How long does medical transcriptionist training take in Kentucky?

Most paths into the medical transcriptionist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for medical transcriptionists in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Kentucky (2026)

Q: How much do medical transcriptionists earn in Kentucky?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical transcriptionists in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,000. Employment concentration in Kentucky is about 1.29 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical transcriptionists in Kentucky?

Kentucky currently employs approximately 690 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -4.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky medical transcriptionists earn a median annual wage of $39,000 ($18.75/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.5% below the national median of $40,410 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,000 ($18.75/hr)
25th percentile: $30,230 per year
75th percentile: $44,260 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $52,420 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $27,940 per year
Workers employed in Kentucky: 690
Versus national median: -3.5% below the U.S. median of $40,410
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.29 - this occupation is more concentrated in Kentucky than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

Kentucky employs about 690 medical transcriptionists earning a median $39,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most medical transcriptionists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Kentucky.

Key Facts

Median wage (Kentucky): $39,000/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Kentucky: 690 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.29x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: -4.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Transcriptionist Schools in Kentucky

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Illinois Eastern Community Colleges	57.4	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	Yes*	165 mi
2	Kaskaskia College	54.8	$4,800 - $12,570	$48,104	49%	Yes*	217 mi
3	Georgia Northwestern Technical College	53.6	Contact school for pricing	$44,490	38%	Yes*	244 mi
4	Richland Community College	53.4	Contact school for pricing	$51,785	52%	Yes*	242 mi
5	Lake Land College	53.4	$4,415 - $14,301	$48,594	56%	—	201 mi
6	Snead State Community College	53.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,544	49%	Yes*	249 mi
7	Gaston College	51.1	$3,186 - $16,866	Not reported	59%	Yes*	285 mi
8	West Georgia Technical College	51.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,835	33%	Yes*	280 mi
9	Rend Lake College	45.9	Contact school for pricing	$46,506	62%	—	198 mi
10	New River Community and Technical College	42.3	$5,156 - $12,132	$39,109	33%	Yes*	229 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Kentucky employs approximately 690 medical transcriptionists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,000 ¹. The state’s concentration of medical transcriptionist jobs is 1.29x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, medical transcriptionist employment is projected to grow -4.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a medical transcriptionist in Kentucky, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Medical Transcriptionist Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

Medical Transcriptionists Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical transcriptionists wages in Kentucky vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Louisville/Jefferson County	170	$43,940	$44,620	$30,230	$62,400
Lexington-Fayette	130	$42,900	$43,380	$33,060	$49,960
Cincinnati	120	$46,560	$47,630	$36,730	$59,550
Clarksville	40	$30,930	$34,100	$27,940	$45,160
Huntington-Ashland	30	$36,580	$37,490	$30,480	$45,530

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Kentucky): $39,000 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Kentucky

How to become a medical transcriptionist in Kentucky? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for medical transcriptionists in Kentucky.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do medical transcriptionists earn in Kentucky? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in Kentucky is $39,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $27,940 and experienced professionals can earn $52,420 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Kentucky

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Kentucky training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Kentucky that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to medical transcriptionists in Kentucky before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical transcriptionists in Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 690 medical transcriptionists ¹. Nationally, medical transcriptionist employment is projected to grow -4.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Kentucky? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Kentucky.

How much do medical transcriptionists earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in Kentucky is $39,000, which is $1,450 above the national median of $37,550 according to BLS data ¹.

In Kentucky

Best Trade Schools in Kentucky (2026)

Explore More Trades in Kentucky

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)