Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Merrillville, IN: $13.23 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Merrillville, IN runs $13.23 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $27,524 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Merrillville's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.3, 9% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.49 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $16,511 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

For those considering a career as a medical billing and coding specialist in Merrillville, the median hourly pay stands at $13.23. This figure, while slightly below the national average hourly rate of $14.59, illustrates a realistic expectation for professionals working in various settings, such as remote home offices, hospital health information management departments, and third-party coding companies. Entry-level positions in this field can start around $9.82 per hour, while experienced specialists can earn up to $20.39 per hour, reflecting the diversity of opportunities available in the region. The hourly data reflects the anticipated earnings of medical coders and billers in 2026, providing insights into potential part-time roles as well as the trend toward flexible work environments following the significant changes prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Merrillville Market
Salary estimated from Indiana average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $9.82 | $78.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.30 | $90.37 |
| Median (P50) | $13.23 | $105.84 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.64 | $133.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $20.39 | $163.14 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Merrillville
Based on $13.23/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.23/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Merrillville, IN can expect to earn approximately $27,518 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $15,876. With a cost-of-living index of 91.30 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Merrillville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Merrillville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $529.20 | $2,293 | $27,518 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $317.52 | $1,376 | $16,511 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $211.68 | $917 | $11,007 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Merrillville) | $13.23 |
| 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 Merrillville, IN earn a median of $27,524 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.31% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 4.10% below the Indiana state average of $28,701.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.23/hr = $16,511/year (purchasing power: $18,084).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $27,518/year (purchasing power: $30,141).
CoL index: 91.3 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$11.80/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$12.93/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.23/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Merrillville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $11.80/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $11.93/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $12.33/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.37/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $12.93/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.23/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.54/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Merrillville grew 9.6% from $11.80/hr (2021) to $12.93/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.54/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 Merrillville 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 Merrillville
In Merrillville, a medical billing and coding specialist working part-time, say three days a week for 24 hours total, could realistically expect an annual income that significantly differs from full-time pay, primarily influenced by scheduling flexibility and industry demand. For those pursuing per diem roles, billing at rates between $25 and $42 per hour can provide substantial potential for higher earnings; for instance, CCS inpatient coders can command between $35 and $55 per hour. Hourly compensation varies across employer types in Merrillville, with physician group practices typically offering lower rates compared to risk adjustment specialists at Medicare Advantage payers who may exceed $40 per hour. Medical coding professionals often face trade-offs between stable employment benefits versus higher hourly rates, prompting considerations on job security and compensation. Negotiation for hourly wages can be particularly effective in Merrillville, especially by highlighting unique skills in areas such as ICD-10-CM coding or risk adjustment, responding to the ongoing demand for specialized knowledge in the medical billing and coding field.
More salary data for Merrillville, IN:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Merrillville in 2026?
How much do part-time medical billing and coding specialists make in Merrillville?
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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 Merrillville. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Merrillville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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