Medical Billing Salaries 2024: How Much Do Medical billing specialists Earn?
If you’re exploring a career in medical billing or you’re already working in the field,you’re likely curious about how much you can earn in 2024. Medical billing specialists play a critical role in healthcare, translating clinical services into billable claims and ensuring practices receive timely payment. With rising healthcare management demands and the expansion of telehealth, salary prospects for medical billers have evolved, offering competitive pay, remote options, and opportunities for advancement. In this article, we break down the latest salary trends, what drives pay, and practical steps to boost earnings.
What do medical billing specialists do?
Medical billing specialists handle the administrative side of healthcare finances.Core duties often include:
- Submitting insurance claims and patient invoices
- reviewing and correcting claim errors (denials management)
- Verifying patient insurance eligibility and benefits
- Code entry using CPT/ICD-10 codes and insurance rules
- Communicating with providers,payers,and patients
- Maintaining compliant records and ensuring timely payments
These tasks require attention to detail,familiarity with healthcare coding and billing software,and a customer-service mindset. as the healthcare landscape becomes more complex, the demand for skilled medical billing specialists remains strong, which in turn influences salary potential in 2024.
2024 Salary landscape: key takeaways
Salary data for 2024 reflects robust demand, regional differences, and the impact of professional certifications. Here are some high-level takeaways:
- Typical hourly pay ranges from the low teens to the upper-20s, depending on experience and location.
- Annual salaries commonly span from the mid-$30,000s for entry-level roles to the $60,000-$75,000 range for experienced or specialized billers, with higher ceilings in some markets.
- Remote or hybrid roles are increasingly available,sometimes with compensation advantages or cost-of-living considerations.
- Certifications and advanced knowledge (denials management, billing software, payer rules) can meaningfully boost earnings.
National overview
Across the united States, salary data from industry sources in 2024 suggests:
- Entry-level medical billing specialists: roughly $16-$22 per hour, or about $33,000-$46,000 per year.
- Mid-level (several years of experience): roughly $22-$28 per hour, or about $46,000-$58,000 per year.
- Senior or specialized roles (5+ years, or expertise in denial management, Medicare/Medicaid, or large practise environments): roughly $28-$38+ per hour, or $58,000-$79,000+ per year.
Keep in mind these ranges can shift based on geography, employer type, and individual credentials. The numbers below provide more detail on how pay varies by experience, employer, and location.
Salary by experience level
Experience is one of the strongest predictors of pay in medical billing. Here’s a practical breakdown:
| Experience level | Hourly wage | Annual salary (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (0-2 years) | $16-$22 | $33,000-$46,000 |
| Mid-level (3-5 years) | $22-$28 | $46,000-$58,000 |
| Senior/Advanced (5+ years) | $28-$38+ (often $30-$40) | $58,000-$79,000+ |
Note: some highly specialized roles (for example, expertise in oncology billing, complex workers’ compensation, or government payer programs) can exceed these ranges, especially in large multi-specialty practices or hospital systems.
Salary by employer type
The type of employer influences compensation, benefits, and growth potential. Here’s how pay can vary by setting:
- Hospitals and large health systems: often offer stable salaries,benefits,and pathways to advancement; pay tends to be competitive for experienced billers.
- Physician practices (groups, clinics): salaries are solid but can vary with practice size and location; independent practices may offer variable bonuses or profit-sharing in certain specific cases.
- Urgent care centers and specialty clinics: can offer higher hourly rates for in-demand skills or denials management expertise.
- Medical billing outsourcing firms: may provide consistent pay with flexible schedules,especially for remote teams.
- Remote-first employers: growing trend; may offer competitive wages paired with the versatility of telework.
Here’s a concise snapshot of typical hourly ranges by employer type:
| Employer type | Typical hourly range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | $18-$28 | Frequently enough bilingual advantage and large payer mix |
| Physician groups | $18-$26 | Varies with specialty and location |
| Outsourcing firms | $19-$28 | Denials handling and process improvement skills boost value |
| Remote-only roles | $20-$32 | Potential flexibility and broader geographic reach |
Salary by location: where you earn more
Geography plays a crucial role in medical billing salaries. Urban centers and states with high costs of living tend to pay more, while rural areas may offer lower base wages but possibly lower living costs. Here are representative ranges by region and select states to illustrate the pattern (hourly basis):
- west Coast (e.g., California, Washington): typically $20-$29/hour
- Northeast (e.g., New York, Massachusetts): typically $21-$30/hour
- Midwest (e.g., Illinois, Ohio): typically $19-$26/hour
- South (e.g., Texas, Florida, Georgia): typically $18-$25/hour
Table: Average hourly wage by select states (illustrative ranges for 2024)
| State | Average hourly wage range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $22-$28 | Large healthcare market; higher cost of living |
| New York | $23-$29 | Demand-driven by dense patient population |
| texas | $19-$26 | Strong growth in private practice and multi-sites |
| Florida | $18-$25 | Growing telehealth and outpatient services |
| Illinois | $20-$27 | Urban centers offer higher end of range |
For those who can work remotely, earnings can vary based on the payer mix and the cost of living in the employee’s location rather than the employer’s location. Remote roles can still offer competitive pay, with some employers aligning rates to national averages plus location-based adjustments.
Certifications and their impact on salary
Professional certifications can have a meaningful impact on earning potential in medical billing. They validate expertise, improve efficiency, and reduce denial rates for payers. Common certifications include:
- certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) – NCCT
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB) – AAPC
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) – National Center for Competency Testing (for broader admin roles, still relevant)
- CPC-A or CPC – Coding credentials also add value in billing environments that require coding accuracy
How certifications influence pay:
- Higher starting salaries for certified billers in some markets
- Faster progression into senior or specialized roles (e.g., denial management, payer relations)
- Improved performance metrics (lower denial rates, faster claim submission) that translate into bonuses or merit raises
Additionally, proficiency with popular practice management and billing software (e.g., Kareo, AdvancedMD, Epic, Athenahealth) can amplify earning potential when combined with certifications and experience.
Remote vs on-site compensation: what to expect in 2024
The ongoing shift toward remote work has impacted medical billing compensation in several ways:
- Remote roles can offer flexible schedules and access to a national pool of employers.
- Pay scales for remote positions may align with national averages rather than local markets, sometimes increasing income for workers in lower-cost areas.
- some remote roles come with accelerated career ladders and additional responsibilities such as team oversight or client account management.
practical tip: when evaluating remote opportunities, consider total compensation (benefits, time flexibility, training opportunities, and performance bonuses) in addition to base pay.A remote role with strong benefits and training can be financially advantageous even if the hourly rate is modest.
Practical tips to increase earnings
if you want to maximize your medical billing salary in 2024 and beyond,consider the following strategies:
- Earn relevant certifications (CBCS,CPB,CPC-A) to demonstrate expertise and improve negotiation power.
- Develop specialization in arduous payer segments (Medicare/Medicaid, workers’ compensation, or oncology/orthopedics billing).
- Gain proficiency with denials management and claim resubmission processes to improve cash flow for your employer.
- Learn popular billing software and EHR systems used in your target market (Kareo, Epic, NextGen, Medical Office Online).
- Improve accuracy and timeliness metrics-accuracy rates and denial rates are often tied to raises and promotions.
- Seek roles with opportunities for supervisory or project-based work (team lead, trainer, or process-improvement specialist).
- Negotiate for remote work options, flexible schedules, or performance-based bonuses when appropriate.
Bonus tip: building a portfolio of accomplished denial reductions and cash-flow improvements can be a powerful bargaining tool when negotiating salary or a raise.
case studies and firsthand experience
While individual experiences vary, here are two representative narratives that illustrate common career paths in medical billing:
Case Study A: From entry-level to senior billing specialist
Maria started as an entry-level medical billing clerk at a mid-sized clinic earning $18/hour. She pursued the CBCS certification within her first year and became proficient in denial management, Medicare rules, and CPT/ICD-10 coding basics. After two years, her hourly wage rose to $26-$28, and she moved into a senior role with responsibilities like training new staff and auditing billing processes. by year four, Maria earned about $62,000 annually and was leading a small team.
Case Study B: Remote medical biller with specialization
Alex began as a remote medical biller for a nationwide outsourcing firm, earning $20/hour. He focused on improving denial rates for a subset of payer programs and earned CPB certification. After three years, he moved into a senior remote role with a $30/hour rate and additional performance-based bonuses.He now manages a small team that handles complex claims for several clinics and earns over $70,000 annually.
Benefits beyond salary: total compensation and career growth
Salary is just one piece of compensation.many medical billing roles offer a compelling total rewards package, including:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) with employer contribution)
- paid time off, sick days, and holidays
- Training budgets and certification reimbursements
- Flexible scheduling and remote work options
- Performance bonuses or profit sharing (in some organizations)
For many workers, the combination of salary, benefits, remote flexibility, and professional development opportunities makes medical billing a rewarding career path in 2024.
Conclusion: what to expect and how to plan your career
Medical billing salaries in 2024 reflect a healthy demand for skilled professionals who can navigate complex payer rules, ensure accurate coding, and keep cash flow healthy for healthcare providers. Entry-level roles offer a solid entry point with room to grow, while mid- and senior-level positions reward experience, specialized knowledge, and certifications with higher pay and leadership opportunities. Location, employer type, and remote work options all influence exact compensation, so it pays to research local markets, pursue relevant certifications, and continually expand your technical toolkit.
If you’re just starting out, consider earning a foundational certification (such as CBCS) and gaining hands-on experience with common billing software. if you’re mid-career, add a specialized certification (CPB, CPC-A) and target roles with denial management or payer relations to push earnings higher. And if you’re seeking greater flexibility, explore remote opportunities that align with your skills and life goals.
Whether your goal is to land a robust entry-level salary or climb into senior, specialized billing roles, the 2024 landscape for medical billing specialists offers a clear path: build strong core skills, earn relevant certifications, seek opportunities in growing markets, and leverage remote roles to maximize both income and work-life balance.
https://medicalbillingcertificationprograms.org/medical-billing-salaries-2024-how-much-do-medical-billing-specialists-earn/
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