Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Baytown, TX: $12.80 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Baytown, TX runs $12.80 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $26,630 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Baytown's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.0, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $13.33 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $15,975 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Medical billing and coding specialists in Baytown, Texas, earn a median hourly pay of $12.80, which falls below the national median hourly rate of $14.59. This compensation reflects the realities of healthcare jobs, especially considering the shift toward remote work environments and varied settings such as physician group coding cubicles, hospital HIM departments, and third-party coding company production floors. The hourly range for specialists in Baytown varies considerably, starting at $8.90 for entry-level positions and capping at around $19.84 for top earners, allowing for flexibility for both part-time employees and per-diem workers in this field. With the upward trend in healthcare employment, these hourly rates are estimated based on earlier annual salary data and illustrate the ongoing demand for medical coders proficient in ICD-10-CM and CPT coding.
About the Baytown Market
Salary estimated from Texas average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $8.90 | $71.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $10.52 | $84.15 |
| Median (P50) | $12.80 | $102.40 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.07 | $128.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $19.84 | $158.72 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Baytown
Based on $12.80/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $12.80/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Baytown, TX can expect to earn approximately $26,624 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $15,360. With a cost-of-living index of 96.00 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Baytown.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Baytown
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $512.01 | $2,219 | $26,624 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $307.21 | $1,331 | $15,975 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $204.80 | $887 | $10,650 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Baytown) | $12.80 |
| 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 Baytown, TX earn a median of $26,630 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.25% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 0.50% below the Texas state average of $26,764.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $12.80/hr = $15,975/year (purchasing power: $16,640).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $26,624/year (purchasing power: $27,734).
CoL index: 96 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$11.41/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$12.51/hr
2026 Current Est.
$12.80/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Baytown (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $11.41/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $11.54/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $11.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.96/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $12.51/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $12.80/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.10/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Baytown grew 9.6% from $11.41/hr (2021) to $12.51/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.10/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 Baytown 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 Baytown
When considering part-time work, a medical billing and coding specialist who works three days a week (approximately 24 hours) may earn significantly less than their full-time counterparts, reflecting the structure of hourly employment where every 40-hour schedule comes with a different compensation dynamic. For those in per-diem roles, especially freelancers billing through 1099, rates can be substantially higher, with earnings ranging widely from $25 to $42 per hour for typical assignments, and specialists in risk adjustment coding earning between $40 to $65 per hour. In Baytown, the earning potential varies by employer type, with hospital inpatient coding departments and third-party coding companies often providing different compensation structures. While some specialists may choose lower hourly wages to access benefits such as health insurance, others might prioritize higher pay without those fringe benefits. Negotiating rates effectively requires an understanding of local market dynamics, encouraging professionals to research and prepare for discussions based on Vista's competitive landscape.
More salary data for Baytown, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Baytown in 2026?
How much do part-time medical billing and coding specialists make in Baytown?
Are medical billing and coding specialists in Baytown paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time medical billing and coding specialist make per year in Baytown?
Do medical billing and coding specialists earn more per hour working part-time in Baytown?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Texas
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 Baytown. 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 Baytown 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