Medical Billing Salary

New Castle vs Philadelphia: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary (2026)

Compare medical billing and coding specialist salaries between New Castle, PA and Philadelphia, PA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

New Castle, PA
$27,043
$13.00/hr
Philadelphia, PA
$29,495
$14.18/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNew Castle, PAPhiladelphia, PA
Median Salary$27,043$29,495
Hourly Rate$13.00$14.18
Entry Level (P10)$20,589$22,776
25th Percentile$24,409$26,468
75th Percentile$32,757$38,788
Top Earner (P90)$39,380$49,643
Total Employed43,260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing New Castle ($27,043) and Philadelphia ($29,495) medical billing and coding specialist salaries.New CastlePhiladelphiaMedian Salary$27,043$29,495Entry Level (P10)$20,589$22,776Top Earner (P90)$39,380$49,643US Median $30,349

Verdict

Philadelphia, PA offers better overall compensation for medical billing and coding specialists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to New Castle.

The salary gap between New Castle and Philadelphia is $2,452 (9.07%). Philadelphia's median is -2.81% compared to the US national median of $30,349.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in New Castle spans $18,791,Philadelphia spans $26,867. Philadelphia has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced medical billing and coding specialists.

New Castle
P10 (Entry)$20,589
P25$24,409
Median$27,043
P75$32,757
P90 (Top)$39,380
Philadelphia
P10 (Entry)$22,776
P25$26,468
Median$29,495
P75$38,788
P90 (Top)$49,643

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Philadelphia ($28,760 effective) pays 3.59% more than New Castle ($27,765 effective).

New Castle
Nominal: $27,043
CoL Index: 97.4
Adjusted: $27,765
Philadelphia
Nominal: $29,495
CoL Index: 102.554
Adjusted: $28,760

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose New Castle if…

  • You prefer the Pennsylvania area and lifestyle

Choose Philadelphia if…

  • Higher median salary ($29,495/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($49,643)
  • Larger job market (3,260 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $28,760)
  • You prefer the Pennsylvania area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical billing and coding specialist salaries in New Castle grew -45.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to -41.2% growth in Philadelphia over the same period.

New Castle, PA

+-45.5%

$48,457 (2024) → $26,430 (2025)

Philadelphia, PA

+-41.2%

$49,020 (2021) → $28,826 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical billing and coding specialists more: New Castle or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has a higher median medical billing and coding specialist salary at $29,495/year, compared to New Castle at $27,043/year — a difference of $2,452 (9.07%).

What is the hourly rate difference between New Castle and Philadelphia?

New Castle medical billing and coding specialists earn $13.00/hr while Philadelphia hygienists earn $14.18/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from New Castle to Philadelphia as a medical billing and coding specialist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing New Castle and Philadelphia. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: New Castle = $27,765, Philadelphia = $28,760), job availability (4 vs 3,260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical billing and coding specialists earn in New Castle vs Philadelphia?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical billing and coding specialists earn $20,589 in New Castle and $22,776 in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia 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