Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Cape Girardeau, MO: $14.57 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Cape Girardeau, MO runs $14.57 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $30,319 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Cape Girardeau's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.1, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $16.93 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $18,184 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the projected median hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist is $14.57, which is slightly below the national median of $14.59. This rate is particularly significant for those considering part-time work. A medical billing and coding specialist working three days a week, typically putting in 24 hours, could earn approximately $349.68 weekly before taxes. The hourly pay for this profession in Cape Girardeau ranges from $10.41 at the lower end for entry-level positions to $21.91 for the top earners. Common work environments include remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, physician group coding cubicles, and third-party coding companies. According to 2026 estimates based on 2025 BLS data, the flexibility of hourly pay often suits those looking for a better work-life balance or supplemental income.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.41 | $83.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.26 | $90.04 |
| Median (P50) | $14.57 | $116.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $18.91 | $151.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $21.91 | $175.25 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cape Girardeau
Based on $14.57/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $14.57/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cape Girardeau, MO can expect to earn approximately $30,306 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $17,484. With a cost-of-living index of 86.08 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cape Girardeau.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cape Girardeau
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $582.81 | $2,526 | $30,306 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $349.69 | $1,515 | $18,184 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $233.13 | $1,010 | $12,123 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Cape Girardeau) | $14.57 |
| 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 Cape Girardeau, MO earn a median of $30,319 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.10% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 2.40% above the Missouri state average of $29,609.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $14.57/hr = $18,184/year (purchasing power: $21,125).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $30,306/year (purchasing power: $35,208).
CoL index: 86.078 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$18.11/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$14.24/hr
2026 Current Est.
$14.57/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-17.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Cape Girardeau (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $18.11/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.00/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.38/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.63/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $14.24/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $14.57/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $14.91/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Cape Girardeau grew -21.4% from $18.11/hr (2021) to $14.24/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $14.91/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 Cape Girardeau 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 Cape Girardeau
Looking at the potential for part-time positions, if a medical billing and coding specialist works three days a week, they may take home around $18,979 annually, contrasting sharply with the full-time salary potential. Those opting for per-diem coding work often experience a wider range of hourly billing, from $25 to $42, especially for 1099 contractors. For example, certified coding specialists (CCS) focusing on inpatient coding can command rates between $35 and $55 per hour, while risk adjustment coders may earn as high as $65 hourly. The trade-off in Cape Girardeau often involves analyzing the benefits versus higher hourly pay; lower hourly rates may come with advantageous health insurance packages, attracting specialists who prioritize such benefits over raw pay. Hourly negotiators can enhance their positions by focusing on their skills in high-demand areas like ICD-10-CM coding or the rapidly growing risk adjustment fields, aligning their rates with local market needs and personal qualifications.
More salary data for Cape Girardeau, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Cape Girardeau in 2026?
How much do part-time medical billing and coding specialists make in Cape Girardeau?
Are medical billing and coding specialists in Cape Girardeau paid hourly or salary?
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Do medical billing and coding specialists earn more per hour working part-time in Cape Girardeau?
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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 Cape Girardeau. 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