Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Salinas, CA: $16.51 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Salinas, CA runs $16.51 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $34,349 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Salinas's regional price level (BEA RPP 109.0, 9% above national), each hour of work buys what $15.15 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $20,610 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Medical billing and coding specialists in Salinas, CA, can expect a median hourly pay of $16.51, notably higher than the national median of $14.59. This competitive rate opens opportunities for part-time workers or those pursuing per diem arrangements, which can be particularly appealing in flexible work environments such as remote home offices and third-party coding companies. With entry-level positions starting at about $12.74 per hour and top earners reaching $23.45, individuals in this profession have a broad pay range to consider. Given that Salinas is home to a community of approximately 190 medical billing and coding specialists, this data reflects official estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS projections.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $12.74 | $101.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $14.32 | $114.60 |
| Median (P50) | $16.51 | $132.12 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $17.97 | $143.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $23.45 | $187.61 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Salinas
Based on $16.51/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $16.51/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Salinas, CA can expect to earn approximately $34,350 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $19,817. With a cost-of-living index of 109.04 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Salinas.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Salinas
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $660.58 | $2,863 | $34,350 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $396.35 | $1,718 | $20,610 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $264.23 | $1,145 | $13,740 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Salinas) | $16.51 |
| 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 Salinas, CA earn a median of $34,349 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.18% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 2.10% below the California state average of $35,086.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $16.51/hr = $20,610/year (purchasing power: $18,901).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $34,350/year (purchasing power: $31,502).
CoL index: 109.042 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$24.14/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$16.14/hr
2026 Current Est.
$16.51/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-30.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Salinas (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $24.14/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.05/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.13/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.35/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $16.14/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $16.51/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $16.90/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Salinas grew -33.1% from $24.14/hr (2021) to $16.14/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $16.90/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 Salinas 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 Salinas
When evaluating earnings potential, part-time specialists working three days a week can take home roughly $25,000 annually, a significant difference compared to full-time earnings. Per diem medical billing and coding specialists pay in Salinas can vary widely, with some billing $25 to $42 per hour, while CCS inpatient coders can reach $35 to $55 per hour. Moreover, hourly rates fluctuate depending on the work setting; for instance, specialists at physician group practices may earn less than those at hospital coding departments or consulting firms. The benefits trade-off is another consideration, as some professionals prefer higher hourly rates that lack health insurance coverage, while others opt for lower rates tied to comprehensive benefits. For those negotiating hourly pay in Salinas, it would be wise to highlight expertise in high-demand areas like risk adjustment coding or specialized certification, which can justify requests for competitive pay that exceeds market averages.
More salary data for Salinas, 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 Salinas. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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