What is the Income Range for a Career in Medical Billing & Coding?
A career in medical billing and coding is one of the few in the health-care industry that does not require hands-on interaction with patients. This field consists of several different types of jobs, each dealing with how patients' medical records are handled and various steps in the billing process. The income range for a medical billing and coding worker will depend on his job title and the type of facility.
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Considerations
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A career in medical billing and coding falls into the general job category of medical records and health information technicians, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some technicians are responsible for assembling all patient record information, including test results and prescriptions. Other technicians specialize in a specific area. For example, medical coders use classification software to assign codes to diagnoses and treatment recommendations. These codes help insurance providers decide how much they should reimburse. Other technicians specialize in cancer registry, reviewing the records and pathology reports of cancer patients and tracking survivor and success rates.
Income Range
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The average income for a career in medical billing and coding is $33,880, and the median income is $31,290. On the lower end of the salary scale, those in the 10th percentile earn $20,850, and those in the 25th percentile earn $24,870. On the higher end, those in the 75th percentile earn $40,540 and those in the 90th percentile earn $51,510.
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Employer
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The type of employer a medical billing and coding technician has will affect where his income falls on the scale. Those in the industry of pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing earn the highest average income at $61,210, while those working in the offices of physicians earn the lowest at $28,460. Hospitals pay medical billing and coding technicians above the national average at $35,870, as does the federal executive branch at $45,120. A medical billing and coding career in scientific research and development services can also bring in a higher than average income at $42,050.
State
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The income range for medical billing and coding technicians also varies from state to state. South Dakota has the highest concentration of workers in this field and offers a slightly below average salary of $31,310, while Alaska has the second highest concentration and offers an above average salary of $39,490. New Jersey, Hawaii and Washington, D.C., offer the highest wages at $45,750, $41,340 and $41,290 respectively.
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References
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