Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Fort Collins, CO: $15.89 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Fort Collins, CO runs $15.89 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $33,038 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Fort Collins's regional price level (BEA RPP 101.1, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $15.71 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $19,831 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Within Fort Collins, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly rate of $15.89, which is notably higher than the national median of $14.59. This pay scale opens various options for part-time and per diem positions within the healthcare sector. Many professionals in this field work from remote home offices, especially post-2020, while others may find themselves in hospital HIM departments, physician group coding cubicles, or even third-party coding production floors. The hourly range extends from $12.94 for entry-level positions to $22.69 for the top earners in the area, indicating substantial opportunities as specialists gain experience and refine their coding skills, particularly in areas like ICD-10-CM and CPT updates.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $12.94 | $103.55 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $13.95 | $111.57 |
| Median (P50) | $15.89 | $127.12 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $18.05 | $144.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $22.69 | $181.56 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Fort Collins
Based on $15.89/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $15.89/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Fort Collins, CO can expect to earn approximately $33,052 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $19,068. With a cost-of-living index of 101.13 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Fort Collins.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Fort Collins
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $635.61 | $2,754 | $33,052 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $381.37 | $1,653 | $19,831 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $254.24 | $1,102 | $13,221 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Fort Collins) | $15.89 |
| 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 Fort Collins, CO earn a median of $33,038 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.86% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 1.30% above the Colorado state average of $32,614.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $15.89/hr = $19,831/year (purchasing power: $19,610).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $33,052/year (purchasing power: $32,683).
CoL index: 101.128 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$22.61/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$15.53/hr
2026 Current Est.
$15.89/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-28.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Fort Collins (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22.61/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.41/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.44/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.78/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $15.53/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $15.89/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $16.26/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Fort Collins grew -31.3% from $22.61/hr (2021) to $15.53/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $16.26/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 Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins
Part-time medical billing and coding specialists working three days a week, with a typical schedule of 24 hours, can expect to bring home around $20,000 annually, significantly less than their full-time counterparts. This disparity becomes more pronounced when considering the per diem opportunities available in Fort Collins. Those operating as independent contractors or 1099 workers often command higher rates, with per diem medical billing and coding specialists billable at rates between $25 and $42 per hour. Various employer types, such as physician group practice coding offices, third-party coding companies, and ambulatory surgery centers, affect hourly wages, with many specialists opting for lower hourly pay in exchange for benefits like health insurance. When negotiating pay, professionals should consider their total compensation, including benefits, and be prepared to discuss competitive rates based on their specific skills and experience in the growing fields of risk adjustment and HCC coding.
More salary data for Fort Collins, CO:
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 Fort Collins. 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