Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Urbandale, IA: $13.56 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Urbandale, IA runs $13.56 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $28,189 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Urbandale's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.4, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $15.00 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $16,920 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Urbandale, Iowa, the medical billing and coding specialist hourly pay is projected to land at $13.56 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $14.59. This hourly rate is significant for many professionals in this field, especially for those working part-time or in per-diem roles. For instance, a medical billing and coding specialist working three days a week could expect to earn approximately $17,000 annually at the median rate. The hourly pay ranges widely from $10.37 at the entry-level to as much as $20.78 for the top earners in the area, reflecting the varied roles available in settings such as hospital HIM departments, remote home offices, and consulting firm client sites. These figures emphasize the importance of certain coding specialties, including those that handle frequent updates to the ICD-10-CM and CPT code sets, as these require continuous education and skill development valued by employers.
About the Urbandale Market
Salary estimated from Iowa 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) | $10.37 | $82.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.80 | $94.38 |
| Median (P50) | $13.56 | $108.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.96 | $135.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $20.78 | $166.25 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Urbandale
Based on $13.56/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.56/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Urbandale, IA can expect to earn approximately $28,199 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $16,269. With a cost-of-living index of 90.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Urbandale.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Urbandale
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $542.30 | $2,350 | $28,199 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $325.38 | $1,410 | $16,920 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $216.92 | $940 | $11,280 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Urbandale) | $13.56 |
| 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 Urbandale, IA earn a median of $28,189 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.12% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 4.50% below the Iowa state average of $29,517.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.56/hr = $16,920/year (purchasing power: $18,716).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $28,199/year (purchasing power: $31,194).
CoL index: 90.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$12.09/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$13.25/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.56/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Urbandale (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $12.09/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $12.22/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $12.64/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.10/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $13.25/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.56/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.87/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Urbandale grew 9.6% from $12.09/hr (2021) to $13.25/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.87/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 Urbandale 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 Urbandale
Independent medical billing and coding specialists, particularly those operating on a per-diem basis, often experience a different compensation structure. Many 1099 coders in Urbandale find opportunities to bill $25 to $42 an hour, with inpatient Certified Coding Specialists (CCS) earning between $35 and $55 per hour, particularly in hospital settings. When negotiating hourly rates, workers should consider employer types; coding for physician group practices might yield lower pay, while consulting firms and insurance company coding audit teams may offer more competitive rates. However, the benefits trade-off is crucial—while some may choose lower hourly wages for health insurance and job security, others may prefer the flexibility of higher-paying per-diem work without benefits. Strategies for negotiation include showcasing specific expertise, such as knowledge in risk adjustment or HCC coding, emphasizing value-add skills that align with current industry demands. Understanding these dynamics is essential for navigating the medical billing and coding specialist hourly rate landscape in Urbandale, IA.
More salary data for Urbandale, 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 Urbandale. 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 Urbandale 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