Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Santa Maria, CA: $17.67 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Santa Maria, CA runs $17.67 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $36,765 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Santa Maria's regional price level (BEA RPP 108.8, 9% above national), each hour of work buys what $16.24 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $22,053 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, medical billing and coding specialists in Santa Maria, CA, can expect to earn a median hourly pay of $17.67, significantly higher than the national median of $14.59. This competitive rate reflects the growing demand for skilled professionals in various settings, including remote home offices, hospital health information management departments, and third-party coding companies. For part-time workers operating three days a week, this hourly wage can translate into a solid supplemental income, while those working on a per-diem basis have the potential to earn higher rates, typically ranging from $13.22 to $33.73. The entry-level figures are representative of positions primarily accessible to those new to the field, while more experienced individuals can command top-tier compensation in the Santa Maria job market, highlighting the disparity in pay within this profession as provided by official BLS hourly data.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $13.22 | $105.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $14.11 | $112.88 |
| Median (P50) | $17.67 | $141.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $22.01 | $176.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $33.73 | $269.88 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Santa Maria
Based on $17.67/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $17.67/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Santa Maria, CA can expect to earn approximately $36,755 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $21,205. With a cost-of-living index of 108.80 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Santa Maria.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Santa Maria
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $706.83 | $3,063 | $36,755 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $424.10 | $1,838 | $22,053 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $282.73 | $1,225 | $14,702 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Santa Maria) | $17.67 |
| 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 Santa Maria, CA earn a median of $36,765 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.14% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 4.80% above the California state average of $35,081.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $17.67/hr = $22,053/year (purchasing power: $20,270).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $36,755/year (purchasing power: $33,783).
CoL index: 108.798 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$28.24/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$17.27/hr
2026 Current Est.
$17.67/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-36.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Santa Maria (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $28.24/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $21.50/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.69/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $27.15/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $17.27/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $17.67/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $18.08/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Santa Maria grew -38.8% from $28.24/hr (2021) to $17.27/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $18.08/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 Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria
Exploring part-time opportunities, a medical billing and coding specialist working 24 hours a week at the median rate in Santa Maria may take home approximately $21,950 annually, which is substantially lower than a full-time worker earning the same hourly rate. This scenario reflects a growing niche for per-diem contracts, with professionals able to bill up to $42 per hour for more specialized roles, such as risk adjustment coding for Medicare Advantage plans. Employers vary widely in the compensation offered, with physician group practices generally paying less than hospital inpatient departments or third-party coding companies. Many specialists weigh the benefits of stable employment against the appeal of higher hourly rates offered in freelance or agency roles. To effectively negotiate better wages, candidates should present industry-specific certifications from organizations such as AAPC or AHIMA and emphasize their continual professional development in specialized areas like ICD-10-CM or CPT updates to maximize their earning potential in the Santa Maria area.
More salary data for Santa Maria, 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 Santa Maria. 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