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Clinical Terminologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Clinical Terminologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clinical Terminologist in the United States is $49,975 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, a Clinical Terminologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,926
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,566 to $55,184
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,552
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Clinical Terminologist Salaries

A Clinical Terminologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Clinical Terminologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Clinical Terminologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,240
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,704
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,169
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $54,677
  • Expert (over 8 years): $54,930
Levels Salary
Entry Level Clinical Terminologist$49,240
Intermediate Level Clinical Terminologist$50,704
Senior Level Clinical Terminologist$54,169
Specialist Level Clinical Terminologist$54,677
Expert Level Clinical Terminologist$54,930
View as Graph

How Do Clinical Terminologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Clinical Terminologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $55,332.
  • California: $55,123.
  • Massachusetts: $54,388.

Top Paying Cities for Clinical Terminologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $63,034
  • San Francisco: $62,343
  • Oakland: $61,030

What Skills Can Increase a Clinical Terminologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Confidentiality (Mentioned in 6.72% Job Postings): The process of and obligation to apply and enforce rules and practices that ensure that specific types of information are accessible only to those authorized to use it.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 5.12% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
Skills Demand Percentage
Confidentiality 6.72%
Patient Care 5.12%
Data Entry 2.31%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Clinical Terminologist's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $66,967
34%
Alignment $66,467
33%
Problem Solving $63,468
27%
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Clinical Terminologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Clinical Terminologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Clinical Terminologist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Clinical Terminologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Clinical Terminologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$74,963$36.050%
Business Services$59,970$29.020%

How Education impacts a Clinical Terminologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Clinical Terminologists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Clinical Terminologist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $50,307 and $53,524).

Clinical Terminologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Clinical Terminologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 59.2%
Associates 25.8%
Bachelors 12.4%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 0.4%
View as Graph

Clinical Terminologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Clinical Terminologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$45,566
Average $49,975/year
$55,184
$3,797
Average $4,165/month
$4,599
$876
Average $961/week
$1,061
$22
Average $24/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $55,184 $4,599 $1,061 $27
Average $49,975 $4,165 $961 $24
25th Percentile $45,566 $3,797 $876 $22

Most common benefits for Clinical Terminologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Clinical Terminologist

Here are companies hiring for Clinical Terminologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Clinical Terminologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Clinical Terminologist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Clinical Terminologist roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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