Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs) provide the following services: they create computer documents to improve patient care, evaluate the effectiveness of electronic medical records systems and medical procedures, plan, install and maintain information systems.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), the median salary for a Health Information Technician in the United States, as of May 2015, was $37,610 for registered and licensed staff. That comes out to an hourly wage of about $18 per hour.
Registered Health Information Technician is an entry-level position that involves working in hospitals and other medical facilities. A minimum education requirement is associate degree. There are no licensure requirements to work as a health information technician.
Salary For Registered Health Information Technician Overview
Registered Health Information Technicians are in high demand, and the salary reflects that. According to Indeed, the median salary for a Registered Health Information Technician is $49,000 per year.
The best part about working as a Registered Health Information Technician? You’ll have plenty of opportunities to advance your career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that registered health information technicians will see a 19% growth rate through 2024, which is higher than average for all occupations.
In addition to being able to work with a wide variety of technologies and programs on a daily basis, you’ll also have access to continuing education opportunities through your employer or local community college. This will help you stay sharp and competitive in an ever-changing field!
Health Information Technician Salary
The median annual wage for health information technicians is $52,000, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Health Information Technician Salary: $52,000 |
Average salaries for health information technicians and related specialists:
- Medical Records Technician: $43,000
- Medical Records Field Technician: $44,000
- Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT): $50,000
- Cancer Registrar: $51,000
- Certified Coding Associate: $51,000
- Medical Records Coder: $52,000
- Clinical Outcomes Coordinator: $63,000
- Medical Coding Consultant: $65,000
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA): $70,000
- Health IT Instructor: $75,000
- Coding Auditor Supervisor: $77,000
- Supervisory Medical Records Administrator: $81,000
- Director of Health Information Management: $90,000
Top paying U.S. cities and metropolitan areas for health information technicians:
- Rochester, Minnesota: $94,000
- Washington DC Metro $93,000
- Chattanooga, Tennessee: $88,000
- Medford, Oregon: $88,000
- Bloomsburg / Berwick, PA: $85,000
The average hourly wage for health information technician positions ranges from $14 to $35 per hour.
What Is a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)?
Health information technicians are responsible for the management of patient medical records at healthcare facilities. They use specialized software to aggregate and organize information in databases and electronic health records. Although certification is not state-mandated, it is possible to earn the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) designation offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), which can boost job prospects.
Find out about the job duties and typical salary for RHITs in the following table.
Degree Required | Associate’s degree |
Education Field of Study | Health information technology |
Certification Required | Registered Health Information Technician certification from AHIMA |
Key Skills | Health informatics, data management, people skills |
Job Growth (2020-2030) | 9%* |
Average Salary (2020) | $48,270* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Is a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)?
Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) are employed to organize and analyze data in hospitals, including patient histories, diagnoses and treatments. As an RHIT, you work closely with physicians and other hospital staff in order to ensure the accuracy and completion of the data. Because medical records are increasingly electronic, you could spend much of your time working with computers to analyze certain data.
Health Information Technician Education Requirements
The most important thing to look for when evaluating Health Information Management and Health Informatics education programs is CAHIIM Accreditation; this is critical for 2 reasons:
- You must attend a CAHIIM accredited degree program in order to be eligible for the in-demand professional health information management certifications from AHIMA.
- CAHIIM accredited degrees are guaranteed by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) to deliver the knowledge, skills and job marketability you need to succeed in HIM.
For entry-level health information technician jobs, hiring managers typically require an Associate degree in health information management (HIM), healthcare IT, or health informatics. Some entry-level health IT positions require certification, typically the AHIMA Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certificate. Advanced HIM degrees, i.e., Bachelor’s and Master’s, typically prepare students for supervisory health information technician roles.
Online training programs are viable at all health information technician degree levels, as there is no direct hands-on patient care involved, and software & hardware training is easily simulated in an online learning platform. Some online degree programs for health information technicians offer unique advantages over physical classrooms, such as full-time access to virtual EHR labs so you can practice your EHR coding & billing skills 24/7.