Salaries for certified medical coding professionals increased an average of 8.4 percent in 2014, according to an annual salary survey conducted by AAPC, a leading training and credentialing association for healthcare business professionals.
Certified medical coder salaries rose to an average of $50,775 annually.
Other highlights from the 2014 survey include:
- Education significantly impacts salary level. Medical coders with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $54,522 while a coder with no college degree earned an average of $44,338 in 2014.
- Salary levels favored coders with advanced certifications. Individuals carrying the CPC-I certification (Instructors) led all coders, averaging $76,021 annually. CPCO certified members (Compliance Officers) earned an average of $71,542.
- Only 9.5 percent of apprentice medical coders who responded to the survey were unemployed. The rate has steadily declined since 2011: down 5 percent since 2013, 13 percent since 2012, and 16 percent since 2011.
“This year’s results show a promising future for new medical coders and one of growth and opportunities for experienced coders,” says Jason VandenAkker, CEO of AAPC. “We expect to see the demand for certified medical coding professionals to remain strong as the healthcare business landscape continues to grow and evolve.”
More than 14,000 medical coders responded to the salary survey.
