Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in San Diego, CA: $36,485 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in San Diego, CA earns a median $36,485/year (≈ $17.54/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in San Diego's price level (12% above national, BEA RPP 111.9), that paycheck buys what $32,609 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.0% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, medical billing and coding specialists in San Diego can expect a median annual salary of $36,485, which is notably higher than the national median of $30,349, indicating a robust local job market. Salaries in this field range from $26,171 at the lower end (10th percentile) to a potential $59,304 for the top earners (90th percentile). These figures, derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, showcase a competitive compensation landscape that reflects the city's higher cost of living. As remote work becomes more standard in the field, the wage disparity may widen further, granting local professionals the flexibility to work for employers outside of the region, thereby influencing the overall salary outlook for medical billing and coding specialist pay in San Diego, CA.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $26,171 | $12.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $29,162 | $14.03 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $36,485 | $17.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $45,007 | $21.64 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $59,304 | $28.51 |
Median Salary Position
20.22% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in San Diego
In San Diego, CA, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $33,133 (2026 est.). At $36,485, the local median is 20.22% above the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in San Diego: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How San Diego Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
San Diego median: $36,485/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | San Diego Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $35,082 | +4.00% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | +20.22% more |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in San Diego, CA earn a median of $36,485 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.22% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 4.00% above the California state average of $35,082.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
San Diego has a cost of living 11.89% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
San Diego, CA has a cost-of-living index of 111.887 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $36,485 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $32,609 — a 10.62% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$48,190
2025 BLS Actual
$35,658
2026 Current Est.
$36,485
2021–2027 Growth
+-22.5%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in San Diego (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $48,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,250 | Actual |
| 2023 | $52,600 | Actual |
| 2024 | $55,980 | Actual |
| 2025 | $35,658 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $36,485 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $37,332 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the San Diego metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -26.0% from $48,190 (2021) to $35,658 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $37,332 by 2027 — a total increase of $-10,858 (-22.53%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Diego 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) | $26,171 – $29,162 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $29,162 – $36,485 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $36,485 – $45,007 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $45,007 – $59,304 |
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 San Diego
In San Diego, approximately 1,600 medical billing and coding specialists are currently employed, indicating a stable demand for talent in this profession. However, the cost of living index in the area stands at 111.887, which means that salaries must accommodate this higher living expense. Among local employers, physician group practice coding offices and hospital inpatient coding departments tend to offer the most lucrative compensation packages. Factors influencing pay variance include specialty areas, such as inpatient coding versus outpatient coding, as well as credential stacking—where holding multiple certifications like CPC, CCS, and CRC can command higher salaries. Additionally, the combination of productivity bonuses and remote work options can further enhance earnings. For those in the San Diego medical coding market, pursuing advanced credentials and gaining experience in high-demand areas like risk adjustment coding or compliance can be effective strategies for increasing take-home pay.
More salary data for San Diego, CA:
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
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 $35,658 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the San Diego 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