Medical Records Specialists
Machines can already do 62% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 75%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Medical Records Specialists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 62% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 67% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 75% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 194,720 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $51,140 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 71% for contact with people.
- Also called: Coder, Health Information Clerk, Health Information Specialist, Health Information Technician (Health Information Tech).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems | 21% | 75% to 82% | |
| Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations | 10% | 75% to 82% | |
| Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into computer | 10% | 76% to 82% | |
| Compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts | 9% | 73% to 82% | |
| Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations | 7% | 58% to 78% | |
| Resolve or clarify codes or diagnoses with conflicting, missing, or unclear information by consulting with doctors or others or by participating in the coding team's regular meetings | 7% | 22% to 42% | |
| Process patient admission or discharge documents | 6% | 58% to 78% | |
| Scan patients' health records into electronic formats | 4% | 18% to 51% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills medical records specialists use most, most used first.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Medical Records Specialists?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of medical records specialists?
Machines can do 62% of the tasks of medical records specialists today and 75% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-2072.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Medical Records Specialists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/medical-records-specialists/