If you’re researching whether you should pursue medical billing and coding as a career, you’ve probably already looked at the pros and cons of this profession.

What Do Medical Billers and Coders Do?
Median Salary
How Much Can Medical Billers and Coders Earn?
What Cities Pay Medical Billers and Coders Highest?
Pay By Years of Experience
What States Pay the Most?
Avg Salary and Hourly Wage
How Much Can You Earn as a Medical Biller and Coder in Sacramento, CA?
Next Steps

One important question that must be on your mind is “How much will I earn as a medical biller and coder?”

That’s a valid question for any potential career, and something you should consider before enrolling in a medical billing and coding training program. Let’s look at all the available data, so you can make a confident, informed choice about a medical coding career.

What Do Medical Billers and Coders Do?

A medical coder transcribes what happens during a patient visit so that insurance companies and health organizations can understand it. Medical coding takes information, such as a physician’s diagnosis, patient symptoms, or a doctor’s prescription, and turns that into numerical or alphanumerical codes. These codes describe each injury, diagnosis, prescription, and medical procedure. This is important for both the patient’s medical records, the doctor’s office or hospital, and the insurance claims processor. The medical coder everything that happens during a patient appointment.

This information is used by the insurance provider to fill the claim and pay the medical office on behalf of the patient. Accuracy is very important, so that the insurance claim is properly paid.

Have you ever wondered how much medical coders make? A medical biller takes the coded transcript of the patient visit, and inputs that information into special software. This information is submitted to the patient’s insurance company as a claim.

After the insurance company pays their portion, the remaining amount is billed to the patient. Any co-pays and deductibles are figured into this revised amount. Medical billing, like coding, relies on accuracy and attention to detail.

The medical billers and coders work together to make sure patient visits are recorded accurately, and that record is passed on to the insurance providers, so the medical office gets paid correctly, and the patient is billed for the remaining portion accurately. Billers and coders are an essential part of the healthcare system, interacting with the healthcare provider, insurance companies, and patients.

Median Salary of Medical Billers and Coders

A May 2023 study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the median salary for all medical records specialists (coders and billers) was $48,780. ^[1]

A 2023 salary survey by the American Association of Professional Coders found that medical coders with a CPC certification earned a median salary of $58,895. Please note that medical coding has several coding certifications, with most requiring some years of experience, sometimes in a specific and higher median salary.

According to Salary.com, the median salary for a medical billing and coding specialist in California in October 2024 is $47, 806, with the real salary ranges listed between $43,284 and $56,905.^[2]

Median Salary of all Medical Billers and Coders: $48,780 (May 2023 – Bureau of Labor Statistics – National data, United States)

State	Mean Salary	Avg Hourly Wage	25% Percentile	75% Percentile
Alabama	$42,970	$20.66	$32,290	$50,660
Alaska	$58,900	$28.32	$48,280	$64,120
Arizona	$50,130	$24.10	$39,410	$58,870
Arkansas	$44,120	$21.21	$34,390	$48,510
California	$64,070	$30.80	$43,210	$75,350
Colorado	$59,760	$28.73	$47,350	$69,250
Connecticut	$63,250	$30.41	$49,230	$77,250
Delaware	$51,030	$24.54	$39,370	$61,920
District of Columbia	$70,900	$34.09	$50,700	$82,980
Florida	$50,230	$24.15	$36,280	$60,400
Georgia	$51,070	$24.56	$37,690	$61,850
Hawaii	$62,920	$30.25	$47,880	$74,290
Idaho	$51,160	$24.59	$40,520	$61,100
Illinois	$54,070	$25.99	$41,840	$61,310
Indiana	$48,220	$23.18	$37,840	$54,350
Iowa	$49,720	$23.91	$41,870	$58,740
Kansas	$49,560	$23.83	$37,690	$57,840
Kentucky	$46,840	$22.52	$37,170	$52,280
Louisiana	$50,700	$24.38	$36,540	$62,090
Maine	$49,270	$23.69	$39,630	$56,170
Maryland	$62,930	$30.26	$46,240	$79,170
Massachusetts	$58,890	$28.31	$46,240	$66,960
Michigan	$49,760	$23.92	$39,000	$58,240
Minnesota	$60,560	$29.11	$48,810	$66,600
Mississippi	$42,440	$20.40	$31,080	$49,950
Missouri	$52,310	$25.15	$40,750	$62,360
Montana	$49,020	$23.57	$41,130	$57,960
Nebraska	$54,580	$26.24	$37,960	$58,090
Nevada	$48,110	$23.13	$36,990	$57,720
New Hampshire	$50,430	$24.24	$39,780	$60,100
New Jersey	$62,900	$30.24	$47,930	$77,190
New Mexico	$48,490	$23.31	$37,770	$58,590
New York	$60,510	$29.09	$46,200	$70,470
North Carolina	$49,400	$23.75	$37,740	$59,320
North Dakota	$52,850	$25.41	$44,870	$62,420
Ohio	$51,190	$24.61	$39,690	$60,770
Oklahoma	$49,780	$23.94	$38,440	$58,450
Oregon	$58,890	$28.31	$44,820	$67,770
Pennsylvania	$49,680	$23.88	$40,190	$53,320
Rhode Island	$56,360	$27.10	$44,450	$64,600
South Carolina	$53,300	$25.63	$40,210	$63,420
South Dakota	$52,420	$25.20	$40,770	$63,690
Tennessee	$55,950	$26.90	$40,080	$63,190
Texas	$48,030	$23.09	$36,410	$56,430
Utah	$57,260	$27.53	$40,600	$64,510
Vermont	$50,950	$24.50	$40,280	$59,400
Virginia	$54,640	$26.27	$43,740	$63,640
Washington	$64,250	$30.89	$48,010	$75,050
West Virginia	$44,910	$21.59	$43,550	$52,600
Wisconsin	$54,370	$26.14	$46,510	$61,410
Wyoming	$54,180	$26.05	$42,320	$63,800

These numbers from the BLS, from May 2023, are for the entire US. How much you can earn will depend on your state, your metro area, and job demand in your area.

10th Percentile: $35,080
25th Percentile: $39,620
75th Percentile: $61,960
90th Percentile: $77,810

How Much Can Medical Coders Earn?

In 2022, The American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) surveyed a large number of medical coders across the country. This information was published in their 2023 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report. ^[3]

Note: The AAPC is an organization that focuses primarily on medical coding, and many of their members have advanced beyond entry-level certification. As a result, their numbers may look different than a combined medical billing & medical coding salary survey.

Region	States in Region	Median Coder Salary
Pacific	Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington	$64,124
Mountain	Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming	$57,114
West South Central	Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas	$56,776
West North Central	Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota	$56,041
East North Central	Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin	$54,971
East South Central	Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee	$53,245
South Atlantic	District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia	$57,033
Mid Atlantic	New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania	$60,997
New England	Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont	$62,935

What Cities Pay Medical Billers and Coders Highest?

Billing and coding salary can vary depending on the location. These metropolitan areas have the highest median salary and hourly wages for medical billers and coders, according to May 2023 information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. ^[4]

Metropolitan area	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$ 39.98	$ 83,150
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$ 36.53	$ 75,980
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$ 35.06	$ 72,920
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA	$ 34.11	$ 70,950
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$ 34.02	$ 70,760
New Haven, CT	$ 33.37	$ 69,410
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	$ 32.90	$ 68,430
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI	$ 32.72	$ 68,060
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$ 32.70	$ 68,020
Bellingham, WA	$ 32.04	$ 66,650

How Much Do Medical Billers and Coders Earn By Years of Experience?

Have you ever wondered how much medical coders make based on their experience? Years of experience has a substantial effect on how much you can earn as a medical biller and coder. According to a study by the AAPC, there is a 10% jump in median salary after one year of experience, with a medical records specialist jumping 22% in salary from entry-level to two to three years. With five to nine years of experience, a medical biller or coder will have a 39% higher salary than an entry-level biller and coder.

Level of Experience	Hourly	Monthly	Annual
0 - 1	$21.85	$3,788	$45,456
2 - 4	$24.27	$4,208	$50,490
5 - 9	$27.77	$4,814	$57,769
10 - 15	$29.96	$5,194	$62,324
16 - 20	$31.76	$5,505	$66,060
21 - 25	$31.83	$5,517	$66,200
26 - 30	$33.57	$5,820	$69,834
30+	$35.17	$6,096	$73,150

(Source: American Academy of Professional Coders)

What States Pay the Most for Medical Billing and Coding?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the American Association of Professional Coders, and Allied Health Schools, the states where medical billers and coders are paid the highest are New Jersey, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Reported Avg Salary and Hourly Wage for Medical Billers and Coders, as of May 2022

State	Avg Salary, BLS data, May 2022	Avg Salary, AAPC data	Avg Salary, Allied Health	Avg Hourly Wage, BLS data, May 2022	Avg Hourly Wage, AAPC data
New Jersey	$67,130	$65,568	$61,680	$32.28	$31.52
District of Columbia	$63,270	$65,000	$60,020	$30.42	$31.25
Massachusetts	$58,950	$66,222	$59,120	$28.34	$31.84
California	$57,950	$67,660	$51,170	$27.86	$32.53
Connecticut	$57,480	$62,659	$55,100	$27.64	$30.12
New York	$55,350	$62,369	$48,350	$26.61	$29.99
Washington	n/a	$61,920	$48,500	n/a	$29.77
Maryland	n/a	$63,068	$48,350	n/a	$30.32
New Hampshire	n/a	$60,959	$38,180	n/a	$29.31
Colorado	n/a	$60,615	$47,510	n/a	$29.14
Oregon	n/a	$60,830	$47,940	n/a	$29.25
Rhode Island	n/a	$65,110	$47,340	n/a	$31.30
Minnesota	n/a	$60,462	$50,470	n/a	$29.07

Note: Data shown is from the respective sources, as of May 2022.

There is a range of data, because the organizations survey different medical records specialists, and they have a different range of education, experience, and professional certifications.

How Much Can You Earn as a Medical Biller and Coder in Sacramento, CA?

Payscale.com reports that the average hourly wage for a biller and coder in Sacramento is $23.76 (as of October 2024). The pay in Sacramento ranges from $15.26 per hour (bottom 25%), with the top 75% earning $29.48. ^[5]

Salary.com has a full range of medical billing jobs in Sacramento, with billing and coding jobs that ranged from $47,714 (Medical Billing Clerk I) to $118, 734 (Medical Billing Manager – this one is higher than other jobs listed and requires many years of experience). Most of the jobs listed were in the range of $50,827 (Medical Billing Specialist) to $79,388 (Medical Billing Supervisor). The median of all billing and coding jobs listed, including managerial, in November 2024 was $91.017, and the median hourly wage for all medical billing and coding jobs in Sacramento was $34.11. ^[6]

According to ZipRecruiter ^[7], the average salary for remote medical coders in California in 2024 was $44,724.

NOTE: Most candidates will start at an entry-level medical billing and coding position, and with experience and additional certification, be able to advance to more advanced, better compensating positions. Managerial positions are usually the top of the hierarchy.

Start Your Medical Billing and Coding Career Today

Campus offers a Medical Billing and Coding certification program that can be completed in about 36 to 42 weeks. This program is one of our Online classes, where all of the coursework can be done online.

If you see working as a medical billing and coding professional in your future, contact our Admissions department today, and they can answer any questions you have about the program.

We’re happy to help you start a successful career in medical billing and coding.

Note: The data provided above are from a source unaffiliated with Campus, formerly known as MTI College, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.

^[1] Retrieved August 22nd, 2024 - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm

^[2] Retrieved Nov 1st, 2024 - https://www.salary.com/research/salary/listing/medical-coding-and-billing-salary/ca

^[3] Retrieved October 30, 2024 - https://www.aapc.com/tools/medical-coding-salary-survey/

^[4] Retrieved October 30, 2024 - https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292072.htm#st

^[5] Retrieved November 1, 2024 - https://www1.salary.com/CA/Sacramento/Medical-Billing-And-Coding-Salary.html

^[6] Retrieved November 1, 2024 - https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Coder/Hourly_Rate/58b7cea4/Sacramento-CA

^[7] Retrieved November 1, 2024 - https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Remote-Medical-Coder-Salary-in-California#Yearly