Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Iowa City, IA: $18.93 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Iowa City, IA runs $18.93 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $39,370 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Iowa City's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.5, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $20.69 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $23,624 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Iowa City, a medical billing and coding specialist earns a median hourly rate of $18.93, significantly higher than the national median of $14.59. This competitive hourly pay allows part-time professionals, who may choose to work three days a week, to still earn a substantial income while enjoying more flexibility in their schedules. With the BLS projecting that the hourly range for newcomers starts at around $13.42 and goes up to about $22.84 for experienced coders, there is ample opportunity for growth. Many specialists find work in settings such as remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, or coding floors of third-party companies, making this profession particularly adaptable to modern employment trends.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $13.42 | $107.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $15.52 | $124.18 |
| Median (P50) | $18.93 | $151.43 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $18.93 | $151.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $22.84 | $182.70 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Iowa City
Based on $18.93/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $18.93/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Iowa City, IA can expect to earn approximately $39,373 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $22,715. With a cost-of-living index of 91.51 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Iowa City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Iowa City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $757.17 | $3,281 | $39,373 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $454.30 | $1,969 | $23,624 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $302.87 | $1,312 | $15,749 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Iowa City) | $18.93 |
| 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 Iowa City, IA earn a median of $39,370 per year (2026 est.), which is 29.72% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 33.40% above the Iowa state average of $29,512.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $18.93/hr = $23,624/year (purchasing power: $25,816).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $39,373/year (purchasing power: $43,026).
CoL index: 91.509 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$29.29/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$18.50/hr
2026 Current Est.
$18.93/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-33.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Iowa City (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $29.29/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.51/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.63/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.78/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $18.50/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $18.93/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $19.37/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Iowa City grew -36.8% from $29.29/hr (2021) to $18.50/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $19.37/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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City
Considering part-time work, a medic coding professional in Iowa City working for 24 hours each week could potentially take home close to $29,550 annually, a comfortable earning compared to a full-time schedule. Those taking on per-diem assignments often command higher rates, with 1099 coders billing between $25 to $42 per hour and specialized roles, like CCS inpatient coding or CRC risk adjustment, fetching up to $55 or even $65 per hour. Hourly pay varies with employer type; for example, Iowa City medical coding offices might offer different compensation levels than larger hospitals or consulting firms. Many coders weigh the trade-offs like health insurance versus higher pay rates without benefits, opting for what suits their personal situations best. For negotiating hourly rates, professionals should be aware of prevalent local rates and emphasize their qualifications, whether they hold credentials from AAPC or AHIMA or specialize in high-demand areas like risk adjustment coding.
More salary data for Iowa City, IA:
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 Iowa City. 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