Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Sterling Heights, MI: $13.87 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Sterling Heights, MI runs $13.87 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $28,853 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Sterling Heights's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.2, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.89 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $17,315 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

The hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Sterling Heights is projected to be $13.87 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $14.59. This rate can significantly impact professionals working part-time or on a per-diem basis, as many specialists find work in diverse environments such as remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, and third-party coding companies. Entry-level medical coding positions may see hourly rates starting around $9.58, while more experienced professionals in the region can earn up to $21.50 per hour. These figures reflect broader trends in the industry, where many workers thrive in flexible settings that have become standard post-2020, especially given the growing prevalence of work-from-home opportunities in medical coding.
About the Sterling Heights Market
Salary estimated from Michigan average ($48,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $9.58 | $76.62 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.38 | $91.02 |
| Median (P50) | $13.87 | $111.00 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $17.38 | $139.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $21.50 | $171.98 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Sterling Heights
Based on $13.87/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.87/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Sterling Heights, MI can expect to earn approximately $28,859 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $16,650. With a cost-of-living index of 93.20 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Sterling Heights.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Sterling Heights
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $554.98 | $2,405 | $28,859 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $332.99 | $1,443 | $17,315 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $221.99 | $962 | $11,544 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Sterling Heights) | $13.87 |
| 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 Sterling Heights, MI earn a median of $28,853 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.93% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 2.10% above the Michigan state average of $28,260.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.87/hr = $17,315/year (purchasing power: $18,579).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $28,859/year (purchasing power: $30,965).
CoL index: 93.2 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$12.37/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$13.56/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.87/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Sterling Heights (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $12.37/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $12.51/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $12.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $21.96/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $13.56/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.87/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $14.20/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Sterling Heights grew 9.6% from $12.37/hr (2021) to $13.56/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $14.20/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 Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights
For a part-time medical billing and coding specialist working three days a week, the annual take-home pay will be lower than what a full-time employee would make, but they can still achieve a stable income. Typically, those who work as per diem medical billing and coding specialists can command rates ranging from $25 to $42 an hour, depending on their credentials and the complexity of the coding tasks. Certain areas within this field, such as inpatient coding or risk adjustment specialists, have even higher pay scales, reaching up to $65 per hour. Moreover, hourly rates may vary greatly based on the employer type in Sterling Heights. While some professionals may accept lower hourly wages in exchange for health insurance benefits, others opt for higher pay without benefits, trading off security for flexibility. For those considering negotiation, it’s advisable to compare offers from different sectors, keeping in mind their unique skill qualifications and the local market demand for specialties like ICD-10-CM or HCC coding.
More salary data for Sterling Heights, MI:
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 Sterling Heights. 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 Sterling Heights 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