How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Georgia?

Medical billing and coding specialists in Georgia earn $39,780 median, with entry-level workers making around $39,770 and experienced specialists earning up to $78,291. This is 21% below the national median, but training costs are also lower in Georgia.

Do I need certification to work in medical billing and coding in Georgia?

No state certification is required in Georgia, but 85% of employers require AAPC or AHIMA certification. Hospital coding positions typically require CCS certification, while physician offices more commonly accept CPC credentials.

Which medical billing and coding schools are best in Georgia?

Atlanta Technical College offers the only CAHIIM-accredited program in Georgia, which is preferred for hospital positions. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and Gwinnett Technical College offer regional accreditation at lower costs.

How long does medical billing and coding training take in Georgia?

Medical billing and coding programs in Georgia range from 3 months to 12 months. Most technical college programs take 8-10 months and cost $2,300-$5,000, significantly less than the national average.

Are there medical billing and coding jobs in Atlanta?

Atlanta has the highest concentration of medical billing and coding jobs in Georgia, with major employers including Emory Healthcare, Piedmont Healthcare, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The metro area accounts for roughly 40% of the state's 5,280 coding positions.

Medical Biller & Coder in Georgia — Salary, Schools, Licensing

Georgia pays medical billing and coding specialists $39,780 median — 21% below the national figure of $50,000. The state employs 5,280 coders, but training costs just $2,300-$5,000 at technical colleges, making the break-even timeline manageable even with lower pay. Atlanta's major health systems drive most demand, while rural areas offer fewer opportunities but less competition.

Salary and employment data: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Georgia

Georgia · Training Path

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Georgia

Five technical colleges across Georgia offer medical billing and coding programs, from Atlanta Technical College's CAHIIM-accredited program to shorter certificates in smaller markets.

1
Associate Degree in Health Information Technology or Medical Coding
education
2 years · $18,000-$32,000
Complete an associate degree covering medical terminology, ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS, reimbursement systems, compliance, and electronic health record workflows. Certificate programs exist, but the associate path remains common and is preferred by many employers.
2
Coding Practicum or Externship
training licensing
4 months · $0-$1,000
Complete supervised coding or revenue-cycle practicum hours in a hospital, physician office, or billing environment to translate classroom knowledge into real-world workflows.
3
CPC or CBCS Certification
training licensing
2 months · $299-$399
Pass a widely recognized entry-level coding exam such as the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or NHA Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).
4
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
career
Ongoing ·
Begin entry-level coding and billing work in hospitals, physician offices, insurers, or vendor partners assigning codes, processing claims, and supporting revenue-cycle operations.

Accredited Programs · Georgia

Accredited Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Programs in Georgia

Accreditation matters because Georgia's licensing board typically only recognizes graduates from programs vetted by a national body. The programs below hold active accreditation and are in good standing as of the last verification date.

5 of ~undefined accredited programs in Georgia

Institution	Credential	Length	Estimated Cost	Accreditation
Atlanta Technical College Atlanta	Certificate	10 mo	$4,700–$5,000	CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management program. SACSCOC regional accreditation. One of few Georgia technical colleges with CAHIIM recognition.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta	Certificate	1 yr	$2,400–$3,000	Regional accreditation only (SACSCOC via Technical College System of Georgia). No individual CAHIIM programmatic accreditation.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston	Certificate	8 mo	$2,300–$2,800	Regional accreditation only (SACSCOC via Technical College System of Georgia). No CAHIIM or AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) programmatic accreditation.
Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville	Certificate	8 mo	$2,300–$2,800	Regional accreditation only (SACSCOC via Technical College System of Georgia). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation.
Georgia Highlands College Rome	Certificate	3 mo	$1,599	Regional accreditation only (SACSCOC). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this CE program.

Loading programs...

Last verified 2026-04-05. Program details — including tuition, duration, and accreditation — verified against each institution's official website.

Georgia · Licensing Authority

Licensing and Certification in Georgia

Georgia regulates this career through the credentials below. The “issuing body” is the organization that awards and renews the credential — some are national associations, others are Georgia's own licensing authority.

Credential	Issuing Body	Type	Requirement
CPC (Certified Professional Coder) (AAPC)	American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)	certification	voluntary
CCS (AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association))	American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)	certification	alternative
CBCS (NHA (National Healthcareer Association))	National Healthcareer Association (NHA)	certification	alternative

Georgia · BLS OEWS 2024

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Georgia

With programs costing $2,300-$5,000 and 8-12 months of training, here's what Georgia employers actually pay.

$39,780-21% vs. national($50,250)

10th

$39,770

25th

$48,984

Median

$39,780

75th

$62,754

90th

$78,291

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 5,280 employed in Georgia

HealthJob Analysis · Georgia

Is It Worth It? ROI in Georgia

Year 4

Break-even

$828k

20-year net

$26k

Education cost

20-year net earnings = cumulative income minus education cost and the years you weren't earning.

Assumes Georgia median salary of $39,780, 2% annual wage growth, no loan interest. Does not account for cost of living.

HealthJob Analysis · Georgia

AI & Automation for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Georgia

High AI ImpactSee full AI impact data →

In Georgia, Emory Healthcare and Piedmont Healthcare have deployed AI coding assistance tools, while smaller systems like Phoebe Putney Health System are evaluating automated coding for routine encounters.

Tasks that are changing

AI handles major parts
AI augments
AI assists
Human-only

Retrieve patient medical records for staff
EHR search and access fundamentally changes retrieval from manual filing to digital querying, altering workflow.
Compile and maintain patient medical records
Enter patient data into computer
EHR systems like Epic streamline data entry with forms and autocomplete, making workers faster but not replacing the entry process.
Code patient data using classification systems
Maintain health record indexes and retrieval systems
EHR platforms like Epic handle indexing, storage, and retrieval automatically, assisting specialists in management.
Process patient admission or discharge documents
EHR systems automate much of admission/discharge paperwork generation and processing.
Scan health records into electronic formats
OCR and scanning software handle major digitization, with humans handling exceptions; widespread in transition to EHR.
Assign patient to DRGs using software

AI products in use today

Electronic Health Record (EHR) — Varioussource
Epic Systems — Epicsource
3M Encoder — 3Msource

Georgia · Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Georgia?: Medical billing and coding specialists in Georgia earn $39,780 median, with entry-level workers making around $39,770 and experienced specialists earning up to $78,291. This is 21% below the national median, but training costs are also lower in Georgia.
Do I need certification to work in medical billing and coding in Georgia?: No state certification is required in Georgia, but 85% of employers require AAPC or AHIMA certification. Hospital coding positions typically require CCS certification, while physician offices more commonly accept CPC credentials.
Which medical billing and coding schools are best in Georgia?: Atlanta Technical College offers the only CAHIIM-accredited program in Georgia, which is preferred for hospital positions. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and Gwinnett Technical College offer regional accreditation at lower costs.
How long does medical billing and coding training take in Georgia?: Medical billing and coding programs in Georgia range from 3 months to 12 months. Most technical college programs take 8-10 months and cost $2,300-$5,000, significantly less than the national average.
Are there medical billing and coding jobs in Atlanta?: Atlanta has the highest concentration of medical billing and coding jobs in Georgia, with major employers including Emory Healthcare, Piedmont Healthcare, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The metro area accounts for roughly 40% of the state's 5,280 coding positions.

Sources & Data

These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.

Data last refreshed: April 2026