Medical Records Specialist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Medical Records Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $57,970 a year ($27.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,470 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $51,140. Pay here is 3% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $56,440. There are 1.00 medical records specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $59,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for medical records specialists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,460 | $19.93 |
| 25th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Median | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| 75th percentile | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,470 | $37.72 |
| Average (mean) | $59,350 | $28.53 |
Half of medical records specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,830.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,415.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,229.62 |
| Weekly | $1,114.81 |
| Hourly | $27.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $57,970 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Medical Records Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $56,450 | 40 |
| Springfield, IL | $55,800 | 120 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $53,460 | 1,610 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $51,350 | 1,300 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $51,260 | 1,410 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $51,090 | 70 |
| Decatur, IL | $50,070 | 30 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $50,040 | 570 |
| Peoria, IL | $49,860 | 230 |
| Rockford, IL | $49,770 | 120 |
| Columbus, IN | $49,270 | 50 |
| Kokomo, IN | $49,160 | 50 |
| Evansville, IN | $49,070 | 420 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,430 | 1,650 |
| Bloomington, IN | $48,270 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IL | $47,710 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,610 | 330 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $46,620 | 60 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $45,960 | 70 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $45,930 | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $45,560 | 210 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $45,020 | 110 |
| Muncie, IN | $43,160 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for medical records specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $72,040 |
| Rhode Island | $63,960 |
| Hawaii | $63,180 |
| Washington | $62,270 |
| California | $61,810 |
| New York | $61,720 |
| Minnesota | $61,530 |
| Alaska | $61,090 |
| Connecticut | $60,940 |
| Massachusetts | $60,350 |
See Medical Records Specialist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $73,960 | $35.56 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $82,140 | $39.49 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,240 | $24.15 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Paramedic | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Surgical Technologist | $66,360 | $31.91 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $103,080 | $49.56 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $100,730 | $48.43 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2072. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical records specialist make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for medical records specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $57,970 a year, or $27.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid medical records specialists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of medical records specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $78,470 a year. The top 25% earn $65,490 or more.
What is the starting pay for medical records specialists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,460 a year, and a quarter of medical records specialists earn $47,750 or less.
How many medical records specialists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 4,510 medical records specialists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.