Salaries › Medical Records Specialist › California
Medical Records Specialist Salary in California (2026)
$29.71 per hour · take-home ≈ $49,933/year ($4,161/month) for a single filer
California is among the top 5 highest-paying states for Medical Records Specialists (5th of 51), with a median about 18% above the national average. Of the 18,700 Medical Records Specialist jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $61,810 a year — though pay ranges from $43,800 for newcomers to $102,470 at the top.
Medical Records Specialist pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $43,800 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $49,000 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $61,810 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $80,630 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $102,470 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 18,700 Medical Records Specialist jobs in California (occupation code 29-2072, “Medical Records Specialists”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Medical Records Specialist salary of $61,810 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $49,933 — an effective tax rate of 19.2%.
| Gross (median) | $61,810 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,237 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,728 |
| California state income tax | −$1,911 |
| Take-home (annual) | $49,933 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,161 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Records Specialist make in California?
- The median Medical Records Specialist salary in California is $61,810 per year ($29.71 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $49,000 and $80,630.
- What is the take-home pay for a Medical Records Specialist in California?
- On the median salary of $61,810, a single filer in California takes home about $49,933 per year ($4,161 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.2%.
- How many Medical Records Specialist jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 18,700 Medical Records Specialist jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Medical Records Specialists
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.