add to medical scribe expertise and ultimately demand a high pay scale include:
- Certified Medical Scribe Associate (CMSA)
- Certified Medical Scribe Professional (CMSP)
- Certified Medical Scribe Specialist (CMSS)
- Medical Scribe Certification and Aptitude Test (MSCAT)
- Location: Salaries can differ significantly based on geographic location due to the cost of living and demand for healthcare services. For example, a medical scribe in the U.S. has a higher salary than the one in India.
Apart from different countries, cities within the same country have different pay scales due to differences in the cost of living. For example, the cost of living in Dallas, TX is -39.5% lower than in New York, NY. Therefore, employers in Dallas, TX typically pay -15.5% less than employers in New York, NY.
So, if your business is in Texas, you should consider these details to pay your medical scribe the right amount of money. If you want to hire a remote medical scribe assistant in the USA, at an affordable price you can get the world’s top 1% of the medical scribe assistants at WorkStaff360.
- Type of Healthcare Facility: Working in specialized or larger healthcare facilities may offer higher pay compared to smaller clinics or practices.
- Employment Type: Full-time positions generally offer better salaries and benefits compared to part-time or contract roles.
Note: These Salaries are average of most of the data we collected from authentic sources, however, there could be a slight variation in these fixed amounts.
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How Does the Salary of a Medical Scribe Compare to Other Healthcare Roles with Similar Experience Levels?
Medical assistants generally earn more than medical scribes across all experience levels. For instance, entry-level medical assistants can make around $30,427, significantly higher than entry-level scribes.
Additionally, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) also have comparable salaries but may require additional training and certifications. The variation in salaries reflects differences in responsibilities and required qualifications for each role.
Annual Salary Comparison with Similar Healthcare Roles
| Role | Entry-Level Salary | Mid-Level Salary | Experienced Salary |
| Medical Scribe | $20,000 – $24,000 | $28,000 – $32,000 | $39,000+ |
| Medical Assistant | $30,000 – $35,000 | $35,000 – $40,000 | $40,000 – $45,000 |
| Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | $25,000 – $30,000 | $30,000 – $36,000 | $36,930 |
| Patient Care Technician | $25,000 – $30,000 | $30,000 – $35,000 | $39,518 |
Overall, while medical scribes play a crucial role in healthcare documentation and efficiency, their salaries are typically lower than those of other healthcare positions with similar experience levels. This discrepancy often arises from the differing responsibilities and skill requirements associated with each role. Therefore, you must pay the medical scribe assistants accordingly.
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FAQs
- What is the highest salary of a Medical Scribe?
According to the Boston Medical Center, the highest reported median salary for a medical scribe is approximately $48,164.
- How much did scribes get paid?
According to the Medical Scribe Training Institute, the medical scribe’s salary varies between $18,000 and $37,000 with a national average of $20,000 annually.
- How much do medical scribes make an hour in NJ?
The average hourly pay for a Medical Scribe in New Jersey is $18.54-$24.89 an hour.
- How much do medical scribes make in Texas?
The average hourly pay for a Medical Scribe in Texas is $17.54-$22.84 an hour.
