Medical Billing Salary

Buena Park vs Los Angeles: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary (2026)

Compare medical billing and coding specialist salaries between Buena Park, CA and Los Angeles, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Buena Park, CA
$35,524
$17.08/hr
Los Angeles, CA
$35,079
$16.86/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBuena Park, CALos Angeles, CA
Median Salary$35,524$35,079
Hourly Rate$17.08$16.86
Entry Level (P10)$25,714$24,753
25th Percentile$29,953$28,427
75th Percentile$44,600$47,850
Top Earner (P90)$55,062$60,111
Total Employed207,240
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Buena Park ($35,524) and Los Angeles ($35,079) medical billing and coding specialist salaries.Buena ParkLos AngelesMedian Salary$35,524$35,079Entry Level (P10)$25,714$24,753Top Earner (P90)$55,062$60,111US Median $30,349

Verdict

Buena Park and Los Angeles are closely matched on overall medical billing and coding specialist compensation, each winning on different metrics.

The salary gap between Buena Park and Los Angeles is $445 (1.27%). Buena Park's median is +17.05% compared to the US national median of $30,349.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Buena Park spans $29,348,Los Angeles spans $35,358. Los Angeles has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical billing and coding specialists.

Buena Park
P10 (Entry)$25,714
P25$29,953
Median$35,524
P75$44,600
P90 (Top)$55,062
Los Angeles
P10 (Entry)$24,753
P25$28,427
Median$35,079
P75$47,850
P90 (Top)$60,111

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Buena Park ($31,409 effective) pays 1.69% more than Los Angeles ($30,889 effective).

Buena Park
Nominal: $35,524
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $31,409
Los Angeles
Nominal: $35,079
CoL Index: 113.566
Adjusted: $30,889

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Buena Park if…

  • Higher median salary ($35,524/year)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $31,409)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose Los Angeles if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($60,111)
  • Larger job market (7,240 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical billing and coding specialist salaries in Buena Park grew -54.1% from 2024 to 2025, compared to -29.8% growth in Los Angeles over the same period.

Buena Park, CA

+-54.1%

$75,593 (2024) → $34,719 (2025)

Los Angeles, CA

+-29.8%

$48,810 (2021) → $34,284 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical billing and coding specialists more: Buena Park or Los Angeles?

Buena Park has a higher median medical billing and coding specialist salary at $35,524/year, compared to Los Angeles at $35,079/year — a difference of $445 (1.27%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Buena Park and Los Angeles?

Buena Park medical billing and coding specialists earn $17.08/hr while Los Angeles hygienists earn $16.86/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Buena Park to Los Angeles as a medical billing and coding specialist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Buena Park and Los Angeles. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Buena Park = $31,409, Los Angeles = $30,889), job availability (20 vs 7,240 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical billing and coding specialists earn in Buena Park vs Los Angeles?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical billing and coding specialists earn $25,714 in Buena Park and $24,753 in Los Angeles. The Buena Park area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

AP

Written by Amina Patel, CPC

Career Analyst

Amina has 10 years of experience in medical billing. She specializes in outpatient coding for multi-specialty practices.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Johnson, RHITData verified by Sofia Nguyen, CCS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Amina Patel, CPC, a licensed medical billing and coding specialist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov