How Medical Coding Salaries Compare to Other Industries
Money. It’s not the primary reason most of us choose to pursue a profession, but it’s usually among the top factors that influence your decision. This is true for everything from fast-food managers and accountants to dentists, surgeons and professional athletes.
Medical coding is no different. One of the first questions a prospective student may ask is how much salary they can expect to earn—both out of the gate and after they have some years of experience. Let’s take a look at how much medical coders can earn and then compare it to some other industries out there.
How Much Medical Coders Earn
The amount of salary you can earn largely depends on how many (if any) certifications you have. When you obtain a medical coding certification, your earning potential goes up dramatically. It then goes up exponentially the more certifications you earn, as you’ll be building up your expertise.
Here’s how the 2018 medical coding salaries broke down, according to the survey from the AAPC, (number noted is average salary per year):
- CPC: $54,401
- CPB: $52,333
- CRC: $61,295
- COC: $59,125
- CPMA: $66,886
- CDEO: $69,029
- CPPM: $69,835
- CPCO: $74,043
- Specialty: $60,238
- 2 Credentials: $61,880
- 3 Credentials: $68,016
Medical coding professionals can make a great living. But how do these salaries compare to other industries out there?
How Other Similar Industries Compare
For the sake of comparisons, we’ll take a look at industries that don’t require a college degree. (You can definitely pursue a degree for your medical coding profession, but a certification is much easier and affordable.) Here’s the median annual salary for the top high-growth jobs that don’t require a college degree, according to salary.com:
- Home care aide: $26,226
- Receptionist: $30,025
- Heavy truck driver: $38,412
- Carpenter: $44,778
- Office clerk: $31,476
- Sales rep: $75,666
- Bookkeeper: $39,022
As you can see, medical coding compares nicely! If you’re interested in pursuing a successful career as a medical coder or biller, sign up for the three-day class or online course today.
