| The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in | | | | same source, the salary increased to $19 per |
| May 2006, the median medical coding salary paid | | | | hour after only five years of experience in the |
| to specialists in this field was $28030. In the year | | | | trade. A medical coder's hourly salary is generally |
| 2010 however, the average starting salary | | | | at its very highest after the individual has 10-19 |
| currently stands at around $35000 per annum, | | | | years experience in their field. |
| however, as may be expected, salaries vary | | | | As you become a specialist you are encouraged |
| according to industry standards and salaries prove | | | | to obtain certification in your profession as this |
| to be higher in some areas of the country than in | | | | can increase your annual salary. With certification, |
| others. According to the PayScale website, coding | | | | a professional coder can expect to earn |
| specialists working in the city of Atlanta can | | | | approximately $43000 per annum. This is |
| expect to earn approximately $14.67 per hour | | | | equivalent to approximately $20.60 per hour. If |
| whilst those working in Chicago can expect to | | | | you specialize in specific fields of medicine such as |
| earn around $11.25 per hour. | | | | neuropsychiatry or nephrology can expect to earn |
| Typically, coding firms for medical organizations | | | | significantly more than the average per year. |
| charge around $17 per medical outpatient report | | | | The salary you can expect is often dependent |
| to medical coding and in general, it can take | | | | upon your place of employment. Specialists that |
| between two and ten minutes to file a report. | | | | are employed to work in general hospitals earn an |
| However in the year 2009, the PayScale website | | | | average of $2 less than those working in acute |
| reported that the median hourly pay for | | | | care hospitals. If you are a specialist contractor to |
| specialists at the very start of their careers | | | | third-party agencies you can expect to earn |
| proved to be approximately $12. After five years | | | | around $19 per hour. In contrast to this, if you |
| experience in the field, the median hourly pay | | | | are self-employed you can expect to earn around |
| would be increased to around $16. This is in | | | | $22 per hour. It is generally accepted that the |
| contrast to the American Academy of | | | | larger the facility through which a medical coding |
| Professional Coders who reported an hourly | | | | specialist is employed, the higher the salary they |
| starting salary of around $14.70. According to this | | | | will receive. |