Skip to content
HomepageBlog
Log in
medical billing and coding jobs
Find a job

Top 13 medical billing & coding jobs (+ who's hiring)

Top 13 medical billing & coding jobs and who's hiring

The medical billing and coding field offers many well-paid and highly sought-after job opportunities. Skilled professionals in this field are in high demand, with industry employment projected to grow by 7% over the next few years.

In this article, we'll explore the top jobs in the medical billing and coding field that offer excellent prospects and rewarding careers and let you know who’s hiring right now.

What skills do you need for a medical coding job?

You’ll need a wide range of skills to stand out as a competitive candidate for medical coding jobs. Depending on the specific role, certifications can also provide an added advantage.

Here are the key skills and qualifications typically sought after in the field of medical coding:

  • Proficiency in coding systems (e.g., ICD-10-CM and CPT)
  • Medical coding certifications, such as Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Attention to detail
  • Knowledge of medical terminology
  • Effective communication skills
  • Compliance and ethics awareness

1. Certified inpatient coder (CIC)

A certified inpatient coder is a professional specializing in assigning medical codes for diagnoses and procedures for inpatient hospital stays. Their job description includes:

  • Reviewing patient records
  • Assigning accurate diagnostic and procedural codes
  • Ensuring data accuracy

Average annual salary: $58,730

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified inpatient coding program
  • Proficiency in medical terminology
  • Knowledge of coding systems and guidelines

2. Certified outpatient coder (COC)

Outpatient care is medical treatment received without hospital admission, and a certified outpatient coder is a professional responsible for assigning medical codes to outpatient procedures and services. This role is ideal for individuals with a keen eye for detail, knowledge of medical coding principles, and proficiency in coding systems.

Similar to a CIC, the duties of a COC include:

  • Reviewing patient records
  • Applying appropriate codes based on coding guidelines
  • Ensuring accuracy for billing and compliance purposes

Average annual salary: $64,267

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified outpatient coding program
  • Knowledge of medical terminology

3. Certified emergency department coder (CEDC)

Certified emergency department coders specialize in coding for emergency department services. Their duties include reviewing patient records, assigning the correct codes for emergency room diagnoses and procedures, and ensuring accurate billing and compliance. This role may be a good fit if you’re great at working under pressure and have a strong understanding of emergency medicine.

Average annual salary: $64,442

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified emergency coding program
  • In-depth understanding of emergency medicine and urgent care procedures

4. Certified professional coder (CPC)

A certified professional coder is a specific certification offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Those in the medical field have experience with services performed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This job is ideal for individuals with strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and knowledge of coding guidelines and regulations. Duties typically include:

  • Reviewing patient records
  • Assigning accurate codes for diagnoses, procedures, and services
  • Ensuring coding compliance and proper documentation

Average annual salary: $58,895

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified professional coding program
  • Proficiency in medical terminology
  • Experience in medical coding, preferably in an outpatient or physician office setting

5. Certified medical coder

A certified medical coder is a general designation that includes professionals specializing in various healthcare settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and physician coding. This career might be for you if you like working with medical data, have strong attention to detail, and enjoy the process of analyzing and assigning codes. The job responsibilities include:

  • Reviewing medical records
  • Assigning appropriate diagnostic and procedural codes
  • Collaborating with healthcare providers and other team members

Average annual salary: $45,039

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified coding program
  • Proficiency in medical terminology
  • Experience in medical coding (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, physician office)

6. Clinical coder

Often used interchangeably with medical coders, a clinical coder performs the same duties with subtle differences in responsibilities. Although they, too, review patient medical records and assign appropriate codes for diagnoses and services, clinical coders may specialize in clinical settings (like hospitals). This role is great for those with a strong understanding of clinical practices, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate complex medical records.

Average annual salary: $48,234

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified coding program
  • Proficiency in medical terminology
  • Experience in medical coding, preferably in a clinical or healthcare environment

7. Medical biller

Using the information provided by a medical coder, a medical biller generates and submits medical reimbursement claims to insurance companies or other payers. A career as a medical biller may be a good fit if you enjoy working with financial data and thrive in a healthcare administrative role. The duties include:

  • Verifying health insurance coverage
  • Reviewing medical code data
  • Preparing and submitting claims

Average annual salary: $34,760

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified medical billing program
  • Familiarity with insurance billing processes
  • Strong data entry skills
  • Excellent communication skills

8. Certified coding specialist - Physician (CCS-P)

A physician-based certified coding specialist is a healthcare professional that specializes in coding physician services. They review clinical documentation and assign accurate codes for physician procedures and services. You might consider this role if you like working with physicians and enjoy coding.

Average annual salary: $74,000

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completion of a certified CCS-P program
  • In-depth knowledge of coding systems
  • Excellent collaboration skills

9. Medical coding manager

A medical coding manager oversees a healthcare organization’s coding practices to ensure accuracy and compliance. A career as a medical coding manager is ideal for individuals with a passion for coding and exceptional interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities include:

  • Managing a team of medical coders
  • Developing coding policies
  • Conducting audits of coding data to identify areas for improvement

Median annual salary: $85,579

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in health information management or a related field
  • Certification as a certified coding specialist (CCS) from an accredited institution, like the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
  • Extensive experience in medical coding
  • Excellent leadership skills

10. Medical collector

A medical collector is responsible for ensuring timely payment of outstanding claims and patient balances. This role is ideal for those who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and have great customer service skills. The job duties include:

  • Communicating with insurance companies and patients to resolve billing issues
  • Utilizing various methods (e.g., phone calls, emails, and letters) to collect outstanding payments
  • Performing accounts receivable functions

Average annual salary: $36,896

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Familiarity with insurance billing processes
  • Strong communication and negotiation skills

11. Registered health information administrator (RHIA)

A registered health information administrator is a type of medical assistant who plays a critical role in managing and maintaining patient health records and information. This could be your next career if you enjoy working with technology within the health system, including electronic medical records (EMR).

Responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring the accuracy and security of patient health records
  • Organizing health information for coding and billing
  • Collaborating with healthcare providers to ensure proper documentation

Average annual salary: $45,838

Requirements:

  • Completion of an accredited health information management program
  • Certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
  • Strong attention to detail

12. Medical billing analyst

A medical billing analyst optimizes the billing and reimbursement processes within healthcare organizations. This career is great for individuals experienced in medical billing processes who enjoy analyzing data. Job duties include:

  • Analyzing medical billing data to ensure accuracy and compliance
  • Identifying and resolving billing discrepancies, coding errors, and denials

Average annual salary: $36,768

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Strong knowledge of medical coding systems
  • Analytical mindset with attention to detail

13. Coding director

A coding director is a healthcare industry leader responsible for supervising coding operations to ensure accuracy and compliance with coding guidelines. This position is perfect for experienced coding professionals looking to advance their careers into leadership roles.

Responsibilities include:

  • Providing guidance to the coding department
  • Ensuring timely completion of coding tasks
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams

Average annual salary: $91,861

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in health information management
  • Coding certification preferred
  • Years of experience with coding
  • Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills

Which medical coding companies are hiring on Handshake?

Land your medical coding dream job

If you’re ready to embark on an exciting journey in medical coding, it’s time to take the next step. Join Handshake to explore entry-level job opportunities for both full-time and part-time positions, get personalized job alerts, network with professionals, and start building a rewarding medical coding career!

Sources:

Find the right jobs for you. Get hired.