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The Average Medical Coder Salary

July 28, 2016 Jeffery Lloyd Leave a Comment

The average medical coder salary shows that it isn’t among the top-paying occupations in the U.S. economy, but it’s a pleasant profession that doesn’t require as much preparations as others. Even though the average medical biller and coder salary in the United States is $37,110 per year / $17.84 per hour (just a bit higher than the national average for all occupations of $36,200 annually), the Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that you can earn even + $60k in some states. This leads us to the aim of our medical coders salary guide – to inform you about all the factors that can influence the average salary for medical coder.

medical coder salary tasks

Although the average medical coder and biller salary may seem a bit low compared to other jobs, it can vary according to many different aspects. Not only is your level of experience definitive for the medical coder biller salary you get, but also your location and industry, among other factors. Learn everything you need to know about the average salary of medical coder in the United States and how you can increase your chances of getting a well-paid position below.

Medical Coder Salary Influencers

1. Industry

The medical coder average salary strongly depends on the particular industry you work in. To help you understand this influential factor, here is some data that shows the differences in the average salary of a medical coder according to industry:

  • Medical records coder salary in the Professional, scientific, and technical services industry- $40,790
  • Medical billing and coder salary in hospitals; state, local, and private – $39,570
  • Administrative and support services certified medical coder salary range – $36,630
  • Medical biller coder salary in nursing care facilities – $35,270
  • Medical billing coder salary in offices of physicians – $32,080

Payscale also demonstrates the medical coder salary differences from employer to employer. These are just a handful of examples to help you understand:

  • McKesson Corp medical coder salary – $28,000 – $39,000
  • Salaries for medical coders at Kaiser Permanente – $41,000 – $60,000
  • Allina Hospitals and Clinics salary for medical coders – $39,000 – $51,000

2. Geographic Area

Location is everything when it comes to the senior, mid-level or entry level medical coder salary in the United States. While some states offer more than $60,000 a year for medical coders, others offer barely above $30,000 annually. If you want an attractive medical coder salary, you should aim for the District of Columbia, as their annual average is $69,290. In addition to this high-paying state, here are a few more with nice wages:

  • Average salary medical coder gets in New Jersey – $60,310
  • Alaska medical record coder salary – $52,040
  • Medical coder salary in California – $48,590
  • Maryland salary for a medical coder – $47,930
  • Certified professional coder salary in Colorado – $47,800

Nevertheless, you shouldn’t just target a top medical coder salary. You should also consider the state that offer the most medical coder jobs. As the BLS reports, the states with the highest level of employment for medical coders are:

  • California
  • Texas
  • Florida
  • Ohio
  • New York

As a result, California might be your best bet if you want to have high chances of getting hired and enjoy a great medical coder salary at the same time.

On the other hand, there are some states that should be avoided at all costs, due to their low medical coder salaries. These are:

  • New Mexico – $33,840
  • Arkansas – $33,610
  • Alabama – $33,180
  • Louisiana – $32,390
  • Mississippi – $30,700

3. Experience

As you can expect, experience also plays an essential role in determining your medical coder salary. Even though you might start off with a bit over $33k as an entry level medical coder, your annual wage can increase to over $44k later on in your career. Payscale, one of the sources cited above, estimates the following medical coder salary stages:

  • Entry level (0-5 years) – $33,000
  • Mid-career (5-10 years) – $39,000
  • Experienced (10-20 years) – $41,000
  • Late-career (>20 years) – $44,000

Working Hours and Environment

Most medical coders work in either hospitals (38%) or offices of physicians (21%). Even though some medical coders work from home, you can usually find them in a healthcare setting.

Medical coders usually work full time. Depending on the facility you work for, you might also have to work in shifts (like in hospitals).

Medical Coder Salary by State

State Annual mean wage ($)
Alabama 33180
Alaska 52040
Arizona 41630
Arkansas 33610
California 48590
Colorado 47800
Connecticut 45580
Delaware 39240
District of Columbia 69290
Florida 39830
Georgia 37090
Guam 27400
Hawaii 46750
Idaho 35330
Illinois 40190
Indiana 36440
Iowa 39180
Kansas 35590
Kentucky 36010
Louisiana 32390
Maine 36200
Maryland 47930
Massachusetts 45720
Michigan 38500
Minnesota 44890
Mississippi 30700
Missouri 38780
Montana 35630
Nebraska 39230
Nevada 43360
New Hampshire 39010
New Jersey 60310
New Mexico 33840
New York 43680
North Carolina 35230
North Dakota 38550
Ohio 38400
Oklahoma 34240
Oregon 42130
Pennsylvania 38120
Puerto Rico 22630
Rhode Island 40480
South Carolina 35820
South Dakota 37870
Tennessee 35000
Texas 38810
Utah 38300
Vermont 40050
Virginia 38870
Washington 43720
West Virginia 34770
Wisconsin 40340
Wyoming 38890

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bonuses and Benefit Packages

Considering that, as a professional in this field, you work in healthcare, you can expect some pretty nice benefits attached to the medical coder job description. It is reported that 80% of medical coders get medical insurance, 63% enjoy dental insurance and 51% get vision coverage. These statistics are significantly higher than employees in other areas.

Job Outlook

Another satisfying aspect related to the medical coder salary is that more and more job opportunities are expected to appear in the following years. While the percent change in employment for 2014-2024 for all occupations in the U.S. is 7%, medical coders are expected to get 15% more job openings in the same time frame.

Conclusion

In conclusion, even though the medical coder salary isn’t among the top wages in the United States, there certainly are plenty of benefits that you can enjoy with this career. Furthermore, if you gain experience and are in a suitable location, your medical coder salary can help you enjoy a flourishing career.

Image source: no attribution required.

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