How much do medical coding and billing make? The Average medical billing and coding salary in US is $45,240 per year or $21.75 per hour according to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics). But, many things impact how much you can earn. According to the AAPC, certified coders earn 39% more than non-certified coders.
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Medical Coding and Medical Billing
What is medical coding?
Medical coding is the process of acquiring medical terms and information and translating it into a language that medical professionals and insurance companies can understand.
Language is an established alphanumerical code. Medical coders apply it to diagnostics, procedures, medical devices, and medical services. This is important for the following reasons:
- Streamline the billing process
- Create a universal language for healthcare professionals and institutions
- Help researchers track health trends and use data to analyze treatments
What are medical billing?
Medical billing is the process of collecting payments for medical services. This includes compiling the encrypted information into an invoice, sending it to the insurance company or payer, and collecting the payment.
What is the difference between medical coding and medical billing?
Both medical billing and medical coding are part of the medical industry’s system for collecting revenue from medical services. However, the responsibilities of the medical biller and the medical coder are very different.
- The medical coder reviews the medical data and assigns the appropriate standardized code required for billing.
- The medical biller obtains and collates this information to create an insurance company claim and a patient invoice. This role often requires consultation with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients to clarify.
How Much Do Medical Coding and Billing Make?
How much do medical coding and billing make? Salaries for medical coders and billing specialists depend on many factors. These factors include discipline, certification, location, occupation, and experience.
Taking these fluctuations into account, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that the median average salary for medical record and health information professionals in 2020 was $ 45,240 per year, or $ 21.75 per hour.
Medical Billing and Coding Jobs Salary by State
According to AAPC, the average salary for uncertified programmers is $ 41,543 per year, while the salary for certified programmers is 39% higher, averaging $ 57,646 per year. If you add a second certification, its average salary will be $ 63,085. AAPC has found that medical coders (both certified and non-certified) earn an average of $ 53,051 annually.
The tabel below shows the average salary of medical coders and billers in each state per the AAPC.
No | State | Average Salary | Average Hourly Rate |
1 | California | $64,437 | $30.98 |
2 | Massachusetts | $64,262 | $30.90 |
3 | New Jersey | $61,201 | $29.42 |
4 | Hawaii | $60,824 | $29.24 |
5 | Connecticut | $60,360 | $29.02 |
6 | New York | $59,695 | $28.70 |
7 | Colorado | $58,648 | $28.20 |
8 | Maryland | $58,590 | $28.17 |
9 | New Hampshire | $57,877 | $27.83 |
10 | Alaska | $57,778 | $27.78 |
11 | Rhode Island | $57,651 | $27.72 |
12 | Wyoming | $57,577 | $27.68 |
13 | Washington | $56,371 | $27.10 |
14 | Vermont | $56,233 | $27.04 |
15 | Oregon | $56,174 | $27.01 |
16 | Texas | $56,001 | $26.92 |
17 | Minnesota | $55,983 | $26.91 |
18 | Nevada | $54,788 | $26.34 |
19 | Arizona | $54,712 | $26.30 |
20 | District of Columbia | $54,667 | $26.28 |
21 | Wisconsin | $54,601 | $26.25 |
22 | Pennsylvania | $54,492 | $26.20 |
23 | Florida | $54,469 | $26.19 |
24 | Delaware | $53,885 | $25.91 |
25 | New Mexico | $53,616 | $25.78 |
26 | Ohio | $53,593 | $25.77 |
27 | Nebraska | $53,543 | $25.74 |
28 | Illinois | $53,362 | $25.65 |
29 | Kansas | $53,271 | $25.61 |
30 | North Carolina | $53,141 | $25.55 |
31 | Maine | $52,966 | $25.46 |
32 | Missouri | $52,783 | $25.38 |
33 | Georgia | $52,696 | $25.33 |
34 | Virginia | $52,335 | $25.16 |
35 | Tennessee | $52,073 | $25.04 |
36 | Michigan | $51,250 | $24.64 |
37 | South Dakota | $50,960 | $24.50 |
38 | Iowa | $50,950 | $24.50 |
39 | Oklahoma | $50,662 | $24.17 |
40 | North Dakota | $50,236 | $24.15 |
41 | Utah | $50,115 | $24.09 |
42 | Kentucky | $50,041 | $24.06 |
43 | South Carolina | $49,990 | $24.03 |
44 | Indiana | $49,358 | $23.73 |
45 | Montana | $48,534 | $23.33 |
46 | Louisiana | $48,092 | $23.12 |
47 | Mississippi | $48,082 | $23.12 |
48 | Arkansas | $48,029 | $23.09 |
49 | West Virginia | $47,699 | $22.93 |
50 | Idaho | $47,627 | $22.90 |
51 | Alabama | $47,081 | $22.63 |
52 | U.S. Territory | $42,910 | $20.63 |
The Medical Coding and Billing Salary Based On Certification
Survey once again shows that certification will be rewarded. The average salary of two qualified professional programmers will rise to $ 64,712. Billing and coding specialists with three or more qualifications earn approximately $ 69,942 annually.
Read also: Salary of an Occupational Therapist in New York
Below the tabel of average medical billing and coding jobs salary based on certification:
Credential | Median Salary |
Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO®) | $80,550 |
Certified Professional Coder-Instructor (CPC-I™) | $74,822 |
Certified Documentation Expert-Outpatient (CDEO®) | $73,723 |
Certified Professional Practice Manager (CPPM®) | $70,895 |
Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA®) | $70,320 |
Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC®) | $64,995 |
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC®) | $62,846 |
Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P™) | $60,753 |
Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) | $58,055 |
Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC®) | $57,936 |
Certified Professional Biller (CPB®) | $56,652 |
AVERAGE | $66,504 |
How to Increase Your Medical Coder and Biller’s Salaries?
Changing locations and facilities is not the only way to increase your medical coder’s or claimant’s salary. These healthcare professionals can get higher rewards in the following ways:
1. Education
University Education adds about 5% to your annual salary, whether it’s an associate degree or some college-level classes. A bachelor’s or master’s degree brings much more.
2. Gaining Experience
One of the many benefits of this area is fast access. Medical coders and claimants can gain experience while continuing to educate and certify their disciplines.
3. Certification and Addition of Qualifications
The pursuit of advanced qualifications is even more important than higher education. So, medical billing and coding certification is needed. Professionals seeking this level of knowledge validation give employers confidence in their expertise and skills.
AAPC reports an increase in average programmer salary of 3.1% due to increased credentials. However, coding specialists with Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC) credentials are reported to have earned over 11% salary increases.