Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Fayetteville, AR: $28,943 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Fayetteville, AR earns a median $28,943/year (≈ $13.92/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.4), that paycheck buys what $31,683 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 18.3% above the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the medical billing and coding specialist salary in Fayetteville is projected to reach $28,943, which falls below the national average of $30,349. The salary range for this role is quite varied, spanning from $20,890 at the 10th percentile to $38,676 at the 90th percentile. These insights come from BLS 2025 OEWS data projected to 2026 and highlight how the shift toward remote employment has expanded compensation opportunities. The growing availability of remote positions has begun to reshape the local job market, creating an environment where individuals can compete for roles that typically offer higher pay than what is ordinarily found in Fayetteville.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20,890 | $10.04 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22,420 | $10.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $28,943 | $13.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35,406 | $17.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38,676 | $18.59 |
Median Salary Position
4.63% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, AR, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,786 (2026 est.). At $28,943, the local median is 4.63% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $28,943/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $24,466 | +18.30% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | -4.63% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Fayetteville, AR earn a median of $28,943 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.63% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 18.30% above the Arkansas state average of $24,466.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, AR has a cost-of-living index of 91.353 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $28,943 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $31,683 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.47% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$37,270
2025 BLS Actual
$28,287
2026 Current Est.
$28,943
2021–2027 Growth
+-20.5%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Fayetteville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $37,270 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,070 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,870 | Actual |
| 2024 | $40,670 | Actual |
| 2025 | $28,287 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28,943 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29,615 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -24.1% from $37,270 (2021) to $28,287 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $29,615 by 2027 — a total increase of $-7,655 (-20.54%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville 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) | $20,890 – $22,420 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $22,420 – $28,943 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $28,943 – $35,406 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $35,406 – $38,676 |
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 Fayetteville
Fayetteville currently employs about 290 medical billing and coding specialists. The area's cost-of-living index stands at 91.353, suggesting that living expenses are lower than the national average, which can impact overall take-home purchasing power favorably. Employers paying the highest salaries typically include hospital inpatient coding departments and payer / insurance company coding audit teams, with productivity bonuses influencing the range of compensation. Variations in pay are largely driven by factors such as specialty, credential stacking, and remote work arrangements. Medical billers and coders can maximize their earnings by obtaining additional certifications, focusing on high-demand areas like risk adjustment coding, and seeking positions that offer flexible work options. Overall, understanding local market dynamics and continually enhancing skills can substantially affect one's pay in Fayetteville, AR.
More salary data for Fayetteville, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Fayetteville, AR 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
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 $28,287 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Fayetteville 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