Salary guide
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary & Pay Scale (2026)
What medical billing and coding specialists earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.
The median medical billing and coding specialist salary in the U.S. is $51,140 per year, or $24.59 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $37,000, while the top 10% earned more than $81,150.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist pay scale
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly* | What it usually reflects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,000 | $17.79 | Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings |
| 25th percentile | $43,490 | $20.91 | Early career, a year or two of experience |
| Median (50th) | $51,140 | $24.59 | Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $64,820 | $31.16 | Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers |
| 90th percentile | $81,150 | $39.01 | Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas |
*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.
Monthly and biweekly pay
| Pay period | At 25th percentile | At median | At 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per year | $43,490 | $51,140 | $64,820 |
| Per month | $3,624 | $4,262 | $5,402 |
| Every two weeks | $1,673 | $1,967 | $2,493 |
| Per week | $836 | $983 | $1,247 |
Gross pay before taxes and deductions.
What affects medical billing and coding specialist pay
- Work setting (hospitals and outpatient care centers often pay more than physician offices or nursing homes)
- Shift differentials for nights, weekends and holidays
- Credentials such as national certification or state licensure
- Specialty experience (surgery, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics)
- Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median
How to earn more as a medical billing and coding specialist
- Get credentialed: CPC (AAPC), CCA or CCS (AHIMA), CPB (AAPC).
- Build specialty experience: Specialize in areas such as risk adjustment, inpatient or surgical coding.
- Move up: roles such as coding auditor or revenue cycle analyst and coding manager or compliance officer typically pay more.
- Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist pay vs. related careers
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of medical billing and coding specialists to change by +7.8% from 2025–35, much faster than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 14,000 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.
About this data
Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 29-2072 (“Medical records specialists”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist salary FAQ
How much does a medical billing and coding specialist make per hour?
The median hourly wage for medical billing and coding specialists was $24.59 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $17.79 and the top 10% earned about $39.01 or more.
How much does a medical billing and coding specialist make a month?
At the median annual wage of $51,140, that works out to about $4,262 per month before taxes, or about $1,967 every two weeks.
What is the starting salary for a medical billing and coding specialist?
New medical billing and coding specialists often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $37,000 and the 25th percentile was $43,490 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.
How can medical billing and coding specialists earn more?
Common ways include earning CPC (AAPC) and CCA or CCS (AHIMA), gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as coding auditor or revenue cycle analyst.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 29-2072 (Medical records specialists).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Medical records specialists (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.