How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in North Carolina (2026)

North Carolina employs about 1,020 medical transcriptionists earning a median $39,300 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most medical transcriptionists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in North Carolina.

Key Facts

  • Median wage (North Carolina): $39,300/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Employed in North Carolina: 1,020 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Location quotient: 0.78x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
  • Projected growth: -4.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

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Compare Medical Transcriptionist Schools in North Carolina

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
163.8Contact school for pricing$32,88364%Yes*293 mi
253.6Contact school for pricing$44,49038%Yes*319 mi
353.0Contact school for pricing$43,54449%Yes*374 mi
451.3Contact school for pricing$50,97332%Yes*369 mi
551.1$3,186 - $16,866Not reported59%Yes*82 mi
651.0Contact school for pricing$43,83533%Yes*332 mi
750.7$3,480 - $11,034$40,58647%Yes*378 mi
846.5Contact school for pricing$42,97944%Yes*301 mi
942.3$5,156 - $12,132$39,10933%Yes*176 mi
1035.2$2,320 - $20,529$44,92431%Yes*39 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.

North Carolina employs approximately 1,020 medical transcriptionists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,300 1. 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 North Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Medical Transcriptionist Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Medical Transcriptionists Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk300$36,980$37,750$29,150$45,230
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia270$44,770$39,000$22,000$55,680
Durham-Chapel Hill150$26,850$31,000$20,470$55,120
Raleigh-Cary150$31,200$32,900$17,720$44,680
Greensboro-High Point80$46,440$44,990$38,210$50,110
Winston-Salem70$43,800$45,950$34,460$58,270
Asheville40$39,190$41,500$29,960$58,840
Wilmington30$49,590$44,860$35,810$51,670

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 (North Carolina): $39,300 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in North Carolina

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

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 North Carolina? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in North Carolina is $39,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,850 and experienced professionals can earn $51,360 or more 1.

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in North Carolina

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most North Carolina training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in North Carolina that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to medical transcriptionists in North Carolina 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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 1,020 medical transcriptionists 1. Nationally, medical transcriptionist employment is projected to grow -4.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do medical transcriptionists earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in North Carolina is $39,300, which is $1,750 above the national median of $37,550 according to BLS data 1.

In North Carolina

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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


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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)