How Much Do Medical Billers and Coders Make?

Medical coders and billers use coding systems to maintain patient information for billing, insurance reimbursements, and electronic health records. To qualify for these roles, you typically need a postsecondary medical billing and coding certificate. Learn how much medical billers and coders make by specialty, work setting, and location.

You can become a medical billing and coding specialist with a high school diploma, but you can earn higher salaries with a college degree and postsecondary certification.

Source: AAPC

The AAPC’s 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary report shows a 9% increase in salary from 2022 to 2023 for postsecondary degrees, the largest compensation hike year-over-year since the survey’s conception in 2008.

Medical billing and coding specialists with a bachelor’s degree earn an average annual income of $66,500. This salary increases to $81,500 with a master’s degree or higher education. Medical records professionals with no postsecondary education on average earn $58,550 per year — about 28% less than their peers with advanced degrees.

Like education, credentials positively affect salary. In fact, certification is the most influential factor in higher incomes for billers and coders.

The number of industry credentials also influences compensation. According to the AAPC report, medical records specialists who advance to two AAPC credentials bump up to an average annual salary of $71,130 and those with three or more earn $76,040 on average.

The following information shows how medical billing coding specializations influence salaries. Average salaries start on the lower end for billing specialists, with significant pay increases at the management level.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a job growth rate of 8% from 2022 to 2032 for medical records specialists — which includes medical billers and coders. This figure is more than double the average growth rate for all U.S. occupations.

Many medical records specialists retire or transition to other roles, contributing to the sizable opportunities for those entering the coder and biller workforce.

With the rising demand for these roles, income continues to trend upwards based on certification, clinical focus areas, and education. Experience level also plays a crucial role in compensation.

Additional years of experience correlates with increased income. AAPC’s 2024 Report results show a 43% increase in average annual salaries from 2022 to 2023 for billers and coders across the board.

Source: AAPC

California pays medical billing and coding specialists the highest average annual salary of $76,700, followed by Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The size of the community and its economic health can influence compensation rates. AAPC’s 2024 survey shows a 31.5% difference in income from California to the lowest state, West Virginia, at $52,560.

The states with the highest annual pay for medical coders and billers are:

Medical billers and coders in areas with a higher cost of living often earn more. Just as urban areas affect income, large metropolitan areas offer high wages to match the price tag on housing.

As the table below demonstrates, billers and coders in large metropolitan areas earn the most on average. The San Jose—Sunnyvale—Santa Clara, CA metro area tops the list with an average salary of $83,150.

Medical billing and coding specialists’ salaries also vary among practice settings. The largest employer — health systems — pays the highest average salary in 2023. This group of healthcare organizations is trailed by large physician group practices and hospitals.

Other healthcare workplaces that rely on billing and coding specialists include long-term care facilities, outpatient and ambulatory services, home health organizations, and hospice centers.

Additionally, billing and coding specialists are employed by businesses unrelated to direct patient care, including insurance companies, law offices, medical software companies, medical equipment vendors, and the government.

According to the Department of Labor the median 2023 fourth quarter annual earnings for full-time workers in all industries is $59,380. This data includes those with advanced degrees. This figure is marginally lower than the median salary for medical billing and coding specialists at $62,160.

As illustrated by the BLS figures below, medical records specialists earn more than those in similar occupations, with the exception of medical and health services managers, health information technologist, and medical registrars. Billing and coding professionals with certifications, specializations, and higher education levels can increase their earnings significantly.

According to the BLS, the top 10% of medical records specialists make an annual median salary of $77,810, while the lowest-paid 10% earn $35,080. Several factors drive these differences, including certification, education level, and length and type of experience.

Medical billers and coders can increase their salaries through several ways, including pursuing certifications, additional education, and relevant experience.