Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in New Orleans, LA: $13.38 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in New Orleans, LA runs $13.38 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $27,850 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against New Orleans's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.45 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $16,703 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the median hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist in New Orleans, Louisiana, is projected at $13.38, which is below the national median of $14.59. This rate significantly reflects the local economic conditions and the cost of living index, which stands at 92.597—suggesting a lower-than-average cost of living. For individuals working part-time, say three days a week, this hourly rate translates into about $1,070 monthly for a typical 24-hour work schedule. Per-diem professionals might operate in various settings such as remote home offices, hospital HIM departments, or group practice coding cubicles, making the profession adaptable to personal circumstances. The hourly range in New Orleans varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting around $10.35 and experienced coders earning up to $21.99, emphasizing the diverse opportunities in this field.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.35 | $82.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $10.57 | $84.56 |
| Median (P50) | $13.38 | $107.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $17.87 | $142.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $21.99 | $175.91 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in New Orleans
Based on $13.38/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.38/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in New Orleans, LA can expect to earn approximately $27,838 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $16,060. With a cost-of-living index of 92.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in New Orleans.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in New Orleans
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $535.34 | $2,320 | $27,838 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $321.20 | $1,392 | $16,703 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $214.14 | $928 | $11,135 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (New Orleans) | $13.38 |
| 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 New Orleans, LA earn a median of $27,850 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.23% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 8.40% above the Louisiana state average of $25,692.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.38/hr = $16,703/year (purchasing power: $18,038).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $27,838/year (purchasing power: $30,063).
CoL index: 92.597 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$22.42/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$13.08/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.38/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-38.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in New Orleans (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22.42/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.70/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.35/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $18.70/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $13.08/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.38/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.69/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in New Orleans grew -41.7% from $22.42/hr (2021) to $13.08/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.69/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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans
While part-time medical billing and coding specialists earning $13.38 hourly may take home approximately $12,840 annually, full-time positions typically yield higher annual earnings. For those interested in per diem or contract work, medical coders can command rates ranging from $25 to $42 per hour and may even exceed $60 for specialized roles like risk adjustment coding with Medicare Advantage. In New Orleans, salary levels can also differ greatly depending on the employer type, with hospital inpatient coding departments and payer coding teams often offering better compensation compared to third-party coding companies. However, many specialists weigh the trade-offs between hourly pay and benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, which can lead them to accept less pay for more stability. For effective negotiations, medical billing and coding specialists should come prepared with data on local pay rates and be ready to discuss their unique skills and credentialing, such as those obtained from AAPC or AHIMA, to advocate for a competitive hourly rate in this evolving job market.
More salary data for New Orleans, LA:
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 New Orleans. 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