Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Bowling Green, KY: $26,569 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Bowling Green, KY earns a median $26,569/year (≈ $12.77/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Bowling Green's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.2), that paycheck buys what $29,463 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% below the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, medical billing and coding specialists in Bowling Green, Kentucky can expect a median annual salary of $26,569, which notably lags behind the national median of $30,349, reflecting a -12.46% difference. The salary range for this role spans from $21,792 at the 10th percentile to $35,773 at the 90th percentile, as reported by projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. It's essential to recognize the differences in pay based on specialty areas; for instance, inpatient coding (CCS) typically commands higher pay compared to outpatient coding (CPC) and risk adjustment (CRC). As the market evolves, mastering these specializations could significantly enhance earning potential for local practitioners, influencing entry-level positions and long-term career trajectories in Bowling Green's healthcare landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21,792 | $10.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23,287 | $11.19 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $26,569 | $12.77 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30,349 | $14.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $35,773 | $17.20 |
Median Salary Position
12.46% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bowling Green
In Bowling Green, KY, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $13,981 (2026 est.). At $26,569, the local median is 12.46% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bowling Green: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bowling Green Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Bowling Green median: $26,569/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bowling Green Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $27,112 | -2.00% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -12.46% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Bowling Green, KY earn a median of $26,569 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.46% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 2.00% below the Kentucky state average of $27,112.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bowling Green has a cost of living 9.82% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bowling Green, KY has a cost-of-living index of 90.179 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $26,569 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $29,463 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.89% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$44,390
2025 BLS Actual
$25,967
2026 Current Est.
$26,569
2021–2027 Growth
+-38.8%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Bowling Green (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $44,390 | Actual |
| 2022 | $46,110 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,990 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,450 | Actual |
| 2025 | $25,967 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $26,569 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $27,186 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bowling Green metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -41.5% from $44,390 (2021) to $25,967 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $27,186 by 2027 — a total increase of $-17,204 (-38.76%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bowling Green 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) | $21,792 – $23,287 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $23,287 – $26,569 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $26,569 – $30,349 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $30,349 – $35,773 |
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 Bowling Green
The local job market for medical billing and coding specialists is moderately robust, with approximately 180 professionals employed in the Bowling Green area. However, the cost of living index, currently at 90.179, suggests that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the overall affordability allows for a balanced quality of life. Among local employers, hospital inpatient coding departments and payer/insurance company coding audit teams tend to offer the most competitive compensation packages. Factors contributing to the pay variation include additional credentials, such as the combination of CPC and CCS qualifications, the demand for productivity bonuses linked to the volume of charts coded per hour, and the increasing prevalence of remote work opportunities. To maximize earnings within this market, professionals should consider further certifications, consistently keep abreast of ICD-10-CM and CPT updates, and explore positions that allow for both remote flexibility and performance incentives tailored to coding accuracy and efficiency in Bowling Green.
More salary data for Bowling Green, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $25,967 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Bowling Green 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