Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Burlington, NC: $12.33 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Burlington, NC runs $12.33 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $25,650 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Burlington's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.2, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $13.23 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $15,387 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Burlington, North Carolina, the hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist is projected to be $12.33 in 2026, falling short of the national median hourly rate of $14.59. This rate reflects the local economic landscape and can substantially impact the income of professionals working part-time or on a per-diem basis. For example, a specialist working three days a week could expect to earn around $592.80 weekly, or about $30,633 annually if consistent hours are maintained. The pay scale for this occupation in Burlington ranges from $10.83 at the entry level to $18.41 for those at the upper tiers of experience, illustrating the diversity in earnings across the profession, especially in settings like remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, or consultancy client sites. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.83 | $86.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.79 | $94.30 |
| Median (P50) | $12.33 | $98.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $15.57 | $124.58 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $18.41 | $147.26 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Burlington
Based on $12.33/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $12.33/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Burlington, NC can expect to earn approximately $25,645 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $14,795. With a cost-of-living index of 93.20 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Burlington.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Burlington
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $493.18 | $2,137 | $25,645 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $295.91 | $1,282 | $15,387 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $197.27 | $855 | $10,258 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Burlington) | $12.33 |
| 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 Burlington, NC earn a median of $25,650 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.48% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 8.70% below the North Carolina state average of $28,094.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $12.33/hr = $15,387/year (purchasing power: $16,511).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $25,645/year (purchasing power: $27,518).
CoL index: 93.196 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$18.18/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$12.05/hr
2026 Current Est.
$12.33/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-30.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Burlington (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $18.18/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.10/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.53/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $21.69/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $12.05/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $12.33/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $12.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Burlington grew -33.7% from $18.18/hr (2021) to $12.05/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $12.62/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 Burlington 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 Burlington
Potential earners in Burlington can consider considerable differences when evaluating part-time versus full-time positions. For a medical billing and coding specialist clocking roughly 24 hours weekly, estimated annual earnings pale in comparison to the full-time threshold, which generally qualifies for additional benefits. Many per-diem workers, billing at rates ranging from $25 to $42 per hour, have the flexibility to command higher pay, particularly in specialized roles such as inpatient coding or risk adjustment for Medicare Advantage plans. Employers such as physician practices, hospital coding departments, and third-party coding companies will offer varying hourly rates. Often, specialists may opt for slightly lower pay in exchange for employer-provided benefits like health insurance. For those negotiating their hourly pay in Burlington, demonstrating specialized skills in coding sets like ICD-10-CM or expertise in areas like HCC coding could be advantageous.
More salary data for Burlington, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Burlington in 2026?
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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 Burlington. 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