Job opportunities for professionals in the healthcare industry are on the rise across the United States, with medical billing and medical transcriptionists in high demand. This increase correlates directly to the 60 million plus baby boomers and more than 1,500 healthcare plans now available to cover the aging U.S. population.

When researching careers in medical billing or medical transcription, you'll likely find certain similarities—both of these jobs usually require staff to work in a doctor's office, hospital, medical center or dentist's office, and both of these professions require knowledge of medical terms. That, however, is usually where the similarities end. The two professions have distinct roles that are often confused. The following is a quick reference guide outlining the differences between medical billers and medical transcriptionists.

Medical Billers

A medical biller manages the processing of medical bills in doctor's offices, medical centers, hospitals, etc. It is the duty of a medical biller to transmit the claim (medical procedure and diagnosis codes) to the payer (insurance). Typically, this information is transmitted electronically.

Job Skills

Successful medical billers must understand medical terminology (including jargon and abbreviations), be proficient with computers and understand the latest industry and legal standards. A thorough comprehension of different insurance plans and accompanying governing laws/regulations is also necessary to any adept medical biller. Typically, post-secondary education is required for medical billing, and degrees are often offered through vocational schools, community colleges, or online training programs offered by online colleges and universities.

PayScale.com reports medical billers with one to four years of experience earn an average salary of around $30,000. If they have five to nine years of experience, the average salary is more than $32,000.

Future Growth Opportunities

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the job outlook for the medical billing industry is expected to increase at a rate of four percent.

Medical Transcriptionist

An employee working in the medical transcription field is generally referred to as a medical transcriptionist or medical transcriber. The main role of a medical transcriptionist is to listen to dictated recordings made by healthcare professionals and subsequently transcribe that information into typewritten formats such as: medical history/physical examination reports, discharge summaries, consultation reports, referral letters, progress notes, operative reports, autopsy reports, and diagnostic imaging studies. These documents are then sent to the healthcare professional for review/signature or correction, after which they become a part of the patient's permanent medical history.

Job Skills

To become a successful medical transcriptionist, a working knowledge of medical terminology (including jargon and abbreviations), computer proficiency, and comprehension of current industry and legal standards is required. Post-secondary education is generally required to obtain a medical transcriptionist position, and can be obtained through a career college, community college, or an online course offering.

Some additional skills important for medical transcriptionists include:

- Above average verbal communication, typing and memory skills

- Knowledge of math

- Detail-oriented

- Ability to follow verbal/written instructions

PayScale.com reports the average salary for a medical transcriptionist with one to four years of experience is more than $28,000. Medical transcriptionists with five to nine years of experience make on average close to $30,000.

Job Future

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the job outlook for medical transcriptionists looks optimistic. Medical transcription jobs are expected to increase by 14 percent between 2006 and 2016.