How Much Do Medical Billers and Coders Make?

Jody Dugan, RN, BSN
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Updated on July 1, 2024
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How much do medical billing and coding specialists make? Discover how education level, certifications, workplace, and specializations can influence earnings.
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Medical coders and billers use coding systems to maintain patient information for billing, insurance reimbursements, and electronic health records. To qualify for these roles, you typically need a postsecondary medical billing and coding certificate. Learn how much medical billers and coders make by specialty, work setting, and location.

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Average Salary for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

You can become a medical billing and coding specialist with a high school diploma, but you can earn higher salaries with a college degree and postsecondary certification.

$58,545
No College

$59,663
Associate Degree/Some College

$66,493
Bachelor’s Degree

$81,501
Master’s Degree and above

Source: AAPC

The AAPC’s 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary report shows a 9% increase in salary from 2022 to 2023 for postsecondary degrees, the largest compensation hike year-over-year since the survey’s conception in 2008.

Medical billing and coding specialists with a bachelor’s degree earn an average annual income of $66,500. This salary increases to $81,500 with a master’s degree or higher education. Medical records professionals with no postsecondary education on average earn $58,550 per year — about 28% less than their peers with advanced degrees.

Like education, credentials positively affect salary. In fact, certification is the most influential factor in higher incomes for billers and coders.

The number of industry credentials also influences compensation. According to the AAPC report, medical records specialists who advance to two AAPC credentials bump up to an average annual salary of $71,130 and those with three or more earn $76,040 on average.

Medical Billing and Coding Salaries by Position

The following information shows how medical billing coding specializations influence salaries. Average salaries start on the lower end for billing specialists, with significant pay increases at the management level.

Medical Billing and Coding Salaries by Position
Job TitleAnnual SalaryHourly Rate
Medical Billing Specialist$46,369$22.29
Medical Billing Clerk$43,438$20.88
Medical Records Coding Manager$88,136$42.37
Medical Records Coding Policy Administrator$92,801$44.62
Medical Records Coding Compliance Specialist$72,218$34.72
Medical Billing Supervisor$67,564$32.48
Medical Records Coding Technician II$52,765$25.37
Medical Records Coding Technician I$42,947$20.65
Billing Manager$110,372$53.06
Medical Records Coding Technician III$60,410$29.04
Source: Salary.com

What Kind of Salary Growth Can Medical Billing and Coding Specialists Expect?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a job growth rate of 8% from 2022 to 2032 for medical records specialists — which includes medical billers and coders. This figure is more than double the average growth rate for all U.S. occupations.

Many medical records specialists retire or transition to other roles, contributing to the sizable opportunities for those entering the coder and biller workforce.

With the rising demand for these roles, income continues to trend upwards based on certification, clinical focus areas, and education. Experience level also plays a crucial role in compensation.

Additional years of experience correlates with increased income. AAPC’s 2024 Report results show a 43% increase in average annual salaries from 2022 to 2023 for billers and coders across the board.

Source: AAPC

The Highest Paying States for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

California pays medical billing and coding specialists the highest average annual salary of $76,700, followed by Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The size of the community and its economic health can influence compensation rates. AAPC’s 2024 survey shows a 31.5% difference in income from California to the lowest state, West Virginia, at $52,560.

The states with the highest annual pay for medical coders and billers are:

Highest Paying States for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists
StateAverage Salary
California$76,700
Rhode Island$73,610
Massachusetts$72,510
New Jersey$70.220
New York$70,190
Source: AAPC

Highest-Paying Metropolitan Areas for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

Medical billers and coders in areas with a higher cost of living often earn more. Just as urban areas affect income, large metropolitan areas offer high wages to match the price tag on housing.

As the table below demonstrates, billers and coders in large metropolitan areas earn the most on average. The San Jose—Sunnyvale—Santa Clara, CA metro area tops the list with an average salary of $83,150.

Highest Paying Metro Areas for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists
Metro AreaAverage Salary
San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara, CA$83,150
San Francisco – Oakland – Hayward, CA$75,980
Stockton – Lodi, CA$72,920
Sacramento – Roseville – Arden – Arcade, CA Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue, WA$70,950
Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue, WA$70,760
Source: BLS

Highest-Paying Workplaces for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

Medical billing and coding specialists’ salaries also vary among practice settings. The largest employer — health systems — pays the highest average salary in 2023. This group of healthcare organizations is trailed by large physician group practices and hospitals.

Highest-Paying Workplaces for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists
Worklace20222023Percentage Increase
Health System$60,090$64,6707.6%
Large Group Practice (50+ Physicians)$57,730$62,3508.0%
Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient$61,220$61,2206.2%
Hospital Inpatient$55,600$59,1906.5%
Hospital Outpatient$54,680$56,6203.6%
Medium Group Practice$51,716$55,1506.6%
Solo/ Small Group Practice$51,500$51,7200.4%
Source: AAPC

Other healthcare workplaces that rely on billing and coding specialists include long-term care facilities, outpatient and ambulatory services, home health organizations, and hospice centers.

Additionally, billing and coding specialists are employed by businesses unrelated to direct patient care, including insurance companies, law offices, medical software companies, medical equipment vendors, and the government.

How Do Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salaries Compare to Similar Occupations?

According to the Department of Labor the median 2023 fourth quarter annual earnings for full-time workers in all industries is $59,380. This data includes those with advanced degrees. This figure is marginally lower than the median salary for medical billing and coding specialists at $62,160.

As illustrated by the BLS figures below, medical records specialists earn more than those in similar occupations, with the exception of medical and health services managers, health information technologist, and medical registrars. Billing and coding professionals with certifications, specializations, and higher education levels can increase their earnings significantly.

Occupation2023 Median
Medical and Health Service Managers$110,680
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$62,990
Medical Records Specialists$48,780
Medical Assistants$42,000
Information Clerks$40,540
Pharmacy Technicians$40,300
Medical Transcriptionists$37,060
Source: BLS

4 Ways to Increase Pay As a Medical Coder or Biller

According to the BLS, the top 10% of medical records specialists make an annual median salary of $77,810, while the lowest-paid 10% earn $35,080. Several factors drive these differences, including certification, education level, and length and type of experience.

Medical billers and coders can increase their salaries through several ways, including pursuing certifications, additional education, and relevant experience.

  1. 1

    Consider Pursuing Certifications

    Certification signifies a higher level of knowledge and skill and opens doors to your best career options. According to AAPC, non certified billers and coders perform the same work as their certified coworkers but earn 16.6% less.

    Certifications vary from the certified professional biller (CPB), earning an average of $60,320 annually, to the AAPC-approved instructor, earning an average of $90,730. However, initial certification requires candidates to pass the CPB or certified professional coder (CPC) exams.

  2. 2

    Increase Your Education Level

    Earning a degree can also increase your medical billing and coding salary. The AAPC reports that wages for billers and coders with a master’s degree (or higher) earn 28.2% more on average than those for certified coders with no college.

  3. 3

    Gain Experience in Administrative Roles

    Medical coders and billers in advanced roles, such as management and supervision, often benefit from career longevity and higher salaries. AAPC offers a certified professional compliance officer (CPCO) credential, which can lead to higher-paying administrative positions.

    The AAPC 2023 Survey data shows an average salary of $89,010 for a compliance officer. The highest paying position is an AAPC approved instructor at $90,730.

  4. 4

    Switch Workplace Setting

    AAPC reports that large health systems pay their medical billing and coding specialists approximately 20% more than solo physician medical offices or small group practices. However, most health systems have 3-10 hospitals and other facilities affiliated with them.

    Medical billing and coding job seekers can explore AAPC’s employment listings for salaries, including for major health systems.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Coder and Biller Specialist Salaries

The average hourly wage for certified medical records specialists is $30.14 with certification and $25.84 for those who do not hold a certification, according to the AAPC. It’s important to keep in mind that hourly wages for medical billers and coders vary by certification, education, experience, and location.