Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in San Luis Obispo, CA: $15.37 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in San Luis Obispo, CA runs $15.37 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $31,970 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against San Luis Obispo's regional price level (BEA RPP 108.6, 9% above national), each hour of work buys what $14.15 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $19,180 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In San Luis Obispo, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly rate of $15.37, which is notably above the national median of $14.59. For part-time workers, who may typically bill three days a week, this translates to a reasonable income while maintaining a flexible schedule. Many professionals in this field work remotely, utilizing home offices or coding cubicles within healthcare facilities like hospitals and physician groups. The hourly wage for these specialists can range from $11.38 for entry-level positions to $24.43 for more experienced coders or those in specialized roles. Such positions benefit from a variety of work environments, including third-party coding companies and consulting firms, where opportunities continue to grow as the healthcare coding landscape evolves.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $11.38 | $91.02 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $13.32 | $106.58 |
| Median (P50) | $15.37 | $122.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $18.26 | $146.11 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $24.43 | $195.47 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in San Luis Obispo
Based on $15.37/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $15.37/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in San Luis Obispo, CA can expect to earn approximately $31,966 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $18,442. With a cost-of-living index of 108.60 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in San Luis Obispo.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in San Luis Obispo
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $614.74 | $2,664 | $31,966 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $368.84 | $1,598 | $19,180 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $245.90 | $1,066 | $12,787 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (San Luis Obispo) | $15.37 |
| 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 San Luis Obispo, CA earn a median of $31,970 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.34% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 8.90% below the California state average of $35,093.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $15.37/hr = $19,180/year (purchasing power: $17,662).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $31,966/year (purchasing power: $29,436).
CoL index: 108.596 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$22.18/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$15.02/hr
2026 Current Est.
$15.37/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-29.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in San Luis Obispo (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22.18/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.83/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.56/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.85/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $15.02/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $15.37/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $15.73/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in San Luis Obispo grew -32.3% from $22.18/hr (2021) to $15.02/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $15.73/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 San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo
Evaluating the financial prospects, a medical billing and coding specialist working 24 hours a week can earn significantly less than a full-time employee, but they benefit from flexibility. Those working under per diem arrangements might command hourly wages that range from $25 to $42, with CCS inpatient coders potentially earning between $35 and $55 per hour. Agency work can attract various pay rates depending on the complexity of the coding. Employment types also influence income; for instance, coding in a physician's office may offer lower hourly wages compared to roles within larger healthcare systems or consulting firms. Specialists should weigh their options, considering trade-offs between hourly pay and benefits such as health insurance, which is often more readily available in full-time positions. For job seekers in San Luis Obispo, negotiating hourly pay can be enhanced by fact-finding to determine prevailing rates among similar employment settings in the area, ensuring they secure a competitive wage reflective of their skills and credentials.
More salary data for San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo. 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