How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Tennessee (2026)

Q: How much do medical transcriptionists earn in Tennessee?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical transcriptionists in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $44,720. Employment concentration in Tennessee is about 1.65 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Tennessee currently employs approximately 1,450 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

Tennessee medical transcriptionists earn a median annual wage of $44,720 ($21.50/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,450 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 10.7% above the national median of $40,410 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $44,720 ($21.50/hr)
25th percentile: $36,410 per year
75th percentile: $50,790 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $60,250 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $26,420 per year
Workers employed in Tennessee: 1,450
Versus national median: 10.7% above the U.S. median of $40,410
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.65 - this occupation is more concentrated in Tennessee than the national average

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

Tennessee employs about 1,450 medical transcriptionists earning a median $44,720 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most medical transcriptionists train through an approved program before entering the field in Tennessee.

Compare Medical Transcriptionist Schools in Tennessee

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Illinois Eastern Community Colleges	57.4	$5,260 in-state / $12,460 out-of-state	Not reported	63%	Yes*	211 mi
2	Black River Technical College	55.3	$4,776 in-state / $7,488 out-of-state	$48,715	55%	Yes*	208 mi
3	Kaskaskia College	54.8	$4,800 in-state / $12,570 out-of-state	$48,104	49%	Yes*	221 mi
4	Georgia Northwestern Technical College	53.6	$3,300 in-state / $5,868 out-of-state	$44,490	43%	Yes*	160 mi
5	Richland Community College	53.4	$4,680 in-state / $17,070 out-of-state	$51,785	60%	Yes*	299 mi
6	Lake Land College	53.4	$4,415 in-state / $14,301 out-of-state	$48,594	58%	—	260 mi
7	Snead State Community College	53.0	$5,278 in-state / $9,664 out-of-state	$43,544	49%	Yes*	124 mi
8	Southern Union State Community College	51.3	$5,040 in-state / $8,910 out-of-state	$50,973	36%	Yes*	206 mi
9	West Georgia Technical College	51.0	$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state	$43,835	35%	Yes*	186 mi
10	Central Georgia Technical College	46.5	$3,448 in-state / $6,016 out-of-state	$42,979	47%	Yes*	303 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.

Tennessee employs approximately 1,450 medical transcriptionists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $44,720 ¹. The state’s concentration of medical transcriptionist jobs is 1.65x 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 Tennessee, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Tennessee): $44,720 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Tennessee

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

How long does it take? medical transcriptionist training length in Tennessee varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do medical transcriptionists earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in Tennessee is $44,720 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,420 and experienced professionals can earn $60,250 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist in Tennessee

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Tennessee training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved medical transcriptionist program in Tennessee that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
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 Tennessee before you start working.

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

Medical Transcriptionist Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Medical Transcriptionists Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Knoxville	340	$37,860	$37,570	$22,470	$50,740
Memphis	330	$47,470	$43,860	$23,130	$62,420
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	310	$50,400	$49,120	$34,220	$60,250
Chattanooga	120	$47,680	$47,260	$35,620	$60,710
Johnson City	100	$39,430	$42,840	$37,280	$50,200
Jackson	60	$46,680	$44,970	$27,300	$56,770
Kingsport-Bristol	50	$44,790	$42,810	$36,580	$48,140
Clarksville	40	$30,930	$34,100	$27,940	$45,160

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical transcriptionists in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 1,450 medical transcriptionists ¹. Nationally, medical transcriptionist employment is projected to grow -4.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Tennessee? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Tennessee.

How much do medical transcriptionists earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical transcriptionists in Tennessee is $44,720, which is $7,170 above the national median of $37,550 according to BLS data ¹.

In Tennessee

Best Trade Schools in Tennessee (2026)

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

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)