Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Altoona, PA: $12.69 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Altoona, PA runs $12.69 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $26,391 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Altoona's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.5, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.18 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $15,834 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Altoona, Pennsylvania, a medical billing and coding specialist earns a median hourly rate of $12.69, which sits below the national hourly median of $14.59. This positioning can be significant for those considering part-time or per diem work within various healthcare settings, such as remote home offices, hospital HIM departments, and physician group coding cubicles. The hourly pay ranges from $10.37 for entry-level positions to $17.36 for the top earners, indicating a broad spectrum of compensation that reflects both experience and expertise in coding methodologies like ICD-10-CM and CPT. With an increasing shift toward remote work, the hourly earnings for these roles highlight the evolving demands of the industry.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.37 | $82.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.23 | $89.88 |
| Median (P50) | $12.69 | $101.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $14.32 | $114.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $17.36 | $138.91 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Altoona
Based on $12.69/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $12.69/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Altoona, PA can expect to earn approximately $26,390 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $15,225. With a cost-of-living index of 89.51 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Altoona.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Altoona
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $507.51 | $2,199 | $26,390 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $304.50 | $1,320 | $15,834 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $203.00 | $880 | $10,556 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Altoona) | $12.69 |
| 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 Altoona, PA earn a median of $26,391 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.04% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 6.60% below the Pennsylvania state average of $28,256.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $12.69/hr = $15,834/year (purchasing power: $17,690).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $26,390/year (purchasing power: $29,484).
CoL index: 89.507 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$17.94/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$12.40/hr
2026 Current Est.
$12.69/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-27.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Altoona (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $17.94/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $19.28/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $19.20/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.08/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $12.40/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $12.69/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $12.98/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Altoona grew -30.9% from $17.94/hr (2021) to $12.40/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $12.98/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 Altoona 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 Altoona
When examining the potential for part-time work, a medical billing and coding specialist in Altoona working three days a week would realistically take home significantly less annually when compared to their full-time counterparts. For example, a 24-hour workweek on this hourly basis yields a more modest income than what full-time roles provide. In the per-diem sector, professionals with 1099 status can command much higher wages, often ranging from $25 to $42 per hour, especially for those with specialized certifications. Work settings such as physician group practices and coding departments of hospitals tend to offer lower hourly rates due to the inclusion of benefits like health insurance, which can factor into the decision-making process when seeking employment. Negotiation strategies can be beneficial in securing better compensation; understanding local industry standards and leveraging certifications from recognized bodies like AAPC or AHIMA can enhance one’s bargaining power in Altoona's job market.
More salary data for Altoona, PA:
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 Altoona. 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