SOC 29-2072 · May 2025
Medical Coder Salary
Medical Coders in the US earn a median of $51,140 a year ($27.30 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Medical Coder pay climbed from $48,310 in 2021 to $56,790 in 2025, a +17.6% change in 4 years.
Median annual
$51,140
Half of all Medical Coders in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+17.6% since 2021 · +1.5% YoY
Hourly
$27.30
Job growth 2025-35
+7.8%
US workers
194,720
BLS series
Annual median wage for Medical Records Specialists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Medical Coders is $37,000 – $81,150.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$37,000
25th
$43,490
Median
$51,140
75th
$64,820
90th
$81,150
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Medical Coders. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $37,000 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $43,490 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $51,140 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $64,820 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $81,150 |
Geography
Medical Coder pay by state
Medical Coders earn the most in D.C. ($72,040, +41% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($41,500). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$51,140
Highest-paying states for medical coders
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $72,040 | +41% | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $63,960 | +25% | 650 |
| Hawaii | $63,180 | +24% | 400 |
| Washington | $62,270 | +22% | 5,010 |
| California | $61,810 | +21% | 18,700 |
| New York | $61,720 | +21% | 9,080 |
| Minnesota | $61,530 | +20% | 3,150 |
| Alaska | $61,090 | +19% | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $60,940 | +19% | 1,120 |
| Massachusetts | $60,350 | +18% | 3,500 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. | $72,040 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $63,960 | 650 |
| Hawaii | $63,180 | 400 |
| Washington | $62,270 | 5,010 |
| California | $61,810 | 18,700 |
| New York | $61,720 | 9,080 |
| Minnesota | $61,530 | 3,150 |
| Alaska | $61,090 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $60,940 | 1,120 |
| Massachusetts | $60,350 | 3,500 |
| Wisconsin | $60,280 | 2,870 |
| Colorado | $59,020 | 1,780 |
| Oregon | $59,000 | 2,560 |
| Vermont | $57,560 | – |
| New Mexico | $57,470 | 1,400 |
| Illinois | $56,440 | 5,740 |
| Delaware | $56,060 | 610 |
| South Carolina | $54,280 | 2,750 |
| Maryland | $54,220 | 2,440 |
| Wyoming | $54,210 | 280 |
| Idaho | $53,460 | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $53,460 | 2,480 |
| Virginia | $53,290 | 4,630 |
| Utah | $52,870 | 1,910 |
| Maine | $52,090 | 1,000 |
| Nebraska | $51,670 | 1,640 |
| South Dakota | $51,610 | 900 |
| Georgia | $51,550 | 5,930 |
| Ohio | $50,990 | 7,440 |
| Missouri | $50,750 | 3,890 |
| Iowa | $50,640 | 2,250 |
| Nevada | $50,300 | 2,350 |
| New Jersey | $50,240 | 4,450 |
| Montana | $50,190 | 820 |
| North Carolina | $49,620 | 6,760 |
| New Hampshire | $49,210 | 930 |
| Texas | $48,860 | 17,210 |
| Tennessee | $48,780 | 4,440 |
| Kentucky | $48,410 | 4,210 |
| Kansas | $48,160 | 2,030 |
| Michigan | $48,120 | 4,890 |
| Indiana | $47,670 | 5,860 |
| Arizona | $47,630 | 3,750 |
| West Virginia | $47,360 | 1,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,840 | 6,970 |
| North Dakota | $46,280 | 520 |
| Florida | $45,760 | 21,490 |
| Louisiana | $44,610 | 2,600 |
| Alabama | $43,810 | 2,330 |
| Arkansas | $41,740 | 1,920 |
| Mississippi | $41,500 | 2,310 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Medical Coders
Medical records specialists (BLS SOC 29-2072) compile, process, and maintain patient health records using ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding standards. The role typically requires post-secondary training and certification (CCA, CCS, RHIT, or RHIA). Specialized inpatient coders, audit specialists, and remote-coding-from-home positions typically pay above entry-level coding wages. The OEWS figure covers both medical billing and coding under the same SOC.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $37,000 – $81,150. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are D.C., Rhode Island and Hawaii. Pay in D.C. runs 1.7 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 14,000 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 7.8% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Medical Coder salary in the US?
How much does a Medical Coder make an hour?
How much do Medical Coders make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Medical Coders the most?
Is the average Medical Coder salary higher than the median?
Is Medical Coder a growing career?
Open positions
Open Medical Coder roles hiring now
Browse current Medical Coder listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-2072. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.