Medical Coding Jobs
The old saying is “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” should be forefront in your mind when it comes to the promises made about medical coding jobs. Many colleges, online programs and home study courses will promise you high wages, the flexibility to work from home and the chance to choose your hours once you become a medical coder, but what is the truth?
The Truth About Medical Coding Jobs
According to a survey compiled by the American Academy of Professional Coders, here are some facts about medical coding jobs and pay levels:
- Consultants earn the highest wages as educators in the field of medical coding. Average earnings equaled slightly more than $54,804 annually.
- Medical coding specialists with 1 – 2 years of experience earned an average annual wage of almost $30,000.
- While there is no regulatory requirement for certification, 1036 of 1226 survey respondents indicated that certification was required by their employer.
Medical coders work in a variety of roles including as coding specialists, compliance officers, office managers, compliance audit specialists, health information technicians, reimbursement managers, claim reviewers, medical records supervisors and trainers or consultants.
Thirty seven percent of medical coding jobs are found in hospitals according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor. While most medical coding jobs are found in health care organizations, clinics and physician offices, some medical coders are also employed in public health departments and insurance companies. The largest area of new job growth is expected to be in nursing homes.
The average wage across 16 medical coding jobs – from the hands-on medical coder working in an office to the high paid consultant in medical coding – was $41,000 in 2004.In every setting, medical coding employees with certification in their field earned more than non-certified workers.
Sometimes old sayings can be true: If you want a good job with good pay, invest in your medical coding career through advanced education and certification. Find more frequently asked questions on medical coder job .