Medical Billing Salary

Johnson City vs Nashville: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary (2026)

Compare medical billing and coding specialist salaries between Johnson City, TN and Nashville, TN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Johnson City, TN
$27,981
$13.46/hr
Nashville, TN
$30,444
$14.63/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricJohnson City, TNNashville, TN
Median Salary$27,981$30,444
Hourly Rate$13.46$14.63
Entry Level (P10)$21,157$23,721
25th Percentile$22,712$25,608
75th Percentile$36,415$38,117
Top Earner (P90)$39,880$47,453
Total Employed1001,640
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Johnson City ($27,981) and Nashville ($30,444) medical billing and coding specialist salaries.Johnson CityNashvilleMedian Salary$27,981$30,444Entry Level (P10)$21,157$23,721Top Earner (P90)$39,880$47,453US Median $30,349

Verdict

Nashville, TN offers better overall compensation for medical billing and coding specialists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Johnson City.

The salary gap between Johnson City and Nashville is $2,463 (8.80%). Nashville's median is +0.31% compared to the US national median of $30,349.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Johnson City spans $18,723,Nashville spans $23,732. Nashville has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical billing and coding specialists.

Johnson City
P10 (Entry)$21,157
P25$22,712
Median$27,981
P75$36,415
P90 (Top)$39,880
Nashville
P10 (Entry)$23,721
P25$25,608
Median$30,444
P75$38,117
P90 (Top)$47,453

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Johnson City ($31,823 effective) pays 0.70% more than Nashville ($31,601 effective).

Johnson City
Nominal: $27,981
CoL Index: 87.928
Adjusted: $31,823
Nashville
Nominal: $30,444
CoL Index: 96.338
Adjusted: $31,601

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Johnson City if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $31,823)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Choose Nashville if…

  • Higher median salary ($30,444/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($47,453)
  • Larger job market (1,640 employed)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical billing and coding specialist salaries in Johnson City grew -25.6% from 2021 to 2025, compared to -36.2% growth in Nashville over the same period.

Johnson City, TN

+-25.6%

$36,760 (2021) → $27,347 (2025)

Nashville, TN

+-36.2%

$46,660 (2021) → $29,754 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical billing and coding specialists more: Johnson City or Nashville?

Nashville has a higher median medical billing and coding specialist salary at $30,444/year, compared to Johnson City at $27,981/year — a difference of $2,463 (8.80%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Johnson City and Nashville?

Johnson City medical billing and coding specialists earn $13.46/hr while Nashville hygienists earn $14.63/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Johnson City to Nashville as a medical billing and coding specialist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Johnson City and Nashville. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Johnson City = $31,823, Nashville = $31,601), job availability (100 vs 1,640 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical billing and coding specialists earn in Johnson City vs Nashville?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical billing and coding specialists earn $21,157 in Johnson City and $23,721 in Nashville. The Nashville 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