Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Cookeville, TN: $12.85 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Cookeville, TN runs $12.85 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $26,731 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Cookeville's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.8, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.00 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $16,039 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Cookeville, Tennessee, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly rate of $12.85, which falls significantly below the national median of $14.59. This local rate reflects the realities of various work settings, including remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, and coding-focused positions in physician group practices or third-party companies. For part-time and per-diem opportunities, such as those scheduling work for three days a week, this hourly pay translates to a manageable lifestyle, though entry-level workers may start at approximately $9.73, while highly experienced professionals can reach up to $19.57 per hour. Examining these hourly rates gives prospective coders insight into the competitive landscape of Cookeville, which, despite lower earnings compared to the national average, offers diverse employment avenues in a robust healthcare environment.
About the Cookeville Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($44,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $9.73 | $77.85 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.10 | $88.81 |
| Median (P50) | $12.85 | $102.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.01 | $128.10 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $19.57 | $156.59 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cookeville
Based on $12.85/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $12.85/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cookeville, TN can expect to earn approximately $26,731 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $15,422. With a cost-of-living index of 91.80 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cookeville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cookeville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $514.06 | $2,228 | $26,731 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $308.43 | $1,337 | $16,039 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $205.62 | $891 | $10,692 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Cookeville) | $12.85 |
| 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 Cookeville, TN earn a median of $26,731 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.92% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 5.00% below the Tennessee state average of $28,138.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $12.85/hr = $16,039/year (purchasing power: $17,471).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $26,731/year (purchasing power: $29,119).
CoL index: 91.8 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$11.46/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$12.56/hr
2026 Current Est.
$12.85/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Cookeville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $11.46/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $11.59/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $11.98/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $18.45/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $12.56/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $12.85/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.15/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Cookeville grew 9.6% from $11.46/hr (2021) to $12.56/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.15/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 Cookeville 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 Cookeville
For medical billing and coding specialists considering part-time work in Cookeville, the potential earnings for a 24-hour workweek could yield a take-home pay significantly less than that of full-time counterparts. Those operating as per-diem contract coders, often 1099 employees, can see hourly rates ranging from $25 to $42, with specialized roles—such as certified coders or risk adjustment specialists—commanding even higher fees. Across varying employment settings in Cookeville, including physician practices and consulting firms, the compensation can fluctuate based on the employer type, with hospital positions typically offering more stability in terms of benefits. It's worth weighing the trade-offs between lower hourly rates for positions that include health insurance against higher compensation freelance roles lacking such benefits. For those seeking to negotiate their hourly pay, it's advisable to research average rates and tailor discussions to highlight relevant certifications such as those from AAPC or AHIMA, particularly if specialized experience in ICD-10-CM or risk adjustment is involved.
More salary data for Cookeville, TN:
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 Cookeville. 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 Cookeville 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