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

Medical billing and coding specialists in Pennsylvania earn $39,330 median annually, which is 22% below the national average. The pay range spans from $39,333 at the 10th percentile to $74,672 at the 90th percentile, with 7,220 people employed statewide in this field.

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

No state license is required, but most Pennsylvania employers require or strongly prefer AAPC or AHIMA certification. Hospital systems like UPMC typically require CCS certification for coding positions, while physician offices more commonly accept CPC certification from AAPC.

Where can I get medical billing and coding training in Pennsylvania?

Four community colleges offer certificate programs: Community College of Philadelphia (5 months, $1,869-$2,269), CCAC in Pittsburgh (5 months, $2,500-$3,500), Pennsylvania Highlands in Johnstown (5 months, $3,295), and Lackawanna College in Scranton (6 months). None carry specialized CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation.

Is medical billing and coding a good career in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania pays below the national average at $39k median, but training costs only $1,800-$3,500 for most certificate programs. You'll break even in about 2-3 months of work, making it a low-risk entry point into health care despite the lower salary compared to other states.

Will AI replace medical billing and coding jobs in Pennsylvania?

AI handles routine coding at major Pennsylvania health systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine, but complex cases still require human expertise. The field grows 7.8% nationally through 2033 because AI speeds up simple tasks while creating more demand for specialists who handle exceptions and audits.

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

Pennsylvania employs 7,220 medical billing and coding specialists at $39k median — 22% below the national average despite housing major health systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine. The state's program landscape reflects this cost pressure: most training runs 5-6 months through community colleges rather than full associate degrees. Four quick certificate programs span from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, but none carry specialized programmatic accreditation.

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

Pennsylvania · Training Path

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania keeps training costs low with community college certificates that get you working in months, not years.

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 · Pennsylvania

Accredited Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Programs in Pennsylvania

Accreditation matters because Pennsylvania'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.

4 of ~undefined accredited programs in Pennsylvania

Institution	Credential	Length	Estimated Cost	Accreditation
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia	Certificate	5 mo	$1,869–$2,269	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) programmatic accreditation for this non-credit CE program.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Johnstown	Certificate	5 mo	$3,295	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation for this CE program.
Lackawanna College Scranton	Certificate	6 mo	—	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). No CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation.
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Pittsburgh	Certificate	5 mo	$2,500–$3,500	Regional accreditation only (Middle States Commission on Higher Education). 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.

Pennsylvania · Licensing Authority

Licensing and Certification in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania'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

Pennsylvania · BLS OEWS 2024

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Pennsylvania

These 5-month programs cost $1,800-$3,500 — here's what employers actually pay for that investment.

$39,330-22% vs. national($50,250)

10th

$39,333

25th

$46,717

Median

$39,330

75th

$59,072

90th

$74,672

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 7,220 employed in Pennsylvania

HealthJob Analysis · Pennsylvania

Is It Worth It? ROI in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania median salary of $39,330, 2% annual wage growth, no loan interest. Does not account for cost of living.

HealthJob Analysis · Pennsylvania

AI & Automation for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Pennsylvania

High AI ImpactSee full AI impact data →

UPMC and Penn Medicine deploy Epic's AI coding tools for routine encounters, while Jefferson Health pilots 3M's automated coding systems — but complex surgical cases and denial management remain manual processes across Pennsylvania health systems.

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

Pennsylvania · Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Pennsylvania?: Medical billing and coding specialists in Pennsylvania earn $39,330 median annually, which is 22% below the national average. The pay range spans from $39,333 at the 10th percentile to $74,672 at the 90th percentile, with 7,220 people employed statewide in this field.
Do I need certification to work in medical billing and coding in Pennsylvania?: No state license is required, but most Pennsylvania employers require or strongly prefer AAPC or AHIMA certification. Hospital systems like UPMC typically require CCS certification for coding positions, while physician offices more commonly accept CPC certification from AAPC.
Where can I get medical billing and coding training in Pennsylvania?: Four community colleges offer certificate programs: Community College of Philadelphia (5 months, $1,869-$2,269), CCAC in Pittsburgh (5 months, $2,500-$3,500), Pennsylvania Highlands in Johnstown (5 months, $3,295), and Lackawanna College in Scranton (6 months). None carry specialized CAHIIM or AAPC programmatic accreditation.
Is medical billing and coding a good career in Pennsylvania?: Pennsylvania pays below the national average at $39k median, but training costs only $1,800-$3,500 for most certificate programs. You'll break even in about 2-3 months of work, making it a low-risk entry point into health care despite the lower salary compared to other states.
Will AI replace medical billing and coding jobs in Pennsylvania?: AI handles routine coding at major Pennsylvania health systems like UPMC and Penn Medicine, but complex cases still require human expertise. The field grows 7.8% nationally through 2033 because AI speeds up simple tasks while creating more demand for specialists who handle exceptions and audits.

Sources & Data

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

Data last refreshed: April 2026