Medical Coder
State-by-state licensing requirements, salary data, and career ROI
What Is a Medical Coder?
Medical Coders translate patient diagnoses, procedures, and treatments into standardized codes (ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS) used for insurance billing and health records. It's an office-based role that can often be done remotely. Certification through AAPC (CPC) or AHIMA (CCS) typically requires completing a training program and passing an exam.
The Landscape
The national median salary for Medical Coders stands at $50,250, with a projected growth of 7.1%. A critical insight from the data is that medical coding is not a state-licensed profession in any of the 51 states and jurisdictions surveyed, meaning certification is always voluntary. This universal lack of state-level licensing offers unique flexibility, but it also means that professional certifications from organizations like AAPC or AHIMA are the de facto standard for employment and demonstrate a coder's competency.
Beyond the coasts, some states present interesting deviations from these trends. South Carolina, for example, stands out in the top tier with a median of $58,510, defying the lower salary trend seen in many of its Southern neighbors. While California and Texas employ the largest numbers of coders, 19,750 and 20,390 respectively, their median salaries are not at the very top of the pay scale, suggesting that a large job market doesn't automatically translate to the highest individual earnings. This highlights how local demand, healthcare infrastructure, and cost of living interact to shape the compensation landscape.
Medical Coder by State
Click any state for detailed requirements, salary percentiles, and ROI analysis.
| State | License Required | Median Salary | vs. National | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | $38,540 | -23.3% | 4-24 months (depending on program type) |
| Alaska | No | $56,740 | +12.9% | 9-24 months for education, plus exam preparation |
| Arizona | No | $49,790 | -0.9% | Certificate programs typically under 1 year; Associate's degrees typically 2 years. Certification exam preparation varies. |
| Arkansas | No | $39,920 | -20.6% | Varies by program and individual study pace (e.g., 4-24 months for programs, 3-6 months for exam study) |
| California | No | $59,700 | +18.8% | 4-24 months for training programs; exam duration varies (e.g., 4 hours for CPC) |
| Colorado | No | $55,410 | +10.3% | — |
| Connecticut | No | $58,250 | +15.9% | Certificate programs: 6-12 months; Associate's degree: 2 years |
| Delaware | No | $52,020 | +3.5% | — |
| District of Columbia | No | $64,690 | +28.7% | 1-5 years (depending on education path and certification) |
| Florida | No | $45,990 | -8.5% | 6-24 months for educational programs; exam duration varies (e.g., CPC is 5 hours 40 minutes) |
| Georgia | No | $48,990 | -2.5% | Varies by program (e.g., 6-12 months for certificate programs, up to 3 years for associate degree) |
| Hawaii | No | $62,990 | +25.4% | Certificate programs typically 4-12 months; Associate's degree programs typically 2 years |
| Idaho | No | $48,940 | -2.6% | Varies (e.g., 12 weeks to 2 years for education programs) |
| Illinois | No | $49,420 | -1.7% | 6 months to 3 years (depending on program type) |
| Indiana | No | $47,170 | -6.1% | 4-24 months (depending on program type) |
| Iowa | No | $51,580 | +2.6% | 3-12 months for training programs; certification exam duration varies (e.g., 4 hours for CPC) |
| Kansas | No | $48,670 | -3.1% | Varies (certificate programs typically 6 months to 1 year; Associate's degree 2 years) |
| Kentucky | No | $48,020 | -4.4% | 5 months to 3 years (depending on program type) |
| Louisiana | No | $43,820 | -12.8% | — |
| Maine | No | $48,990 | -2.5% | 1-5 years (depending on education path) |
| Maryland | No | $59,140 | +17.7% | — |
| Massachusetts | No | $57,220 | +13.9% | Typically 4-24 months for educational programs, depending on certificate or associate degree. |
| Michigan | No | $48,220 | -4.0% | 6 months to 3 years (depending on program and certification) |
| Minnesota | No | $59,310 | +18.0% | — |
| Mississippi | No | $39,970 | -20.5% | 4-24 months (depending on program type) |
| Missouri | No | $49,150 | -2.2% | 5 months to 3 years (depending on program type and certification) |
| Montana | No | $49,930 | -0.6% | — |
| Nebraska | No | $48,420 | -3.6% | — |
| Nevada | No | $60,530 | +20.5% | 4 months to 2 years (depending on program type) |
| New Hampshire | No | $48,250 | -4.0% | 3-12 months for certificate programs; 2 years for associate's degree |
| New Jersey | No | $49,910 | -0.7% | 9-12 months for certificate programs; 1-3 years for associate degrees |
| New Mexico | No | $50,340 | +0.2% | 5-18 months for certificate programs; 2 years for associate's degree programs |
| New York | No | $59,750 | +18.9% | 2 months to 3 years (depending on program and certification) |
| North Carolina | No | $47,840 | -4.8% | 4-12 months for certification programs; 2 years for an Associate's Degree. |
| North Dakota | No | $53,550 | +6.6% | 6-12 months for certificate programs; 2 years for associate's degree programs |
| Ohio | No | $51,420 | +2.3% | 4-24 months (depending on program type and pace) |
| Oklahoma | No | $48,590 | -3.3% | — |
| Oregon | No | $57,260 | +14.0% | 4-12 months for certification programs |
| Pennsylvania | No | $46,730 | -7.0% | Varies depending on program length and individual study habits (e.g., certificate programs can be completed in under a year) |
| Rhode Island | No | $63,330 | +26.0% | 6 months to 2 years (for certification programs) |
| South Carolina | No | $58,510 | +16.4% | — |
| South Dakota | No | $50,320 | +0.1% | 6 months to 2 years (for certification programs or associate degrees) |
| Tennessee | No | $49,740 | -1.0% | — |
| Texas | No | $47,230 | -6.0% | 3-12 months for training program; exam length varies |
| Utah | No | $47,710 | -5.1% | 9-12 months (for educational programs) |
| Vermont | No | $48,610 | -3.3% | 3-6 months for exam preparation; program lengths vary |
| Virginia | No | $51,780 | +3.0% | 3-12 months for certification preparation programs |
| Washington | No | $62,250 | +23.9% | — |
| West Virginia | No | $43,710 | -13.0% | 6 months to 2 years for certificate/associate degree programs; varies for certification exam preparation. |
| Wisconsin | No | $55,270 | +10.0% | 4-24 months (certificate programs typically 4-6 months, associate degrees up to 2 years) |
| Wyoming | No | $53,550 | +6.6% | 5 months to 3 years (depending on program type and certification) |
Highest-Paying States for Medical Coders
| # | State | Median Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $64,690 | 370 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $63,330 | 850 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $62,990 | 450 |
| 4 | Washington | $62,250 | 5,280 |
| 5 | Nevada | $60,530 | 2,980 |
| 6 | New York | $59,750 | 8,510 |
| 7 | California | $59,700 | 19,750 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $59,310 | 3,250 |
| 9 | Maryland | $59,140 | 2,810 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $58,510 | 2,940 |