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Medical Billing and Coding
September 11, 2024

Medical Billing and Coding Salaries: What Medical Coder Gets Paid Most? (2024)

Using BLS, AAPC and AHIMA data, we break down medical billing and coding salaries by location, certifications and experience.
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Medical Billing and Coding Salaries: What Medical Coder Gets Paid Most? (2024)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical records specialists—which include medical billers and coders—earn $53,690 per year or $25.82 per hour on average.

Within medical billing and coding, salaries can vary significantly based on many factors, including where you work, what certifications you have, and your experience. In this report, we will use BLS data and salary reports from the two leading medical billing and coding professional organizations, AHIMA and AAPC, to help you understand the salary landscape for medical billers and coders.

How Much Do Medical Billers and Coders Earn in Each State?

Medical billing and coding salaries can vary significantly depending on location. To give you a comprehensive view of how pay rates differ across the United States, we've compiled data from the BLS for medical records specialists, which includes medical billers and coders.

Washington state leads the nation with the highest average annual salary at $64,250, while Mississippi has the lowest average yearly wage among states at $42,440.

StateHourly Wage, MeanAnnual Wage, Mean
Washington$30.89$64,250
California$30.80$64,070
Connecticut$30.41$63,250
Maryland$30.26$62,930
Hawaii$30.25$62,920
New Jersey$30.24$62,900
Minnesota$29.11$60,560
New York$29.09$60,510
Colorado$28.73$59,760
Alaska$28.32$58,900
Massachusetts$28.31$58,890
Oregon$28.31$58,890
Utah$27.53$57,260
Rhode Island$27.10$56,360
Tennessee$26.90$55,950
Virginia$26.27$54,640
Nebraska$26.24$54,580
Wisconsin$26.14$54,370
Wyoming$26.05$54,180
Illinois$25.99$54,070
South Carolina$25.63$53,300
North Dakota$25.41$52,850
South Dakota$25.20$52,420
Missouri$25.15$52,310
Ohio$24.61$51,190
Idaho$24.59$51,160
Georgia$24.56$51,070
Delaware$24.54$51,030
Vermont$24.50$50,950
Louisiana$24.38$50,700
New Hampshire$24.24$50,430
Florida$24.15$50,230
Arizona$24.10$50,130
Oklahoma$23.94$49,780
Michigan$23.92$49,760
Iowa$23.91$49,720
Pennsylvania$23.88$49,680
Kansas$23.83$49,560
North Carolina$23.75$49,400
Maine$23.69$49,270
Montana$23.57$49,020
New Mexico$23.31$48,490
Indiana$23.18$48,220
Nevada$23.13$48,110
Texas$23.09$48,030
Kentucky$22.52$46,840
West Virginia$21.59$44,910
Arkansas$21.21$44,120
Alabama$20.66$42,970
Mississippi$20.40$42,440

How Do Experience and Certifications Affect Salaries?

In medical billing and coding, certifications and experience are crucial in determining earning potential. As professionals acquire specialized knowledge and skills through certifications and gain valuable on-the-job experience, their salaries tend to increase. To better understand this relationship, let's examine data from the AAPC and AHIMA salary surveys.

Salaries by AAPC Certification

The data shows a range of median incomes across different certifications. Entry-level certifications such as Certified Professional Biller (CPB) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC) have median incomes of $56,981 and $58,895, respectively. Specialized certifications like Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) show higher median incomes exceeding $64,000. The highest median income in this dataset belongs to the Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) at $81,495. This data suggests a correlation between specialized certifications and higher median incomes in medical billing and coding.

AAPC CredentialMedian Income
Certified Professional Biller (CPB)$56,981
Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)$58,730
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)$58,895
Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P)$62,494
Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)$64,192
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)$64,267
Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA)$72,304
Certified Documentation Expert-Outpatient (CDEO)$72,619
Certified Professional Practice Manager (CPPM)$75,699
Certified Professional Coder-Instructor (CPC-I)$76,804
Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO)$81,495

Salaries by Experience, According to the AAPC

Medical billing and coding professionals often see their earnings grow over time. According to AAPC data, there appears to be a correlation between years of experience and increased income. However, it's important to note that it's challenging to separate the effects of expertise from additional certifications that professionals may acquire throughout their careers.

The data suggest that throughout a career, a medical billing and coding professional could see their income increase by up to 63%.

Years on the JobAverage Income
0 - 1$45,701
2 - 4$49,244
5 - 9$55,472
10 - 15$60,892
16 - 20$65,254
21 - 25$69,609
26 - 30$71,412
31+$74,513

How Certifications and Years of Experience Impact Salaries, According to AHIMA

AHIMA's salary survey provides insights on salary by certification earned and by experience. This comprehensive data allows us to see how different certifications and years of experience can significantly impact earning potential in the medical billing and coding field.

Years of ExperienceRHIARHITCDIPCCACCSCCS-P
Less than one year$35,090$49,150N/AN/A$39,125N/A
1-2 years$57,930$38,710N/A$45,500$60,160$45,010
3-4 years$63,080$42,960$145,000$42,260$64,700$47,500
5-6 years$57,380$50,910$72,500$48,870$53,850$70,330
7-10 years$70,770$57,630$77,770$47,810$66,190$61,810
11-20 years$86,720$63,000$87,520$53,610$74,910$75,410
21-30 years$94,290$76,520$95,370$52,260$83,260$80,470
31 or more years$99,690$79,100$100,260$70,420$84,040$82,510

Salaries by Job Setting or Employer Type

For medical billing and coding professionals, where you work can significantly impact how much you earn. Different healthcare settings and employer types offer varying salary ranges, influenced by organization size, patient volume, and specialization.

Average Salaries by Industry, According to the BLS

The following table illustrates the employment numbers, hourly mean wages, and annual mean wages for the industries that employ the most medical records professionals.

IndustryEmploymentHourly mean wageAnnual mean wage
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals47,530$27.69$57,600
Offices of Physicians35,910$22.12$46,010
Management of Companies and Enterprises18,930$28.39$59,060
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)9,530$22.79$47,400
Outpatient Care Centers7,840$27.17$56,510

Salaries by Workplace, According to AAPC

The results of AAPC’s salary data show that income for medical coding professionals tends to increase with employer size, as larger health care organizations, such as health systems and large group practices, consistently offer higher wages.

Workplace2023 Average Salary
Solo/Small Group Practice$51,722
Medium Group Practice$55,147
Large Group Practice$62,354
Hospital Inpatient$59,190
Hospital Outpatient$56,623
Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient$61,220
Health System$64,666

Salaries by Workplace, According to AHIMA

AHIMA’s salary survey breaks down average salaries even more granularly. Their data reveals a wide range of salaries across various job settings. According to their data, home health and long-term care facilities pay the least, around $56,000 annually. While life science companies pay the most—more than $105,000 annually.

Job SettingSalary
Home Health$56,070
Long-term Care, Hospice, or Nursing Facility$56,850
Clinic or Physician Practice$63,500
Behavioral/Mental Health$64,010
Ambulatory Care$66,100
Public Health$74,020
Hospital, Multi-Hospital System, Integrated Delivery$77,800
Government$78,680
Educational Institution$79,000
Health Insurance, Payor, Managed Care$83,940
Consulting Firm$88,820
Laboratory or Research$95,000
Vendor Company$95,660
Association or Professional Society$100,250
Life Sciences$106,000

Bottom Line

Medical billing and coding professionals can expect a wide range of salaries depending on various factors:

  1. Average Earnings: According to the BLS, the average annual salary is $53,690, which can vary significantly.
  2. Certifications Matter: Specialized certifications like CPCO, CPC-I and CPPM tend to command higher salaries, often exceeding $75,000 annually.
  3. Experience Pays Off: With 30-plus years of experience, professionals can earn up to 63% more than entry-level positions.
  4. Workplace Impacts Salary: Larger organizations and specific sectors (like life sciences companies) generally offer higher salaries than smaller practices or home health settings.
  5. Geographic Variation: Salaries can differ substantially based on location. Medical billers and coders in Washington earn nearly $30,000 more on average than those in Mississippi.
  6. Growth Potential: The field offers opportunities for salary growth through gaining experience, obtaining additional certifications and strategic career moves.

For those considering or already in the field, investing in education, pursuing advanced certifications, and targeting larger healthcare organizations or specialized sectors could lead to higher earning potential in medical billing and coding.

Program outcomes may vary depending on each institution's specific curriculum and employment opportunities are not guranteed.