Intro
Are you planning a career in the healthcare industry? Do you prefer working behind the scenes rather than with patients? Medical billing and coding could be your perfect fit. But before making any decision about choosing it, you might have a question about medical billers and coders’ expected salary in 2025, right?
The medical billers and coders earn about $42,000 to $65,000 per year. They also get additional pay, which may include bonuses, profits, or commissions. In this guide, you’ll get:
- The Medical Billing and Coding Salary average salary in 2025
- Entry-level medical billing and coding salary
- Pay differences by state, by certification, and by experience
- Hourly pay for Medical Billing and Coding Salary
- Remote medical coding salary in the USA trends
By the end of this blog, you’ll get to know what this in-demand career gives you and how to increase your income as you grow.
What Do Medical Billers and Coders Actually Do?
Before diving directly into the numbers that medical billers and coders make annually, let’s learn about their roles. It will help you to analyze the role and income balance.
- Medical coders analyze clinical documentation and assign standardized codes for diagnosis and procedures. For example, coding terminologies like ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision), HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System), and CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) are most common.
- Medical billers use these codes to submit any insurance claims, review any unpaid bills, check and analyze payments of patients, and check their invoices.
- You can also do both jobs at a time as a medical billing and coding specialist or a healthcare information technician.
If you do your work with accuracy and speed, this job is for you. It helps many healthcare providers get paid correctly and on time. Many medical billers and coders earn according to their expertise, experience, certification, and the hospital or clinic they work in. So, you’ll always find a range of salaries for this post.
Entry-Level Medical Billing and Coding Salary
Are you about to start a career and afraid of getting less in return? No worries! Starting salary is always lower, but medical billers and coders, along with their salaries, grow with time. Beginners can easily make $35k to $50k per year.
If you calculate an hourly pay, it would be $17 to $25. It varies depending on the location and the type of training you get. Graduates can start from $18 per hour, and this hourly pay increases as they gain experience.
Certified & Non-Certified Medical Coder and their Average Salary
In 2025, medical coders in the US earn approximately $55,000 to $75,000 per year. Their salary package depends on their workplace, work setting, experience, and certification. You can clearly see the difference between certified & non-certified medical coders’ salary packages.
Certified & Non-Certified Medical Coders
Non-certified medical coders don’t have any credentials and according to the AAPC 2025 salary survey, they can earn less than the certified coders__$61,000 annually.
You don’t need to be certified to be a medical coder, but certification proves you are skilled and serious about your career. If you want to be a certified coder, you have to pass tough exams in medical coding, anatomy, and medical terminology.
Actually, it gives a clear certificate to the coders that they can read and interpret patient charts accurately. In other words, certifications show the professionalism of an employee. There are several types of certifications that you can adopt, such as:
- CPC–Certified Professional Coder: It is best for beginners. After completing this certificate, you can easily report services and diagnoses. Entry-level candidates quickly get medical coding jobs if they have this credential.
- COC–Certified Outpatient Coder: If you want to join outpatient services, COC is a good option. Outpatient services may include ER visits, lab work, imaging, and same-day surgeries.
- CIC–Certified Inpatient Coder: If you want to work inside the hospital, CIC is waiting for you. You have to look at the admitted patients’ diagnosis, complex treatments, and surgical procedures.
- CRC–Certified Risk Adjustment Coder: This certification is in high demand. After getting this credential, you have to deal with patients who have some complex and serious health conditions.
Effect of more than two Credentials on Annual Pay for Medical Billing and Coding Salary
The good news is you can have more than one credential at a time. You get an annual salary according to the number of certifications you have. For example, a medical coder with one credential earns approximately $67,000. Coders with two credentials make an average of ~$80,000. Medical coders with more than two certifications can get $84,414 per year. Hence, the difference is clear–it would be as sweet as the amount of jaggery added.
According to 2025 data, have a brief look at the certified medical coder salary:
| Certification Type | Average Annual Salary | Focus Area |
| Non-Certified Coder (experienced) | $61,000 | Basic data management |
| CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) | $74,000-$75,000 | Hospital/inpatient coding |
| CPC (Certified Professional Coder) | $64,500 | Outpatient coding |
| CPB (Certified Professional Biller) | $65,000 | Reimbursement and billing |
| CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) | More than $75,000 | Physician practice coding and hospital |
| More than 2 AAPC credentials | $79,000-$85,000 | — |
Hence, you can see that getting only one recognised certification can increase your salary up to 10-30%. Multiple credentials can give you more than $80k annually with bonuses and profits.
Benefits along with a Paycheck
Your job as a medical biller or coder comes with more than a good salary. Some great offers you can get are as follows:
- Paid time off to take some rest and recharge
- Tuition help if you want to study further
- Health insurance to get you covered
- Retirement plans to secure your future
- Continuing education support helps you stay certified and in demand
How Does Location Affect Medical Billing and Coding Salary? Which State Pays the Most?
Location is an absolute thing in deciding what your pay will be for any field. You can earn well in one state while your friend living on the other side of the country working in the same post might be earning less.
As per AAPC’s 2025 salary survey, the average annual income of medical billing and coding specialists can vary by more than 30% from state to state. For instance,
- In Mississippi, the average annual salary is approximately $56,166 ($27 per hour).
- On the other hand, in California, you can easily earn about $80,189 ($38.55 per hour).
The pay difference in both states isn’t due to education level, experience, or certification — it occurs due to economic factors. Some states, like California, offer expensive housing and a higher cost of living, which ultimately leads to higher wages. Similarly, states with a low cost of living offer less incomes.
The crux is that smaller towns offer lower income but with a cheaper cost of living, while bigger states offer higher income. Check the following snapshot of average annual salaries per state (2025)
| States | Average Annual Salaries (2025) |
| California | $74,000 – $90,000 |
| New York | $68,000 – $80,000 |
| Florida | $50,000 – $60,000 |
| Texas | $56,000 – $65,000 |
| North Carolina | $50,000 – $58,000 |
| Illinois | $58,000 – $67,000 |
| Ohio | $49,000 – $56,000 |
| Arizona | $53,000 – $63,000 |
| Alabama | $43,000 – $53,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,000 – $61,000 |
Hence, all the states showing higher salaries are the ones that are quite expensive for living.
How to Boost Your Medical Billing and Coding Salary in 2025-2026?
Want to level up your income this year? We’ve got your back! Check out the following practical ways to earn more:
- Choose the Right Specialty: If you have decided to join medical coding, try to choose a field that offers more, like oncology or surgical coding.
- Get Certified: No doubt, certifications play a significant role in landing a better job. So, try to have nationally recognized certifications for a better future.
- Stay Updated: Advanced tools and technology are the best way to keep yourself updated. It’s an AI era, so learn how to use it to make your job easy peasy lemon squeezy.
- Negotiate Your Salary: By reading this blog, you must be aware of the expected salary of a Medical Biller or a Coder, so don’t compromise on negotiation of your salary when joining a company.
- Explore Remote or Hybrid Roles: Some areas offer higher Medical Billing and Coding Salaries in remote roles than in on-site jobs. So, after getting some experience in on-site roles, go for remote ones.
Real Life Example of Career Growth in Medical Billing and Coding Salary
Here’s an example of how Jenna and Mark grew their careers in Medical Billing and Coding:
Jenna began her journey as a medical biller at a local clinic in Florida, getting $18 per hour. She was studying for her CPC certification after working hours, and after two years, her pay increased to $25 per hour. Today, she is earning $68,000 annually for her remote job — and enjoys the freedom of working from home.
Similarly, Mark started her job without any experience at a doctor’s clinic with $34,000 per year. After getting his CSS certification along with inpatient coding, he got a position at a major hospital. Five years later, his salary increased to $72,000 per year, and now he is monitoring new coders entering the field.
Like their dedication, steady learning, and certification, you can also turn your entry-level job into a well-settled career.
How to Start Your Career in Medical Billing and Coding?
Want to start a healthcare job immediately? There’s no need to have a two or four-year degree to begin. Many online healthcare websites and institutes offer medical billing and coding programs through partner schools in California & Texas. It is built to get you a job in less time.
Moreover, it’s a training session of a few months, and after getting certifications, you can start your job soon. If you join the CBCS certification, you can get skills in both Medical Billing & Coding, which can help you stand out to employers and get hired fast.
hcpro.com, HIAlearn.com, and Calregional.com offer outstanding billing and coding programs that lead to jobs soon after.
FAQs
What is the future for medical billing and coding jobs?
The future of medical billers and coders and to be — is bright! The prediction of job growth of about 8%-16% is real over the next ten years. The reasons for this much growth in the billing and coding career are as follows:
- Constant change in insurance rules
- Healthcare services
- Growing use of technology in hospitals and clinics
Hence, if you want a permanent career, choose this immediately as it offers job security, steady demand, and remote work options.
Is medical billing and coding hard to learn?
It can be hard at the beginning because you have to memorise all the medical terms and codes. But you can pick it up quickly with practice and proper training. Two things are important in this field — attention & consistency.
What are the in-demand medical coding certifications?
The top certifications include the following:
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB)
Each credential offers more pay and better career growth.
How long does it take to become a certified medical coder?
6-12 months are required to complete one certification program. If you have prior health experience or you study full-time, you can complete it in less time.
Can I work from home in this field?
Yes! Once you get enough experience in this field, you can easily switch to working from home. Many healthcare networks, hospitals, and insurance companies are offering this opportunity to their billing and coding staff. Some professionals stay with their current employers, while others find new fully remote positions for more flexibility.
Conclusion
You have deeply analyzed medical billers and coders’ annual pay packages. But remember, no matter how experienced a medical biller or coder you are, some factors will always influence your pay:
- Specialization
- Certifications
- Consistency
If you have dedication and skill, you can get both career satisfaction and financial stability for years to come.
