Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Norwalk, CA: $16.74 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Norwalk, CA runs $16.74 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $34,823 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Norwalk's regional price level (BEA RPP 113.1, 13% above national), each hour of work buys what $14.80 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $20,891 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Norwalk, California, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly rate of $16.74, which is significantly higher than the national median of $14.59. This difference suggests that professionals in this region might find favorable opportunities, especially those seeking part-time or per-diem positions in various settings such as remote home offices and hospital HIM departments. For example, a specialist working three days a week could expect to earn approximately $1,339 on average each week if maintaining a consistent schedule, while the hourly pay range in Norwalk spans from $12.12 for entry-level positions up to $25.95 for the top earners in the field. This variability in wage potential can provide an edge for skilled specialists engaging in freelance or work-from-home roles post-2020, as they navigate the evolving job market.
About the Norwalk Market
Salary estimated from California average ($66,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $12.12 | $97.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $13.81 | $110.51 |
| Median (P50) | $16.74 | $133.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $21.43 | $171.41 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $25.95 | $207.59 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Norwalk
Based on $16.74/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $16.74/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Norwalk, CA can expect to earn approximately $34,818 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $20,087. With a cost-of-living index of 113.10 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Norwalk.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Norwalk
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $669.58 | $2,902 | $34,818 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $401.75 | $1,741 | $20,891 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $267.83 | $1,161 | $13,927 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Norwalk) | $16.74 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.77 |
| Medical Secretary (National Avg) | $20.19 |
| Medical Lab Technician (National Avg) | $28.18 |
| Billing and Posting Clerk (National Avg) | $21.86 |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Norwalk, CA earn a median of $34,823 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.74% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 0.70% below the California state average of $35,068.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $16.74/hr = $20,891/year (purchasing power: $18,471).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $34,818/year (purchasing power: $30,785).
CoL index: 113.1 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$14.93/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$16.36/hr
2026 Current Est.
$16.74/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Norwalk (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $14.93/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $15.09/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $15.61/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.62/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $16.36/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $16.74/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $17.13/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Norwalk grew 9.6% from $14.93/hr (2021) to $16.36/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $17.13/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem medical billing and coding specialists can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Norwalk metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.32% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Norwalk
Examining part-time earnings further, a medical billing and coding specialist working 24 hours per week in Norwalk could take home around $34,823 annually, which represents the median figure for the area. Those who prefer the flexibility of per-diem work can potentially earn dramatically more; codes in agencies typically bill between $25 and $42 hourly, while certified coding specialists (CCS) can command rates as high as $55 per hour. The employment landscape in Norwalk includes various types of employers—from coding offices in physician group practices to coding audit teams at insurance companies—thereby affecting hourly compensation. While some specialists might opt for lower hourly rates for the benefits of full-time employment, others prefer the higher pay rates of contract work without benefits. For those considering negotiation, specializing in the high-demand areas of risk adjustment or HCC coding can give an edge in discussing rates, especially in a competitive job market that requires continual learning and adaptation to updates in ICD-10-CM and CPT coding.
More salary data for Norwalk, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for medical billing and coding specialists in Norwalk. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Norwalk is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical billing and coding specialists (SOC 29-2072).
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