Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Illinois: $33,387 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median medical billing and coding specialist pay sits at $33,387/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2072. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $34,384 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naperville ($33,974), Chicago ($33,623), Elgin ($33,323).

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois medical billing and coding specialist salary overview (2026)

$33,387

Avg Median Salary

$16.05

Avg Hourly Rate

5,771

Metro Employed

Cities

In Illinois, the average median salary for medical billing and coding specialists in 2026 is projected to be $33,387, surpassing the national median of $30,349 by 10.0%. The salary landscape varies significantly within the state, with the highest-paying city, Naperville, offering $34,762, while Rock Island presents the lowest salary at $27,091, indicating a gap of $7,671. Factors driving this disparity often include the cost of living, local demand for healthcare services, and the concentration of healthcare facilities. Illinois has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can influence salary figures. The demand for skilled professionals in this field is expected to grow, supported by a projected annual growth rate of 2.32%. Major metropolitan areas such as Chicago ($34,403), Elgin ($34,096), Kankakee ($33,501), and Springfield ($33,115) offer competitive salaries as well. For those considering a career in medical billing and coding, the job market in Illinois appears stable, with a total employment of 5,771 specialists and various factors contributing to ongoing demand. This presents a favorable outlook for prospective candidates in the state.

Illinois Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$24,009

avg across 65 cities

Median

$33,387

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$46,204

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $19,279 (lowest entry-level) to $53,882 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$33,387

National Median

$30,349

Illinois medical billing and coding specialists earn 10.01% more than the national median (+$3,038/year difference).

Illinois Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary Distribution (2026)

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist salaries in Illinois range from $24,009 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $46,204 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $33,387. The Illinois median is $3,038 above the US national median of $30,349. The average hourly rate is $16.05/hr. Approximately 5,771 medical billing and coding specialists are employed across 65 cities.

2021 BLS Actual

$46,416

2025 BLS Actual

$32,630

2026 Current Est.

$33,387

2021–2027 Growth

+-26.4%

Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Illinois (2021–2027)

2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2021	$46,416	Actual
2022	$48,339	Actual
2023	$51,073	Actual
2024	$49,398	Actual
2025	$32,630	Actual
2026(current)	$33,387	Estimated
2027	$34,161	Projected

Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -29.7% from $46,416 (2021) to $32,630 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $34,161 by 2027 — a total increase of $-12,255 (-26.40%) from 2021.

Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois

Naperville

23 employed · $16.71/hr

$34,762

+4.12% vs avg

Chicago

4,510 employed · $16.53/hr

$34,403

+3.04% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $16.39/hr

$34,096

+2.12% vs avg

Kankakee

40 employed · $16.11/hr

$33,501

+0.34% vs avg

Springfield

120 employed · $15.92/hr

$33,115

-0.81% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Rock Island	$27,091	-18.86%	$13.03
Urbana	$27,176	-18.60%	$13.07
Champaign	$27,275	-18.31%	$13.11
Moline	$27,517	-17.58%	$13.23
Carbondale	$27,774	-16.81%	$13.35

Best Value Cities for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for medical billing and coding specialists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Naperville	$34,762	97.1	$35,800
Springfield	$33,115	92.745	$35,705
Elgin	$34,096	97.1	$35,114
Kankakee	$33,501	96.394	$34,754
Decatur	$29,715	88.422	$33,606

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$24,009	$11.54	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$33,387	$16.05	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$46,204	$22.21	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 65 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Naperville	$34,762	$16.71	$23,953	$53,882	23
2	Chicago	$34,403	$16.53	$24,605	$46,569	4,510
3	Elgin	$34,096	$16.39	$25,031	$52,849	16
4	Kankakee	$33,501	$16.11	$21,970	$47,648	40
5	Springfield	$33,115	$15.92	$23,572	$46,207	120
6	Orland Park	$30,067	$14.46	$21,825	$46,604	9
7	Bolingbrook	$29,937	$14.40	$20,523	$46,402	19
8	Decatur	$29,715	$14.28	$22,201	$39,281	30
9	Palatine	$29,712	$14.28	$20,871	$46,053	16
10	Waukegan	$29,695	$14.27	$20,954	$46,028	18
11	Mount Prospect	$29,639	$14.25	$20,824	$45,941	13
12	Peoria	$29,590	$14.22	$22,439	$44,361	230
13	Hoffman Estates	$29,543	$14.20	$20,601	$45,791	8
14	Rockford	$29,537	$14.20	$22,314	$41,904	120
15	Evanston	$29,487	$14.17	$20,471	$45,704	16
16	Joliet	$29,461	$14.16	$21,405	$45,664	25
17	Oak Park	$29,436	$14.15	$20,358	$45,627	10
18	Danville	$29,376	$14.12	$21,843	$44,271	5
19	Addison	$29,314	$14.09	$21,693	$45,164	6
20	Berwyn	$29,300	$14.09	$20,046	$45,306	12
21	Aurora	$29,282	$14.08	$21,000	$45,387	44
22	Tinley Park	$29,277	$14.08	$22,215	$45,379	8
23	Northbrook	$29,247	$14.06	$21,501	$44,857	8
24	St. Charles	$29,229	$14.05	$21,487	$43,758	7
25	Gurnee	$29,222	$14.05	$21,470	$43,806	8
26	Arlington Heights	$29,181	$14.03	$22,108	$45,230	18
27	Wheaton	$29,143	$14.01	$22,019	$45,171	14
28	Woodridge	$29,135	$14.01	$21,229	$43,432	9
29	Schaumburg	$29,120	$14.00	$21,935	$45,136	13
30	Buffalo Grove	$29,111	$14.00	$22,699	$45,122	7
31	Bartlett	$29,109	$14.00	$21,200	$43,416	9
32	Lake in the Hills	$29,001	$13.95	$20,910	$44,951	6
33	Collinsville	$28,996	$13.94	$20,930	$44,054	5
34	Skokie	$28,988	$13.94	$21,628	$44,932	12
35	Wheeling	$28,945	$13.92	$22,295	$44,865	6
36	Carpentersville	$28,914	$13.91	$22,247	$44,816	8
37	Oak Lawn	$28,894	$13.90	$21,321	$44,785	14
38	O'Fallon	$28,888	$13.88	$20,673	$44,776	6
39	Quincy	$28,775	$13.83	$20,406	$44,602	6
40	Algonquin	$28,775	$13.83	$20,284	$44,602	5
41	Carol Stream	$28,750	$13.82	$20,345	$44,562	10
42	Normal	$28,749	$13.82	$20,264	$44,560	8
43	Lombard	$28,731	$13.81	$20,302	$44,534	8
44	Cicero	$28,702	$13.80	$20,996	$44,488	21
45	Plainfield	$28,672	$13.78	$22,406	$44,442	11
46	Des Plaines	$28,667	$13.78	$20,915	$44,433	12
47	Oswego	$28,556	$13.73	$22,127	$44,263	7
48	DeKalb	$28,534	$13.72	$22,192	$44,228	9
49	Park Ridge	$28,510	$13.71	$22,137	$44,139	7
50	Hanover Park	$28,499	$13.70	$22,109	$44,174	6
51	Glenview	$28,497	$13.70	$22,103	$44,171	12
52	Romeoville	$28,382	$13.65	$21,827	$43,693	7
53	Streamwood	$28,343	$13.63	$21,733	$43,931	8
54	Bloomington	$28,314	$13.62	$21,555	$41,500	40
55	Downers Grove	$28,289	$13.60	$21,607	$43,848	11
56	Belleville	$28,283	$13.60	$21,591	$43,282	10
57	Crystal Lake	$28,237	$13.58	$21,481	$43,767	9
58	Galesburg	$28,129	$13.53	$21,224	$43,600	4
59	Calumet City	$28,120	$13.52	$21,202	$42,722	7
60	Elmhurst	$28,051	$13.49	$21,039	$42,557	9
61	Carbondale	$27,774	$13.35	$22,468	$41,872	5
62	Moline	$27,517	$13.23	$20,182	$41,344	10
63	Champaign	$27,275	$13.11	$19,946	$49,138	70
64	Urbana	$27,176	$13.07	$21,330	$42,123	6
65	Rock Island	$27,091	$13.03	$19,279	$40,768	5

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore medical billing and coding specialist hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new medical billing and coding specialists.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced medical billing and coding specialists.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsChampaign, IL Chicago, ILvsAurora, IL Chicago, ILvsKankakee, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median medical billing and coding specialist salary in Illinois is $33,387/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $27,091 in Rock Island to $34,762 in Naperville. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 10.01% above the national median of $30,349. The state employs approximately 5,771 medical billing and coding specialists.

What is the highest paying city for medical billing and coding specialists in Illinois?

Naperville offers the highest medical billing and coding specialist salary in Illinois at $34,762/year ($16.71/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naperville ($34,762), Chicago ($34,403), Elgin ($34,096). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for medical billing and coding services, and competition among employers for licensed medical billing and coding specialists.

How does Illinois medical billing and coding specialist pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average medical billing and coding specialist salary of $33,387 is 10.01% above the national median of $30,349 in 2026. The state employs approximately 5,771 medical billing and coding specialists across 65 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level medical billing and coding specialist salary in Illinois?

Entry-level medical billing and coding specialists (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $24,009/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $19,279 in lower-paying areas to $25,031 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many medical billing and coding specialists are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 5,771 medical billing and coding specialists across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois one of the larger employers of medical billing and coding specialists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the medical billing and coding field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for medical billing and coding specialists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Naperville offers the highest purchasing power for medical billing and coding specialists in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $35,800 (nominal: $34,762, CoL index: 97.1). This means your dollar goes 3% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Johnson, RHITData verified by Sofia Nguyen, CCS

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 medical billing and coding specialist compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 metro areas — larger metro areas with more medical billing and coding specialistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (2021–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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