A Comprehensive Overview of Medical Billing and Coding Salaries

Average salaries for common billing and coding roles:

• Medical Biller: $36,000 per year
• Medical Coder: $45,000 per year
• Certified Professional Coder (CPC): $55,000 per year
• Remote Medical Coder: $49,000 per year
  

Several variables impact expected compensation:

1. Location: Where you work significantly sways earnings potential. Major metropolitan hubs tend to pay more than rural regions.
2. Experience Level: Codery and billers early in their careers generally start below average ranges. With time, salaries increase.
3. Education and Certifications: Coders with credentials like CPC, CPB, and CCS earn higher salaries on average than non-certified peers. Some roles mandate certification.
4. Clinical Specialty: Coders specialized in complex fields like oncology, neurology and cardiology can earn more owing to higher skill demanded.
5. Type of Organization: Large hospitals and health systems tend to offer better compensation than smaller clinics and practices.
6. Management Roles: Taking on leadership roles like coding director, auditor, or revenue cycle manager provides salary upside.
7. Industry: Coders working for payers, consultants, or technology vendors may earn more than provider organization staff.
   

The highest medical billing and coding wages are found within these industries according to BLS:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $50,460 average salary
• Management of Companies and Enterprises: $48,840
• Insurance Carriers: $47,640
• Employment Services: $44,150
• Continuing Care Retirement Facilities: $42,040
  

Regions with the highest average salaries include:

States:

• California – $56,450
• Alaska – $51,900
• Minnesota – $51,330
• Washington – $51,310
• Connecticut – $50,520

Metro Areas:

• San Jose, CA – $71,000
• San Francisco, CA – $68,740
• Madison, WI – $59,120
• Minneapolis, MN – $58,640
• Boston, MA – $58,330
  

In the first year, medical billers and entry level coders can expect to earn:

• Medical Biller – $28,000 to $38,000
• Medical Coder – $35,000 to $45,000

With experience, continuous learning, specialization and willingness to take on leadership duties, salaries can rise significantly over a career:

• Senior Medical Coder – $50,000 to $65,000
• Certified Professional Coder – $55,000 to $75,000
• Consultant or Auditor – $70,000 to $85,000
• Coding or Revenue Cycle Director – $85,000 to $110,000
  

The BLS projects employment for medical records and health information technicians will grow by 8% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average across all occupations. Several factors contribute to optimistic outlook:

• Ongoing healthcare complexity results in continuous need for trained coding and billing staff.
• Population growth and aging demographics boosts healthcare utilization and claim volumes.
• Advances in digital health records increase jobs for those with technical billing expertise.
• More preventative care utilization expands coding and claim opportunity.
  

Typical requirements to break into medical billing and coding:

• High school diploma or equivalent is generally needed to start. Associate or bachelor degree preferred.
• Coursework or vocational certificates focused on medical terminology, anatomy, disease processes, and reimbursement workflows.
• Proficiency with medical billing tools and systems like practice management software and classification codes.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, analytical ability, and communication skills.
• Professional certifications like CPC, CPB, and CCS demonstrate competency.
  

Some ways to grow income over your career as a biller or coder:

• Obtain specialty coding certifications (CIC, CDEO, CEMC, etc) to demonstrate specialized expertise in higher pay disciplines.
• Pursue management roles like coding director that oversee teams, compliance, auditing, and quality assurance.
• Join professional associations like AAPC and AHIMA to access training, networking, and skill-building opportunities.
• Consider consulting or contract-based remote work that offers earnings upside.
• Relocate to metro regions with higher compensation scales.
• Transition into corporate roles with payers, health IT vendors, or consultants.
• Leverage experience to teach or develop curriculum for new billing and coding professionals.
  

• Medical billers and coders earn an average salary of $46,590 per year according to 2020 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Salaries vary based on location, experience, certifications, specialty, facility type, and specific role like auditor or manager.
• The highest paid industries are hospitals, insurance carriers, and management firms. Metropolitan regions also pay more than rural areas typically.
• With experience, seasoned coders and those in leadership roles can earn $80,000 to $100,000 annually. But new billers and coders start around $35,000 to $45,000 when first entering the field.
• Demand and career outlook remains strong for medical billers and coders given healthcare complexity, aging population, and technology advances requiring their skills.
• Getting started requires some post-secondary training in medical administration, billing practices, and anatomy. Professional coding certifications greatly boost prospects.
• Salary potential grows over time through obtaining specialty credentials, pursuing management roles, relocating, and transitioning into corporate or consulting roles.