Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Waterloo, IA: $13.60 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Waterloo, IA runs $13.60 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $28,296 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Waterloo's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.1, 13% below national), each hour of work buys what $15.62 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $16,971 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Waterloo, Iowa, medical billing and coding specialists command a median hourly rate of $13.60, which is slightly below the national median of $14.59. This figure highlights the earning potential for both full-time and part-time professionals in various settings, including remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, and third-party coding companies. Entry-level coders may start in the lower range at $10.95, while experienced top earners can reach up to $17.98. With nearly 80 specialists employed in the area, these hourly rates reflect official estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, providing a clear picture of what one can expect in this field within Waterloo.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.95 | $87.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $12.41 | $99.29 |
| Median (P50) | $13.60 | $108.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.38 | $131.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $17.98 | $143.82 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Waterloo
Based on $13.60/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.60/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Waterloo, IA can expect to earn approximately $28,285 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $16,318. With a cost-of-living index of 87.06 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Waterloo.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Waterloo
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $543.93 | $2,357 | $28,285 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $326.36 | $1,414 | $16,971 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $217.57 | $943 | $11,314 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Waterloo) | $13.60 |
| 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 Waterloo, IA earn a median of $28,296 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.76% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 4.10% below the Iowa state average of $29,505.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.60/hr = $16,971/year (purchasing power: $19,494).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $28,285/year (purchasing power: $32,490).
CoL index: 87.057 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$18.20/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$13.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.60/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-23.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Waterloo (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $18.20/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $19.09/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.30/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.66/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $13.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.60/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.91/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Waterloo grew -27.0% from $18.20/hr (2021) to $13.29/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.91/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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo
Exploring the earning potential for part-time medical billing and coding specialists working three days a week translates into an annual take-home significantly lower than full-time earnings. Since full-time positions typically offer consistent hours, part-time employees can expect to earn less overall compared to their full-time counterparts. Those pursuing per-diem opportunities tend to fare better, as they might bill anywhere from $25 to $42 per hour, and specialized roles like CCS inpatient coding can offer between $35 and $55 per hour. Additionally, coding opportunities vary significantly across employer types in Waterloo, with physician group practices, hospitals, and consulting firms all offering different pay rates tied to employee benefits packages. Freelancers may find higher hourly rates but must weigh these against the lack of health coverage. For those negotiating their hourly pay, understanding market trends and skill demand, particularly for roles involving risk adjustment and HCC coding, can provide leverage in salary discussions.
More salary data for Waterloo, 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 Waterloo. 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