Clinical Terminologist Salary in the United States

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

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clinical Terminologist in the United States is $49,942 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): $59,879
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,530 to $55,143
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,514
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,530 10% $41,514 90% $59,879 75% $55,143 $49,942 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Clinical Terminologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $55,143 $4,595 $1,060 $27
Average $49,942 $4,162 $960 $24
25th Percentile $45,530 $3,794 $876 $22
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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): $49,207
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,671
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $54,131
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $54,637
  • Expert (over 8 years): $54,890
Levels Salary
Entry Level Clinical Terminologist$49,207
Intermediate Level Clinical Terminologist$50,671
Senior Level Clinical Terminologist$54,131
Specialist Level Clinical Terminologist$54,637
Expert Level Clinical Terminologist$54,890
$49,207 0 yr
$50,671 < 2 yrs
$54,131 2-4 yrs
$54,637 5-8 yrs
$54,890 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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: $55,296.
  • California: $55,086.
  • Massachusetts: $54,352.

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: $62,992
  • San Francisco: $62,303
  • Oakland: $60,990

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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Confidentiality 6.72%
Patient Care 5.12%
Data Entry 2.31%
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
$66,923
34%
Alignment
$66,423
33%
Problem Solving
$63,427
27%
Interviewing
$61,929
24%
Leadership
$60,430
21%
Innovation
$59,431
19%
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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%
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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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Clinical Terminologist

Salaries for a Clinical Terminologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $40,776 in 2023 to around $40,348 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Clinical Terminologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Clinical Terminologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$40,776
2024
$40,632
2025
$40,348
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $40,776
2024 $40,632
2025 $40,348
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Clinical Terminologist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Clinical Terminologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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