Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Salt Lake City, UT: $16.81 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Salt Lake City, UT runs $16.81 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $34,955 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Salt Lake City's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.9, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $16.67 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $20,980 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Salt Lake City, medical billing and coding specialists can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $16.81, which exceeds the national average of $14.59. This hourly pay reflects opportunities for both part-time employees and per-diem workers in various settings, including remote work-from-home positions, hospital health information management departments, and coding offices for physician groups. Those starting in the field might earn around $10.79 per hour, while top-earning specialists can command as much as $29.67 per hour. Given the region's relatively higher cost of living index, which stands at 100.868, these hourly figures provide a competitive wage for those working in the medical coding industry in Utah, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.79 | $86.36 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $13.52 | $108.13 |
| Median (P50) | $16.81 | $134.49 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $22.32 | $178.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $29.67 | $237.38 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Salt Lake City
Based on $16.81/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $16.81/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Salt Lake City, UT can expect to earn approximately $34,967 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $20,173. With a cost-of-living index of 100.87 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Salt Lake City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Salt Lake City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $672.45 | $2,914 | $34,967 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $403.47 | $1,748 | $20,980 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $268.98 | $1,166 | $13,987 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Salt Lake City) | $16.81 |
| 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 Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $34,955 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.18% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 28.10% above the Utah state average of $27,287.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $16.81/hr = $20,980/year (purchasing power: $20,800).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $34,967/year (purchasing power: $34,666).
CoL index: 100.868 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$22.73/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$16.43/hr
2026 Current Est.
$16.81/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-24.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Salt Lake City (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22.73/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.16/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.81/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.53/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $16.43/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $16.81/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $17.20/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Salt Lake City grew -27.7% from $22.73/hr (2021) to $16.43/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $17.20/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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City
For part-time medical billing and coding specialists working three days a week, focusing on a 24-hour schedule can yield substantial earnings, although less than full-time positions. While full-time employees enjoy the stability of consistent hours and potential benefits, those in per-diem or agency roles, often classified as 1099 workers, can find themselves billing anywhere from $25 to $42 per hour. Specialties such as certified coding specialists (CCS) and risk adjustment coders can expect even higher compensation, sometimes reaching between $35 and $65 per hour. However, employers such as physician group practices, third-party coding firms, and insurance companies may set different pay scales that reflect their operational needs. In Salt Lake City, some coders accept lower hourly wages in exchange for benefits like health insurance, highlighting an essential trade-off in the profession. Negotiating hourly rates with local employers can depend on industry demand, coding skills, and the willingness to work flexible shifts, which is increasingly valued in today's remote-focused work environment.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Salt Lake City in 2026?
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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 Salt Lake City. 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