Medical coders are quintessential to every practice. AAPC released annual salary data on medical coders in its yearly survey.
Here is what you need to know:
1. The average medical coder salary for an AAPC member is $49,872 annually.
2. The average salary for an uncertified medical coder is $39,956 annually.
3. A medical coder with one certification earns $52,605 annually, a coder with two certifications earns $60,305 annually while a coder with three certifications earns $66,999 annually.
4. Coder salaries vary across U.S. regions:
- Pacific: $56,704
- Mid Atlantic: $54,007
- New England: $53,312
- Mountain: $51,083
- South Atlantic: $50,012
- West South Central: $49,772
- West North Central: $48,693
- East North Central: $48,321
- East South Central: $49,722
5. Certified professional coder salary data has increased annually over the last five years:
- 2016: $52,690
- 2015: $51,454
- 2014: $50,030
- 2013: $48,593
- 2012: $47,795
6. Entry level coders make $35,906 annually, while coders with 31 years or more of experience average $67,162.
7. AAPC also collected job satisfaction data:
- 12.3 percent of respondents wanted a position that would pay better
- 8.5 percent wanted to find a job with more advancement opportunities
- 8.7 percent wanted the option to work remotely
8. AAPC also reported institutional data. Health systems are growing their inpatient staff while decreasing their outpatient staff. In 2016, coders made up 9.1 percent of a hospital's outpatient staff (down from 10.6 percent in 2015), while coders made up 5.4 percent of inpatient facility staffs (up from 5.2 percent in 2015).
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