Medical coders and billers have a very important role in the healthcare reimbursement cycle.
They transcribe the information contained in healthcare documentations into standardized systems of codes, and then using these codes, they create medical claims to make sure doctors, clinicians, dentists and other healthcare providers are properly reimbursed for the services they perform.
No wonder why they are so highly valued in the healthcare industry.
But what is their actual worth?
What are the salary prospects for medial coders and billers working in the United States?
The answer to this question depends on the work experience a professional has, their qualifications and their location.
If you are an inexperienced professional, having no certification, you can expect to get paid somewhere around $35,000 per year. It’s the median salary range for medical coders and billers. However, finding a job with no certification can be little difficult.
Of course, if you are an AAPC certified medical coder or biller, your salary prospects improve. You can easily earn up to $50,000 a year.
Add experience, and you’re earning really good.
But experience and certifications are not the only two things that determine your salary; which state you are working in also matters.
There are some rapidly expanding healthcare markets out there that don’t really have enough qualified coders and billers to cater to the industry growth. Healthcare organizations operating in these markets tend to pay their staff more.
Currently, the job and salary prospects for medical coders and billers are most impressive in the Pacific. States likes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington pay medical coders and billers an average of $60,011 per year.
This is closely followed by Mid Atlantic markets, where the median salary range for medical coders and billers is $57,013.
Next is New England, with $56, 686.
You can expect the median salary range for medical coders and billers to vary from state to state.
It’s worth mentioning here that medical coders usually get paid more than medical billers. The difference is not significant, but it does exist. This can be attributed to medical coding being more exhaustive in nature than medical billing.
Do you have any other questions about the field of medical coding andbilling that you would like to ask? Feel free to reach out; our industry experts will be happy to help you.
Also, if you are looking for comprehensive, self-paced training programs to prepare yourself for the AAPC certification exam, don’t forget to check out our program offerings. Our medical coding and billing programs are specifically designed according to the study guidelines for the AAPC certification exam.
A BONUS read: 7 Questions to Expect in a Job Interview after Passing Out of Medical Coding and Billing School