Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Owensboro, KY: $26,943 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Owensboro, KY earns a median $26,943/year (≈ $12.95/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Owensboro's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.6), that paycheck buys what $30,406 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% below the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected salary for a medical billing and coding specialist in Owensboro, KY, is estimated to be $26,943, which reflects a 2.32% annual growth rate from previous years. When considering the full salary range in the area, earnings span from $17,317 at the 10th percentile to $46,052 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, highlight the local compensation situation against a national median of $30,349. Although this is nearly 11.22% below the national average, the shift to remote work has created opportunities for local specialists to compete for positions that may offer better pay outside of Owensboro, thereby expanding their earning potential.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17,317 | $8.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21,014 | $10.11 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $26,943 | $12.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $33,008 | $15.87 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $46,052 | $22.14 |
Median Salary Position
11.22% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Owensboro
In Owensboro, KY, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,735 (2026 est.). At $26,943, the local median is 11.22% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Owensboro: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Owensboro Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Owensboro median: $26,943/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Owensboro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $27,106 | -0.60% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -11.22% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Owensboro, KY earn a median of $26,943 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.22% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 0.60% below the Kentucky state average of $27,106.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Owensboro has a cost of living 11.39% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Owensboro, KY has a cost-of-living index of 88.61 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $26,943 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $30,406 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.85% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$37,020
2025 BLS Actual
$26,332
2026 Current Est.
$26,943
2021–2027 Growth
+-25.5%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Owensboro (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $37,020 | Actual |
| 2022 | $39,910 | Actual |
| 2023 | $42,850 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,800 | Actual |
| 2025 | $26,332 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $26,943 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $27,568 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Owensboro metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -28.9% from $37,020 (2021) to $26,332 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $27,568 by 2027 — a total increase of $-9,452 (-25.53%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Owensboro 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) | $17,317 – $21,014 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $21,014 – $26,943 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $26,943 – $33,008 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $33,008 – $46,052 |
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 Owensboro
Owensboro's job market currently employs around 60 specialists in medical billing and coding, indicating a steady demand for these professionals. The area's cost of living index is 88.61, which suggests that while salaries may not be on par with national averages, the lower living costs can enhance purchasing power for local residents. Those looking to maximize their medical billing and coding specialist pay in Owensboro should consider targeting positions within physician group practices and hospital inpatient coding departments, which generally offer higher salaries. The spread between low and high pay can be driven by various factors, including the specialty area of coding, the stacking of credentials, and the benefits of remote work arrangements. Pursuing additional certifications, such as the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC), may also improve wages in this competitive environment, especially as risk adjustment coding continues to experience significant growth.
More salary data for Owensboro, KY:
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 $26,332 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Owensboro 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