The most recent occupational employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows more than 187,000 medical records specialists working in the United States as of May 2022. With just over 27,000 medical records specialists employed, the four-state Southwestern U.S. accounted for about 14.5% 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 an annual mean wages level for the profession that was below the national average of $51,090. Moreover, Arizona and Texas, which accounted for 87% of the medical records specialists jobs in the region, recorded annual mean wage levels for the profession that put both states among the ten worst states in the nation for that pay metric.  From May 2022 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	4,040	$45,610	43rd
NM	1,340	$46,670	37th
OK	2,100	$46,350	39th
TX	19,750	$44,680	46th
U.S.	187,720	$51,090	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data accessed on January 20, 2024