Medical Billing & Coding Salary

Medical Billing and Coding Salaries

Medical Billing
The median salary for medical billing specialists is $31,236, according to Payscale.com's poll of 120 medical billing specialist who are company-employed. Salaries vary according to the type of employer (hospital, non-profit, government), and by city of employment.

Medical Coding
The American Academy of Professional Coders reports that coders earn in the range of $36,085 to $40,000, depending on the part of the country in which they work.

Bear in mind that although the two specialties are broken down here, many people who hold the title of "medical coder" also work in a "medical billing" capacity.

Career Path

Many medical billers and coders advance by specializing in an area such as Medicare coding or cancer registry. Other experienced technicians advance to management and supervisor positions, overseeing the work of the coding, correspondence or discharge sections.

Senior technicians with credentials may become director or assistant director of a medical records and health information department in a small facility. However, in larger institutions, the director is usually an administrator, with a bachelor's degree in medical records and health information administration.

Workplace

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 37 percent of all medical coders worked in hospitals. The rest worked in doctors' offices, insurance companies, nursing homes, outpatient care centers and home health care services.