Medical Coding Salary
Find Average Medical Billing and Coding Salaries and Figures.
Medical billers and coders have different sets of skills and specialties. A medical biller is at the lowest end of the range for medical billing and coding salaries. A medical biller could be a billing worker, who handles the submission of claims for Medicaid, Medicare or insurance companies. A medical coder or coding specialist is responsible for translating symptoms and descriptions of diseases, drugs and procedures into medical codes. These codes are used for payment claims and maintenance of statistical records.
According to a survey by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) in 2008, the average medical coding salary for a certified coding specialist is USD 43,100. Those who are equipped with a master`s degree earn significantly higher than those who have only bachelor`s or associate`s degrees. Medical coding salaries for certified medical coders are higher than those who are not certified. The average medical billing and coding salary ranges from USD 39400 to USD46500. The annual medical coding salary in specialized areas can be as high as USD62500.
The career outlook for medical billing and coding specialists is certainly good. Currently there is a shortage of qualified medical coding specialists, and the demand is expected to escalate. This is due to the expansion of the medical industry in areas of medical tests, treatments and procedures, as well as the increase in the elderly population requiring health care. In time to come, every medical office is required to have at least one certified medical coding specialist for Medicare.
Medical coding and billing specialists usually work in hospitals, healthcare institutions or medical clinics; some medical coders have their own businesses. The career path of a medical coding specialist is equally lucrative. A medical coding specialist can progress either by moving into managerial positions such as billing and coding managers, or specialize. A number of specialized areas that command higher medical coding salaries are neuropsychiatry, rheumatology, nephrology, plastic surgery and interventional radiology.