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.
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.
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