Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Grand Junction, CO: $13.84 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Grand Junction, CO runs $13.84 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $28,783 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Grand Junction's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.5, 5% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.50 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $17,277 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Grand Junction, Colorado, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly rate of $13.84, which is slightly below the national median of $14.59. This rate allows professionals to assess their earning potential based on various working arrangements. For part-time workers, averaging three days a week could lead to an annual income that varies greatly depending on hours worked. Entry-level specialists can expect to earn around $12.12 per hour, while experienced coders may command up to $19.46 per hour in this region. The flexibility offered by remote positions, especially after the pandemic, has made this work environment more appealing, as many specialists can effectively manage their schedules while working from home or in various healthcare settings like hospitals and physician group practices. These figures are derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $12.12 | $97.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $13.40 | $107.23 |
| Median (P50) | $13.84 | $110.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.59 | $132.69 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $19.46 | $155.69 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Grand Junction
Based on $13.84/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.84/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Grand Junction, CO can expect to earn approximately $28,795 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $16,613. With a cost-of-living index of 95.48 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Grand Junction.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Grand Junction
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $553.76 | $2,400 | $28,795 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $332.25 | $1,440 | $17,277 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $221.50 | $960 | $11,518 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Grand Junction) | $13.84 |
| 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 Grand Junction, CO earn a median of $28,783 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.16% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 11.70% below the Colorado state average of $32,596.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.84/hr = $17,277/year (purchasing power: $18,096).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $28,795/year (purchasing power: $30,160).
CoL index: 95.476 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$17.80/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$13.53/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.84/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-20.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Grand Junction (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $17.80/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $20.76/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.70/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $26.93/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $13.53/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.84/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $14.17/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Grand Junction grew -24.0% from $17.80/hr (2021) to $13.53/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $14.17/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 Grand Junction 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 Grand Junction
Analyzing the part-time opportunities, a medical billing and coding specialist working 24 hours a week might take home nearly $17,000 annually, a significant difference from those in full-time roles. Per diem arrangements can enhance earnings substantially; freelance specialists might bill between $25 to $42 per hour, which is notably higher than typical hourly pay in Grand Junction. Various employer types, including physician practices and third-party coding companies, often offer different pay scales, affecting overall earnings. Some specialists find that accepting lower hourly rates comes with the trade-off of employer-sponsored health benefits, which can be important for long-term financial stability. Negotiating pay effectively is key—consider conveying how consistent coding practices and knowledge of ICD-10-CM standards translate into efficiency that benefits the employer. Knowledge of risk adjustment coding can also be a valuable bargaining chip, especially with Medicare Advantage plans seeing increasing demand for skilled professionals in Grand Junction.
More salary data for Grand Junction, CO:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Grand Junction in 2026?
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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 Grand Junction. 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