Online Medical Coding Salary
Medical histories, diagnoses, symptoms and medical test results all need to be properly coded by a technician in order to be reimbursed by the patient’s insurance company. It is the responsibility of the medical coder to ensure the accurate transcription of medical information into code, so that payments are received in a timely manner. An online medical coding technician performs these functions remotely.
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Average Salary
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In 2010, the average salary for a medical coder was $35,010 or $16.83 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in professional, political organizations earned the highest wages of $49,710. However, general medical and surgical hospitals had the highest number of employed medical coders. Physicians' offices had the highest concentration of employment for coders with 1.79 percent of the industry.
Pay by Geography
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Pay for medical coders can vary depending on geography. The BLS recorded New Jersey as the state with the highest average salary at $47,050 per year. The state with the largest medical coding workforce was California. The state with the highest concentration of medical coders was South Dakota.
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Pay by Education
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In 2010, the American Academy of Professional Coders reported that average pay was likely to increase with higher levels of education. Non-certified coders with a high school diploma reported an average income of $36,764. Those with a bachelor's degree saw more than a $10,000 increase in average pay, earning $47,421.
Pay with Certification
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In addition to education level, coders who have earned a professional certification also received higher average salaries. In 2010, the average salary of a coder with a certification from the American Academy of Professional Coders was $45,404. Coders without a certification made almost 18 percent less, earning only $37,746. Coders with a certification and a bachelor's degree made an average of $51,389.
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References
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