How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in New York?

Medical billing and coding specialists in New York earn $47,220 median salary, ranging from $47,216 at the 10th percentile to $98,904 at the 90th percentile. The state pays 6% below national average despite higher living costs.

What certification do I need for medical billing and coding in New York?

New York requires no state license for medical billing and coding specialists. However, most employers require AAPC CPC certification ($300 exam) or AHIMA CCS certification ($399 exam), with hospital systems typically preferring the CCS credential.

Which New York colleges offer medical coding programs?

Five New York community colleges offer medical coding certificates, ranging from $3,000-$5,500 tuition. Only Lehman College (CUNY) provides AAPC-approved curriculum that employers specifically recognize, while other programs offer regional accreditation only.

How long does medical coding training take in New York?

Medical coding certificate programs in New York range from 3 months (SUNY Rockland) to 18 months (Lehman College). Most programs run 12 months and cost $4,000-$6,000 at SUNY and CUNY schools.

Is medical coding in demand in New York?

New York employs 8,510 medical billing and coding specialists with 7.8% projected growth through 2032. Major health systems like Mount Sinai and NYU Langone continue hiring despite AI automation because complex cases still require human expertise.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in New York (2026) — Salary, Programs & Requirements

New York employs 8,510 medical billing and coding specialists at $47,220 median — 6% below the national average in a state where living costs run 15% above national. Five SUNY and CUNY programs offer certificates starting at $3,000, but only Lehman College provides AAPC-approved curriculum that employers recognize.

Salary and employment data: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS New York

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in New York

New York's community college system offers multiple entry points, though program quality varies significantly across SUNY and CUNY campuses.

Accredited Programs in New York

5 programs · Verified against CAHIIM directory and institutional websites. Accrediting body noted per program. · Last verified 2026-04-05

Institution	Credential	Length	Estimated Cost	Accreditation
SUNY Schenectady County Community College Schenectady	Certificate	1 yr	$4,400–$5,500	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this certificate.
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) New York	Certificate	4 mo	$3,000–$3,500	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this CE program.
SUNY Rockland Community College Suffern	Certificate	3 mo	$2,997	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this workforce program.
Lehman College (CUNY) Bronx	Certificate	1y 6mo	$5,400–$5,500	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). AAPC-approved curriculum. No CAHIIM programmatic accreditation.
Suffolk County Community College Selden	Certificate	1 yr	$5,000–$6,000	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation.

Licensing and Certification in New York

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

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in New York

AAPC certification costs $300 but employers in New York's competitive health care market treat it as essential rather than optional.

$47k/yr

-6% vs. national ($50k/yr)

10th

$47k

25th

$60k

Median

$47k

75th

$74k

90th

$99k

8,510 employed in New York

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

HealthJob Analysis

Is It Worth It? ROI in New York

At $47k median salary against program costs averaging $4,400, the payback period stretches longer than in lower-cost states.

20-Year Net Earnings

$828k

Break-Even

Year 4

Education Cost (New York)

$26k

Based on New York median salary of $47k/yr and estimated program costs from New York institutions.

Major New York health systems like NYU Langone and NewYork-Presbyterian have deployed AI coding tools from Epic and 3M, but they use human coders to review complex cases and handle insurance denials.

HealthJob Analysis

Will AI Replace Medical Billing and Coding Specialist?

AI coding tools like 3M CodeAssist and Optum CAC already auto-code routine office visits and standard procedures with 85% accuracy, but medical billing and coding employment grew 7.8% despite this automation. Complex cases involving multiple diagnoses, surgical procedures, and insurance denials still require human expertise to ensure accurate reimbursement. The shift is toward specialized coding roles — coders who audit AI suggestions, handle appeals, and work with high-complexity cases like oncology or orthopedic surgery.

Medical Billing and Coding SpecialistHigh AI Impact

Task Displacement

AI independently handles major tasks

Market Deployment

Major health systems deploying; broad adoption underway

AI auto-codes routine encounters but adoption is ~46%, not 90%; BLS projects +7% job growth; human coders handle complex cases, auditing, and denials.

Fathom: 90%+ autonomous coding (vendor claim; actual adoption ~46%) · BLS: Medical Records Specialists +7% projected growth 2023-2033 · AMBCI: 80% automation target by 2030 (aspirational, not current)

Based on evidence-based AI impact methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in New York?: Medical billing and coding specialists in New York earn $47,220 median salary, ranging from $47,216 at the 10th percentile to $98,904 at the 90th percentile. The state pays 6% below national average despite higher living costs.
What certification do I need for medical billing and coding in New York?: New York requires no state license for medical billing and coding specialists. However, most employers require AAPC CPC certification ($300 exam) or AHIMA CCS certification ($399 exam), with hospital systems typically preferring the CCS credential.
Which New York colleges offer medical coding programs?: Five New York community colleges offer medical coding certificates, ranging from $3,000-$5,500 tuition. Only Lehman College (CUNY) provides AAPC-approved curriculum that employers specifically recognize, while other programs offer regional accreditation only.
How long does medical coding training take in New York?: Medical coding certificate programs in New York range from 3 months (SUNY Rockland) to 18 months (Lehman College). Most programs run 12 months and cost $4,000-$6,000 at SUNY and CUNY schools.
Is medical coding in demand in New York?: New York employs 8,510 medical billing and coding specialists with 7.8% projected growth through 2032. Major health systems like Mount Sinai and NYU Langone continue hiring despite AI automation because complex cases still require human expertise.

National Medical Billing and Coding Specialist overview →

Sources & Data

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

Data last refreshed: April 2026