Certified medical billers work for hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices.
Medical billers usually must to pass a test regarding medical terminology and procedures to become certified. However, medical billers can earn certification in coding, billing or both. Medical billers work in hospitals, clinics and various types of doctors' offices. They are usually responsible for maintaining the billing files of all the doctors' patients. Medical billers also take payments from patients and send the balance to their patients' insurance companies. Certified medical billers usually earn an hourly rate.
Average Annual Salary
Certified medical billers earn hourly rates of $12.20 to $16.31, according to 2011 data from PayScale.com, which equals $25,376 to $33,925 annually based on 40-hour workweeks. Including overtime payments, profit-sharing and incentive bonuses, certified medical billers can earn total incomes between $26,172 and $35,931 per year. Moreover, a 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed that medical records employees, who included certified medical billers, earn median wages of $30,610 per year with a range of $24,290 to $39,490 per year.
Salary by Certification
Certified medical billers' salaries can vary according to the area(s) in which they are certified. For example, medical billers certified as patient account technicians earn some of the highest hourly rates at $12.65 to $19.65, per PayScale.com, which equals annual salaries of $26,312 to $40,872. Medical billers certified specifically as coding specialists, those who assign job codes to accounts, earn hourly rates of $11.79 to $19.44 per hour, or $24,523 to $40,435 per year. Those certified as coding associates who work with specialists earn hourly rates of $10.68 to $16.34, or $22,214 to $33,987 annually. And medical billers with a general coding and billing certificate earn $12.26 to $16.31 per hour or $25,501 to $33,925 per year.
Salary by Gender
Female certified medical billers earn slightly more than males at $12.26 to $16.40 per hour, per PayScale.com, or $25,501 to $34,112 per year. Male certified medical billers earn hourly rates of $12.37 to $16.30 or $25,730 to $33,904 per year. One reason females may earn more is because this profession has traditionally been dominated by female employees. Therefore, females may have more experience, on average, than their male counterparts.
Salary by City
Certified medical billers may also earn higher salaries in certain cities because of higher costs of living. For example, certified medical billers tend to earn some of their highest hourly wages in Dallas at $12.33 to $17.87, per PayScale.com, or $25,646 to $37,170 annually. Certified medical billers also earn relatively high hourly rates in Houston at $13.23 to $17.11, or $27,518 to $35,589 annually. Additionally, certified medical billers earn $13.25 to $16.63 per hour in Austin, or $27,560 to $34,590 per year. And certified medical billers living in Atlanta earn hourly rates between $13.00 and $15.54, or $27,040 to $32,323 annually.
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