The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows in excess of 180,000 medical records specialists working in the United States as of May 2021. With just over 28,100 medical records specialists employed, the four-state Southwestern U.S. accounted for about 15.6% of medical records specialist employment in the United States.  The region was one of the weaker ones nationally for medical records specialist pay, as all four states in the region recorded annual mean wages levels for the profession that were below the national average. From May 2021 BLS data, here is a state level look at medical records specialist pay in the Southwestern U.S.:

Medical Records Specialist Pay in the Southwestern U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AZ	4,190	$44,120	36th
NM	1,330	$43,530	43rd
OK	2,050	$44,010	37th
TX	20,540	$44,470	34th
U.S.	180,570	$48,310	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on May 9, 2022