Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Raleigh, NC: $15.51 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Raleigh, NC runs $15.51 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $32,248 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Raleigh's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.2, 2% below national), each hour of work buys what $15.80 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $19,359 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Raleigh, NC, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly pay of $15.51, exceeding the national hourly median of $14.59. This competitive rate makes the profession appealing for part-time and per-diem workers. Many professionals in this field work in diverse settings, including remote home offices—common since the shift to telework in 2020—hospital health information management (HIM) departments, physician group practices, and third-party coding firms. The hourly wage varies significantly; entry-level positions typically start around $10.59, while experienced specialists can command rates up to $26.81 per hour. These official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures for 2026 reflect not just local conditions but also the tendency toward flexible job structures, benefitting those seeking non-traditional hours or project-based work.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.59 | $84.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $12.86 | $102.89 |
| Median (P50) | $15.51 | $124.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $20.93 | $167.48 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $26.81 | $214.46 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Raleigh
Based on $15.51/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $15.51/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Raleigh, NC can expect to earn approximately $32,264 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $18,614. With a cost-of-living index of 98.16 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Raleigh.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Raleigh
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $620.47 | $2,689 | $32,264 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $372.28 | $1,613 | $19,359 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $248.19 | $1,075 | $12,906 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Raleigh) | $15.51 |
| 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 Raleigh, NC earn a median of $32,248 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.26% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 14.70% above the North Carolina state average of $28,115.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $15.51/hr = $19,359/year (purchasing power: $19,722).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $32,264/year (purchasing power: $32,870).
CoL index: 98.157 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$19.13/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$15.16/hr
2026 Current Est.
$15.51/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-17.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Raleigh (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $19.13/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.50/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.88/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $15.16/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $15.51/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $15.87/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Raleigh grew -20.8% from $19.13/hr (2021) to $15.16/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $15.87/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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Part-time medical billing and coding specialists working three days per week might take home around $19,224 annually, contrasting sharply with full-time earnings, which can significantly boost lifetime financial security. The per diem model offers a different route; professionals working as independent contractors often bill between $25 and $42 per hour, with certified coders in specialized areas such as risk adjustment earning up to $65 hourly. Various employer types vary widely in pay scales, with lower rates typically found in smaller practices compared to hospitals or national coding services. Some specialists may choose lower-paying positions offering benefits like health insurance. For those negotiating hourly rates in Raleigh, understanding local market conditions and tapping into valuable skills such as ICD-10-CM and CPT coding can be advantageous for securing a better pay rate. The ongoing demand for experienced coders, particularly in the expanding fields of risk adjustment and HCC coding, presents further opportunities for advancement and earnings growth.
More salary data for Raleigh, NC:
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 Raleigh. 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