Medical Coding Salaries
Want to know the truth about medical coding salaries? Find out what 12,000 industry professionals had to say about their own salaries in the 2008 Salary Survey conducted by the American Academy of Professional Coders:
The average range for most medical coders is from $39,400 to $46,500. The amount of compensation differs based on factors such as geographical location, employer, level of training, complexity of work, and more.
The average annual wage for a credentialed coder is $43,000, compared to $36,500 for a non-credentialed coder. Certification is still considered optional for many medical coders – although about half of the respondents are required to be certified in their current jobs. In fact, 89% have some type of CPC certification.
Their average medical coding salaries also vary based on length of time spent working in the field: $14.73 per hour for starting pay, $19.33 per hour after five years, $21.75 per hour after 10 years, and $23.37 after 15 years.
The type of coding specialty also appears to influence average salary levels – the more specialized the medical services, the more a medical coder may earn. Here are some of the top earners in the field based on their specialty: neuropsychiatry – $62,500, rheumatology – $57,800, nephrology – $50,900, and plastic surgery – $47,200.
The survey showed that the larger the organization and scope of medical coding services, the more the coding professional usually earns. For example, a medical coder for a 1-to-5 physician practice earns approximately $39,400, a medical coder for a hospital earns approximately $44,700 and a medical coding consultant earns approximately $73,000.
Remember a lot of factors can influence medical coding salaries – from how long the medical coder has worked to their type of medical specialty. However, the AAPC survey shows that medical coders can earn a solid salary at every stage of their career. Even better news? Medical coding salaries increased more than 11% since the 2007 survey – meaning opportunity is on the rise!
Source: http://www.medicalcodingcourses.com/blog/2009/09/curious-about-medical-coding-salaries.html
