Updated for 2026

Health Information Technologist Salary in 2026

This Health Information Technologist salary guide for 2026 centers on Careerclev's modeled national salary benchmark, built from the latest official BLS wage baseline and extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. It covers average salary, hourly pay, experience bands, salary by city, salary by state, industry premiums, in-demand skills, and long-term job outlook so readers can compare what drives higher compensation. Official BLS and O*NET title: "Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars".

Last updated: 202637,620 employment estimateFull salary breakdown12 min read
Average Salary
$83.5K
per year (USA)
Entry Level
$48.5K
starting range
Senior Level
$115K
upper percentile
Top Earners
$156K+
lead / principal
Hourly Rate
$40
avg. equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
Advertisement
Advertisement

What Does a Health Information Technologist Earn?

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Health Information Technologist pay at $83,528.0 per year in the United States. On the latest official 2024 BLS wage baseline, the lower end of the Health Information Technologist salary range starts around $39,120.0, while experienced professionals and top earners can reach $112,130 or more.

That national figure is only the starting point. In practice, pay for this role changes quickly once location, industry, experience level, and specialization enter the picture. A Health Information Technologist working in San Jose, CA or a stronger salary industry like Manufacturing may see a very different salary path than someone in a lower-cost market, especially when skills like role-specific skills and advanced tools define the role.

Key 2026 BenchmarkThe national median Health Information Technologist salary is $83,528.0, with an estimated hourly equivalent of $40.

What Health Information Technologist Professionals Do

Apply knowledge of healthcare and information systems to assist in the design, development, and continued modification and analysis of computerized healthcare systems. Abstract, collect, and analyze treatment and followup information of patients. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the healthcare information system. May design, develop, test, and implement databases with complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status to help monitor diseases.

Typical Responsibilities

Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
New
Compile medical care and census data for statistical reports on diseases treated, surgery performed, or use of hospital beds.
New
Design databases to support healthcare applications, ensuring security, performance and reliability.
New
Develop in-service educational materials.
New
Evaluate and recommend upgrades or improvements to existing computerized healthcare systems.
New
Facilitate and promote activities, such as lunches, seminars, or tours, to foster healthcare information privacy or security awareness within the organization.
New
Related job titlesMedical Records Analyst, Medical Records Director

Health Information Technologist Salary by Experience Level

Experience is one of the strongest salary drivers for Health Information Technologist roles. Entry-level workers usually sit closer to the lower salary band while senior, lead, and principal-level professionals move into higher ranges as they take on ownership, decision-making, mentoring, and more specialized work.

That progression matters because the headline median can hide how wide the real pay ladder is. For some roles, early-career pay stays close to the middle; for others, the gap between first-job pay and senior pay is large enough to change how attractive the path looks over time.

LevelExperienceAvg. Base SalaryEstimated Total PayGrowth vs Previous
Entry Level Health Information Technologist0-2 years$48,521.0$50.9K - $63.1KN/A
Mid Level Health Information Technologist3-5 years$83,516.0$65.5K - $125K+72.1%
Senior Level Health Information Technologist6-10 years$114,663$94.4K - $157K+37.3%
Lead / Principal Health Information Technologist10+ years$139,110$134K - $182K+21.3%
How to read the experience tableThe cards show the quick salary story, while the table gives a more detailed view of how Health Information Technologistpay can move from entry-level work into senior and lead responsibility.

Health Information Technologist Salary by City

City salary differences matter because Health Information Technologist jobs are tied to local employer demand, cost of living, and industry concentration. Markets like San Jose, CA and St. Cloud, MN can pay very differently even when the job title looks the same on paper.

That is why city pages are often more useful than national averages once you are actively job searching. They show whether a stronger nominal salary comes from a genuinely better market, a more specialized employer mix, or simply a more expensive metro.

United States — City Comparison

CityProjected SalaryVs. National BenchmarkCost of Living Signal
San Jose, CA$124,110+49%High salary market
St. Cloud, MN$113,090+35%High salary market
Waterbury, CT$105,900+27%High salary market
Oxnard, CA$97,180.0+16%Competitive
San Francisco, CA$96,610.0+16%Competitive
California$95,340.0+14%Competitive
Los Angeles, CA$95,000.0+14%Competitive
Worcester, MA$94,360.0+13%Competitive
Buffalo, NY$92,110.0+10%Competitive
Lakeland, FL$90,160.0+8%Competitive
City salary pictureA higher Health Information Technologist salary in a major metro does not always mean higher take-home value. Housing, taxes, commuting, and remote-work flexibility can change the real outcome.
Advertisement

Health Information Technologist Salary by Industry

Industry can change a Health Information Technologist salary as much as geography. Employers in Manufacturing may pay more when the role sits close to revenue, regulated operations, complex infrastructure, or scarce technical expertise.

IndustryProjected SalaryBonus PotentialJob SecurityGrowth Pace
Manufacturing$105,210HighStrongFast
Other Services Except Public Administration$94,270.0HighStrongFast
Finance and Insurance$91,490.0HighStrongFast
Management of Companies and Enterprises$80,990.0ModerateStrongFast
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$74,920.0ModerateStrongModerate
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$72,610.0ModerateModerateModerate
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$71,780.0ModerateModerateModerate
Information$70,610.0LowerModerateModerate
Educational Services$66,550.0LowerVariableSlow
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation$65,880.0LowerVariableSlow

The strongest-paying industries for Health Information Technologist roles usually combine higher budgets with urgent business needs. Use this table to compare not only salary, but also the tradeoff between upside, stability, and long-term growth.

Health Information Technologist Salary by Skill Specialization

Skills shape salary because they tell employers what kind of problems a Health Information Technologist can solve. Strong signals around role-specific skills, advanced tools, tools, platforms, analysis, communication, and domain knowledge can help candidates move from average pay into stronger compensation bands.

Common tool stackO*NET maps Health Information Technologist work to tools such as eClinicalWorks EHR software, Eko, Encoded archival system EAD, and Hyland Software OnBase.
role-specific skills can raise the ceilingThe most valuable Health Information Technologist skills are the ones connected to business-critical work, scarce tools, and hard-to-fill responsibilities. Pairing role-specific skills with advanced tools can make a candidate easier to price at the top of the salary range.

Remote vs Onsite vs Hybrid — Salary Comparison

Remote, onsite, and hybrid pay can shift the salary story for Health Information Technologist jobs. Remote roles often widen the hiring market, while onsite roles may pay more in expensive metros when employers need local availability, team coverage, or specialized workplace access.

Work TypeAvg. BaseExperienceBenefitsFlexibility
Remote Health Information Technologist$83,528.0Market dependentVariableHigh
Hybrid Health Information Technologist$86,033.8Metro dependentStrongMedium
Onsite Health Information Technologist$84,363.3Location dependentStrongLower

Hybrid roles can carry a small premium in high-cost cities, while fully remote roles can be especially powerful for workers outside the most expensive labor markets. The best comparison is total pay after location, taxes, commuting, and lifestyle costs.

Advertisement

How to Become a Health Information Technologist

The most common path into Health Information Technologist work is to pair the expected baseline education with early hands-on practice and proof that you can handle the core responsibilities of the role. Candidates move faster when they can connect training, projects, internships, or prior adjacent work to the exact kinds of tasks employers hire health information technologist professionals to do.

If you want the fuller step-by-step version, open the full How to Become a Health Information Technologist guide.

Practical shortcutThe strongest early candidates for Health Information Technologist jobs usually show job-relevant work samples, clear fundamentals, and evidence that they can contribute with limited supervision.

Health Information Technologist Work Environment

Work environment can shape job fit just as much as salary. For Health Information Technologist, the day-to-day experience may vary based on employer type, digital vs on-site workflows, collaboration intensity, schedule predictability, and how much independent judgment the role requires.

Common work-style signalsO*NET highlights Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, and Cautiousness for Health Information Technologist work.
Work settingMany Health Information Technologist roles blend independent execution with regular collaboration, planning, and communication across teams.
FlexibilityWorkplace flexibility depends heavily on employer type, local market, and whether the job can be performed digitally.

Entry-Level Health Information Technologist Salary Expectations

Entry-level Health Information Technologist salary expectations should be viewed as a starting range, not a ceiling. New workers in this role often earn around $48,521.0, with pay rising as they build practical experience, stronger judgment, better tools, and a clearer track record of delivering work without close supervision.

Internship / Trainee
$23/hr
$36.4K - $55.8K annualized
Early practical exposure, supervised assignments, portfolio building, and conversion into a first full-time role.
New Grad / Junior
$48.5K
$48.5K - $60.1K base
First full-time Health Information Technologist roles reward candidates who can show useful work, reliable fundamentals, and coachability.

Typical Promotion Timeline

Promotions usually follow the move from supervised work to independent delivery, then to broader ownership. Switching employers can sometimes accelerate salary growth when the current role has a narrow pay band.

StageTypical TimelineSalary JumpKey Milestone
Intern → JuniorInternship → first role$8.7K - $15.5KFirst full-time offer
Junior → Mid18-30 months$10.0K - $18.4KDeliver work independently
Mid → Senior2-4 years$13.8K - $25.2KOwn larger outcomes
Senior → Lead3-6 years$16.7K - $34.8KInfluence teams or strategy

Health Information Technologist Career Progression & Salary Path

This step is useful because experience level and career progression are related, but not identical. The pay path below shows how compensation tends to widen as the work moves from narrower execution into broader ownership and leadership scope.

1
Intern / Trainee
$39.0K$52.5K
Health Information Technologist compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
2
Junior
$48.5K$63.9K
Health Information Technologist compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$60.6K$75.4K
Health Information Technologist compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
4
Senior
$72.7K$94.2K
Health Information Technologist compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
5
Lead
$86.2K$109K
Health Information Technologist compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$101K$138K
Health Information Technologist compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.

Factors That Affect a Health Information Technologist's Salary

A Health Information Technologist salary is rarely determined by job title alone. Employers also price the role based on education, certifications, tools used, industry setting, workplace responsibility, and how difficult it is to find qualified candidates with the same mix of skills.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

Health Information Technologist Job Demand & Market Outlook

The Health Information Technologist job outlook matters because demand affects hiring, salary growth, and how much leverage qualified workers have. The current projection points to 14.7% employment change from 2024 to 2034, which helps explain whether employers are likely to keep competing for qualified talent.

Salary is easier to interpret when it sits next to a demand signal. Strong wages in a shrinking field can tell a very different story from strong wages in a role where openings, replacement demand, and market expansion are all still active.

BLS Employment ProjectionEmployment is projected to change by 14.7% from 2024 to 2034.
Much faster than averageAnnual openings: 3.2 thousand.
Metric2026 Status
Projected employment41.9k → 48.1k
Typical educationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related experiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Remote job availabilityMeaningful for roles with portable work and digital workflows
Salary market signalMedian pay of $83,528.0 suggests a solid compensation track.

How to Increase Your Health Information Technologist Salary

The most reliable way to increase a Health Information Technologist salary is to make your value easier for employers to measure. That usually means building stronger evidence around outcomes, expanding into higher-value skills, moving toward better-paying industries, and negotiating with current market salary data in hand.

StrategyAvg. Salary ImpactTimelineEffort Level
Benchmark against stronger markets+15-30%1-3 monthsHigh ROI
Build a visible specialization$10.0K - $23.4K3-9 monthsMedium
Target higher-paying industries$6.7K - $15.0K2-6 monthsMedium
The fastest salary liftFor many Health Information Technologist professionals, the fastest path is a focused mix of stronger proof, higher-value skills, and better market selection. Salary gains usually come faster when candidates combine a clear portfolio with targeted applications and negotiation.

Health Information Technologist vs Similar Career Salaries

Comparing Health Information Technologist salary with Family Medicine Physician and other nearby careers helps show whether this job title is underpaid, fairly priced, or part of a stronger salary path. These comparisons are useful when choosing between roles, planning a career move, or deciding which skills to build next.

Family Medicine Physician
$238K
Related role
Above baseline
General Internal Medicine Physician
$236K
Related role
Above baseline
Urologist
$236K
Related role
Above baseline
Prosthodontist
$234K
Related role
Above baseline
Psychiatrist
$227K
Related role
Above baseline
Neurologist
$224K
Related role
Above baseline
Nurse Anesthetist
$223K
Related role
Above baseline
Advertisement

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions usually come up after readers compare the national salary, experience bands, and city differences. Together they clarify how to read the salary data and what to pay attention to when you compare this role with nearby careers.

What is the average Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars salary?
The latest national baseline for Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars is about $67,300 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars salary?
Entry-level estimates for Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $39,100 per year nationally.
How much can senior Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars professionals earn?
Senior Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $92,400 per year nationally.
Does location affect Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Health Information Technologists & Medical Registrars salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
🔬
Data Sources & Methodology
Updated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary Anchor Ad
Salary Anchor Ad