Medical Coding Salary

The average Medical Coding Salary is calculated by the US Government Bureau of Labor Statistics from a variety of sources. Medical Coding work in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics and the insurance industry.  Medical Coding salaries vary depending on the location and the setting.  The assumption was made that the Medical Coding reflected here were working an average of 40 hours per week with a total of 2080 hours per year. 

Medical Coding Salary: Median Hourly & Annual Data

Hourly

Medical Coding median salary is $12.83 per hour. The lowest 10% earn $8.85 per hour and those in the upper 10% earn more than$20.65 per hour.

Annually

On an annual basis  the median Medical Coding Salary is $26,690. The lowest 10% earn a salary of $18,410 per year while the upper 10% earn more than $42,960 per year.  These salaries are calculated as a mean or average. 

Lowest and Highest Medical Coding Salary

The lowest paid Medical Coding earn less with average wages below $9.00 per hour.  Presumably this is offset by costs of living and other factors.  The lower pay levels are associated with rural areas and schools.  The highest pay levels are  found in major population areas where the average wage is over $21.00 per hour.  Demand and low supply seem to be a significant factor in fueling higher salaries.   

Top 5 States

The top paying states to earn an Medical Coding Salary are New Jersey $38,430, District of Columbia $35,480, Connecticut $35,010, Maryland $33,980, New York $33,200.

 Top 5 Metropolitan Areas

The best city or metropolitan areas to earn an Medical Coding Salary are San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,000, San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA $40,510, Rochester, MN $38,860, Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA $38,570, Newark-Union, NJ-PA $38,470.

Other Industries that Employ Medical Coders

Insurance carriers, pharmaceutical industry, and cancer treatment centers are other areas employing the medical coder. 

Employment Data

According to the US Department of Labor nationally there are over 160,450 medical records and health information technicians who earn a salary through being employed.  A number of these specialize in medical coding but are categorized as medical records and health information technicians.

Where They Work

Of all the Medical Coding Technicians employed in the United States the best paying positions are in hospitals and nursing care facilities with physicians offices paying less.  Local, state and federal governments all offer employment opportunities for medical coders.

Private Practice Vs Employment

Given the nature of the work these professionals perform they are primarily employed.  While a significant amount of outsourcing of administrative and other jobs has occurred in the healthcare industry no one is quite ready to outsource records management.  Although not as much in demand this occupation could be one that would be employed as a contract employee via employment agency.

Benefits

Fringe benefits will vary depending on business size and other factors. To see what a typical benefits package is worth  A typical employment benefits package is worth over $20,000 per year.