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Medical billing and coding is one of the most popular entry points into healthcare admin work. It's a well-paying job that doesn't require a college degree or prior healthcare experience.
On top of that, training takes less than a year, there are many remote positions available, and there are clear opportunities for career advancement.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical billers and coders, a group it categorizes within medical records specialists, earn an average of $56,790 a year, or about $27.30 an hour.
When looking at median numbers, they make $51,140 annually and $24.59 hourly. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $37,000 a year, while the top 10% earn more than $81,150.
It’s important to note that the BLS does not publish a separate wage category covering all medical billers and coders. “Medical Records Specialists” is the closest federal benchmark and includes medical coders and related health-records roles, so billing-only salaries may differ.
How much you earn in medical billing and coding depends on a few factors. As with most jobs, geographic location and experience matter.
With medical billing and coding, there are also variables like whether you're certified, whether you specialize, and whether your role is billing, coding, or a combination of both.
This guide breaks down medical billing and coding pay by state, experience level, and certification. We'll look at how remote work affects pay and tell you how to make more money by making the most of the opportunities this career presents.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary Overview
Learning medical billing and coding is a smart move for many reasons. Besides being accessible, it's a career that is in demand.
The BLS projects 7% job growth for medical records specialists between 2024 and 2034—much faster than the 3% average across all occupations.
An aging population and rising rates of chronic conditions are driving that demand. The BLS also cautions that wider adoption of AI-powered coding tools could soften how many of these workers employers need, so treat continued salary growth as likely but not guaranteed.
The table below shows national pay figures for medical records specialists as reported by the BLS as of May 2025.
Both the average and the median are included: the average is pulled upward by a smaller group of high earners, so the median is the better benchmark for what a typical job in this field pays.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary by State
Pay for medical billers and coders varies a lot by state, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars.
Just remember that cost of living is a significant driver of wages, so a higher salary in an expensive state may not stretch as far as a lower salary somewhere else.
The table below ranks every state by average annual wage for medical billers and coders, from highest to lowest.
Figures are sourced directly from the BLS state wage data for medical records specialists, May 2025.
Medical Biller vs. Medical Coder Pay
Medical billing and coding is often treated as one combined job, and most entry-level roles do cover both functions. But billing and coding are actually two different skill sets, and they can be split into separate jobs that pay differently.
At larger employers, like hospitals and health systems, billing and coding are more likely to be separate departments with their own dedicated staff. In smaller settings like doctors' offices, one person often handles both.
Coders translate physician notes and diagnoses into standardized codes. To do this, they need training in medical terminology and the main code sets: ICD-10-CM for diagnoses, CPT for procedures, and HCPCS Level II for supplies, drugs, and equipment.
Billers use those codes to submit insurance claims and follow up on payment. This part of the job requires more administrative and customer-service skills.
Coding tends to pay more because it requires more specialized knowledge. According to Payscale, medical coders average $23.54 an hour, compared to $20.16 an hour for medical billers, a gap of about 17%.
Billing and coding is sometimes confused with the medical administrative assistant role, but the two aren't the same. A medical administrative assistant may help with billing but also schedules appointments, communicates with patients, and maintains patient records.
Unlike medical administrative assistants, billers and coders focus primarily on health records, coding, claims, and reimbursement rather than general front-office duties.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary by Experience Level
Pay in this field climbs quickly in the first few years, then flattens out around the mid-career mark.
Payscale's data even shows experienced coders averaging slightly less than mid-career coders, a sign that years on the job stop moving the needle on their own. Past that point, certification and specialization matter more than tenure.
Pay tends to progress like this:
- Entry level (less than 1 year): Coders average about $19.33 an hour and billers about $15.35.
- Early career (1 to 4 years): Coders average about $22.34 an hour and billers about $18.73.
- Mid-career (5 to 9 years): Coders average roughly 10% above the average for the role, or about $25.89 an hour. Billers average roughly 1% above, or about $20.36 an hour.
- Experienced and late career (10+ years): Coders average about 8% above the average for the role, or roughly $25.42 an hour. Billers average about 5% above at 10 to 19 years ($21.17) and about 9% above at 20 or more years ($21.97). Growth slows here unless you add credentials or move into a higher-level role like auditing or coding management.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary by Certification
Certified billers and coders typically out-earn uncertified workers. According to the National Healthcareer Association's 2025 Industry Outlook, 94% of employers require or encourage certification for this role.
Here's how pay compares across three of the most recognized credentials, using Payscale's average base salary data by certification.
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
Average salary: $55,000
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) is issued by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and is the certification Stepful's medical billing and coding program prepares students to earn.
To sit for the exam, candidates need a high school diploma or GED, plus either a billing and coding training program completed within the past five years, like Stepful's, or one year of supervised work experience within the past three years (or two years within the past five).
CBCS is the most accessible entry-level credential of the three. It's a common starting point for combined billing-and-coding roles, especially in physician offices and smaller practices.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
Average salary: $67,000 (CPC), $63,874 (CPB)
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) are two separate credentials issued by AAPC, and many people earn both. The CPC is the most widely held medical coding credential in the field. AAPC's 2025 salary survey found that members holding two or more of its credentials average $74,557 a year.
Holding both shows employers you can work across both sides of the revenue cycle. It gives you the versatility to work in physician offices, outpatient clinics, and multi-specialty practices.
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
Average salary: $77,000
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) is issued by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It is commonly associated with hospital and inpatient coding, while CPC focuses primarily on professional services and physician-office coding.
CCS-certified coders are more likely to work in hospitals and other inpatient settings, where coding is more complex and involves a wider range of diagnoses and procedures per case. That added complexity is reflected in the higher average pay.
Remote vs. In-Office Medical Billing and Coding Salary
Medical billing and coding is one of the more common remote-friendly entry-level healthcare roles. Because the work is computer-based and doesn't involve direct patient contact, many employers offer fully remote or hybrid positions.
Remote roles tend to pay at least as much as in-office ones, and often more. Glassdoor estimates total pay for remote medical coders at about $64,000 a year, compared with about $59,000 for medical coders overall.
Keep in mind that employers hiring remote coders usually look for prior experience, so that figure partly reflects a more seasoned group. Many people start on-site and move remote once they have a track record.
The trade-off may be how the pay is structured. Some remote roles are salaried employee positions with benefits. Others are contract roles that may be based on productivity.
Productivity-based pay depends on the volume of charts or claims processed rather than a set hourly rate. That can work in your favor if you're fast and accurate. Experienced coders can sometimes earn more than they would at a set hourly rate.
However, it can also mean income is less predictable than a standard salaried role and may not include benefits.
How to Increase Your Pay in Medical Billing and Coding
There are several concrete ways to grow your income in medical billing and coding beyond the entry-level starting wage. Some of these strategies require more training, but they are open to anyone willing to pursue them.
Here are some strategies for increasing pay:
- Get certified: Certified workers consistently out-earn uncertified peers, and most employers now expect it. A credible medical billing and coding certification program, including online options, is often the fastest way to boost your starting pay.
- Move from billing into coding: If you start in a billing-focused role, add coding skills and certification. This can meaningfully raise your pay, since coding consistently pays more than billing alone.
- Pursue an advanced credential: Workers with a CCS credential average significantly more—$77,000 vs. $55,000—than those with entry-level certifications.
- Move into auditing or compliance: Coding auditor and compliance-focused roles pay well above standard billing and coding positions and build directly on the skills you already have.
- Consider a national or remote employer: Revenue cycle management companies and national insurers hire remotely across the country, which can open up higher-paying opportunities that aren't limited to your local job market.
- Specialize in a high-demand coding area: Inpatient, risk adjustment, and specialty surgical coding are generally more complex and better compensated than general outpatient coding.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary FAQs
What is the average salary for medical billing and coding?
The BLS reports an average annual wage of $56,790, or $27.30 an hour, as of May 2025. The median is $51,140. The occupation category that includes medical billers and coders is called medical records specialists.
Do medical coders make more than medical billers?
Generally, yes. Payscale data shows medical coders averaging $23.54 an hour, compared to $20.16 an hour for medical billers, since coding requires more specialized technical training.
Does certification increase medical billing and coding pay?
Yes. Certified workers with credentials like CPC, CCS, or CBCS tend to earn more than uncertified workers. It also helps open the door to more job opportunities, since 94% of employers require or encourage certification for this role, according to the National Healthcareer Association.
Can you make more money working remotely in medical billing and coding?
Often, yes. Glassdoor estimates total pay for remote medical coders at about $64,000 a year, compared with about $59,000 for medical coders overall. Most remote roles favor candidates with prior experience, though.
What's the entry-level salary for medical billing and coding?
Payscale reports that entry-level coders typically start between $19.33 and $22.34 an hour. Entry-level billers start a bit lower, from $15.35 to $18.73 per hour. BLS data shows the lowest-paid 10% of medical records specialists earn less than $37,000 a year, or about $17.79 an hour.
Which state pays medical billers and coders the most?
The District of Columbia pays the most, with an average annual wage of $80,250, followed by California, Washington, New York, and Hawaii.
Is medical billing and coding a good career for beginners?
Yes. It's one of the more accessible healthcare careers since it doesn't require a college degree, clinical hours, or prior experience. An online training program, like Stepful's Medical Coding and Billing Course, that prepares you for certification is typically the fastest path in.
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