Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Decatur, AL: $26,314 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Decatur, AL earns a median $26,314/year (≈ $12.66/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Decatur's price level (13% below national, BEA RPP 87.2), that paycheck buys what $30,172 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% above the Alabama state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Decatur, Alabama, the projected median annual salary for a medical billing and coding specialist stands at $26,314 for the year 2026, which reflects a 13.30% lower compensation compared to the national median of $30,349. Salary ranges for this profession are notably broad, beginning at $17,929 for the lowest 10% of earners and reaching up to $35,364 for the top 90%. These figures, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, illustrate both the potential for high earnings and the relative accessibility of the field in Decatur. The rise of remote work has expanded opportunities, allowing local specialists to compete nationally, thereby influencing salary expectations in the region as employers adjust to a changing job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17,929 | $8.62 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21,489 | $10.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $26,314 | $12.66 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30,165 | $14.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $35,364 | $17.01 |
Median Salary Position
13.3% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Decatur
In Decatur, AL, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,435 (2026 est.). At $26,314, the local median is 13.3% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Decatur: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Decatur Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Decatur median: $26,314/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Decatur Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $26,183 | +0.50% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | -13.30% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Decatur, AL earn a median of $26,314 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.30% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 0.50% above the Alabama state average of $26,183.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Decatur has a cost of living 12.79% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Decatur, AL has a cost-of-living index of 87.212 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $26,314 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $30,172 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.66% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2021 BLS Actual
$35,770
2025 BLS Actual
$25,717
2026 Current Est.
$26,314
2021–2027 Growth
+-24.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Decatur (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $35,770 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,870 | Actual |
| 2023 | $41,760 | Actual |
| 2024 | $39,710 | Actual |
| 2025 | $25,717 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $26,314 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $26,924 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Decatur metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -28.1% from $35,770 (2021) to $25,717 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $26,924 by 2027 — a total increase of $-8,846 (-24.73%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Decatur 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $17,929 – $21,489 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $21,489 – $26,314 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $26,314 – $30,165 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $30,165 – $35,364 |
MBS salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical billing and coding specialist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Job Market in Decatur
Currently, there are about 50 professionals employed in Decatur focusing on medical billing and coding, a number that indicates a stable job market for this profession. The cost of living index is comparatively low at 87.212, which suggests that the purchasing power for medical billing and coding specialist pay in Decatur AL might be more favorable than in more expensive regions. Among the local employers, physician group practice coding offices and hospital inpatient coding departments tend to offer the highest wages, highlighting the advantage of specialization. Factors that lead to variation in pay include the type of coding—such as inpatient CCS or risk adjustment CRC—alongside credentials earned, and the demands of productivity bonuses. Coders can potentially maximize their pay by building a comprehensive skill set and pursuing required certifications through bodies like AAPC or AHIMA. Emphasizing the importance of staying current with coding updates and trends, especially in high-growth areas like risk adjustment, can further enhance earning potential in this evolving field.
More salary data for Decatur, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Decatur, AL in 2026?
Is Decatur, AL a good place to work as a medical billing and coding specialist?
Can medical billing and coding specialists make $100K in Decatur?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical billing and coding specialist salary in Decatur?
How much does a medical billing and coding specialist make per hour in Decatur?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Alabama
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $25,717 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Decatur metropolitan area. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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