Clearly, if you are perusing this website, one of the most important pieces of information you will be interested in is Medical Coding Salary and Wage information. Most people are not interested in spending the time and money required to become a certified medical coder without the prospect of a solid job with a good salary and room for advancement. Well, not to worry. You have come to the right place. And frankly, the outlook for medical coding salary and wage opportunities are exceptional. In fact, medical coding salaries and wages have been increasing dramatically in recent years. This is due, at least in part, to the supply demand imbalance in the medical coding industry. There is currently a large shortage of trained medical coders. This spells opportunity for certified medical coders and puts upward pressure on already escalating medical coding salaries and wages.
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New studies are published almost every year on the wage and salary growth in the medical coding industry. Also, the Department of Labor tracks wages and salaries for a very large number of occupations, - this includes medical coding salary and wage information. The most recently published Department of Labor statistics indicate that the average salary for medical coding professionals now exceeds $32,000 per year.
There are two organizations that certify medical coders. One of these organizations, The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), publishes an annual survey of medical coding salary and wage information. The 2007 medical coding salary survey contains the following information:
Average Medical Coding Industry Annual Salary by Title:
Medical Coding Specialist: $30,000 - $35,000
Medical Coding Professional: $30,000 - $35,000
Medical Coding Manager: $40,000 - $45,000
Medical Billing Manager: $35,000 - $40,000
Medical Coding Audit Specialist: $40,000 - $45,000
Medical Coding Compliance Manager: $55,000 - $60,000
Medical Records Supervisor: $40,000 - $45,000
Health Information Administrator: $85,000 +
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There are a couple of things to be aware of in evaluating medical coding salary and wage information.
1. Certified Medical Coders earn on average 17% more than non-certified medical coders, according the AAPC medical coding salary survey.
2. There is a very solid career path for medical coding professionals. Wages increase with responsibility and advanced certification. According to the AAPC Salary Survey, a full eight percent of medical coders possessing a specialty credential earned in excess of $85,000 per year.
3. Longevity and experience in the medical coding profession pay dividends, according to the 2007 AAPC Medical Coding Salary Survey. Medical coders with an entry level credential and one year or less of experience earn an average of $25,000 - $30,000 per year. Medical coders with 18 or more years of experience earn an average of 70% to 80% more: $45,000 - $50,000 annually.
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