Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Houston, TX: $14.62 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Houston, TX runs $14.62 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $30,415 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Houston's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.6, 1% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.82 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $18,248 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Houston, Texas, medical billing and coding specialists receive a median hourly pay of $14.62, slightly above the national median of $14.59. This hourly rate is particularly favorable for part-time professionals working three days a week, as it allows for flexible scheduling while still providing a reasonable income in a field that has largely transitioned to remote work. Hourly wages for these specialists in the city range from $10.89 for entry-level positions to $22.97 for those with extensive experience. In a market where many coders are employed by hospitals, physician groups, or third-party companies, this official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data demonstrates the competitive landscape for professionals seeking to establish or advance their careers in medical billing and coding.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.89 | $87.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $12.94 | $103.55 |
| Median (P50) | $14.62 | $116.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $18.72 | $149.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $22.97 | $183.77 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Houston
Based on $14.62/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $14.62/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Houston, TX can expect to earn approximately $30,413 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $17,546. With a cost-of-living index of 98.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Houston.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Houston
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $584.86 | $2,534 | $30,413 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $350.92 | $1,521 | $18,248 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $233.94 | $1,014 | $12,165 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Houston) | $14.62 |
| 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 Houston, TX earn a median of $30,415 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.22% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 13.60% above the Texas state average of $26,773.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $14.62/hr = $18,248/year (purchasing power: $18,501).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $30,413/year (purchasing power: $30,836).
CoL index: 98.629 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$21.16/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$14.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$14.62/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-29.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Houston (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $21.16/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $19.28/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.00/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $14.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $14.62/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $14.96/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Houston grew -32.5% from $21.16/hr (2021) to $14.29/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $14.96/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 Houston 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 Houston
Shifting focus to the earning potential of part-time employees, a medical billing and coding specialist working 24 hours per week can expect to take home around $18,000 annually, a stark contrast to full-time roles that offer higher earnings. This disparity often pushes professionals to consider per-diem options where 1099 medical coders typically bill between $25 and $42 per hour, with specialized roles like CCS inpatient coders earning up to $55 per hour. Hourly rates can vary significantly depending on the employer type; for instance, coding positions in hospital departments may offer different pay scales compared to third-party remote coding companies or consulting firms. This variability often leads some specialists to accept lower hourly pay for full-time positions that offer benefits, such as health insurance, recognizing the trade-offs involved. For those looking to negotiate their medical billing and coding specialist hourly pay in Houston, understanding the local job market and the value of additional certifications from organizations like AAPC or AHIMA can strengthen their bargaining position.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 Houston. 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