Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Houma, LA: $23,946 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Houma, LA earns a median $23,946/year (≈ $11.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Houma's price level (15% below national, BEA RPP 85.1), that paycheck buys what $28,138 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.8% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
According to 2026 estimates based on 2025 BLS data, medical billing and coding specialists in Houma, LA, can expect a median annual salary of $23,946. The salary range spans from $17,490 at the 10th percentile to $37,133 at the 90th percentile. These figures reflect the growth and demand for skilled professionals in this field, which often benefits from credential stacking pathways like CPC, CCS, and CRC. Each credential added can enhance earning potential throughout one's career while providing opportunities to specialize in high-demand areas such as risk adjustment coding. With the ongoing need for healthcare services in Houma, this profession is an attractive choice for individuals looking to enter the job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17,490 | $8.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $21,513 | $10.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $23,946 | $11.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $27,227 | $13.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37,133 | $17.85 |
Median Salary Position
21.1% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houma
In Houma, LA, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $19,643 (2026 est.). At $23,946, the local median is 21.1% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houma: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houma Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Houma median: $23,946/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houma Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $25,693 | -6.80% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -21.10% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Houma, LA earn a median of $23,946 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.10% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 6.80% below the Louisiana state average of $25,693.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houma has a cost of living 14.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houma, LA has a cost-of-living index of 85.103 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $23,946 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $28,138 in an average-cost city — an effective 17.51% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2021 BLS Actual
$37,850
2025 BLS Actual
$23,403
2026 Current Est.
$23,946
2021–2027 Growth
+-35.3%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Houma (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $37,850 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,890 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,500 | Actual |
| 2024 | $40,050 | Actual |
| 2025 | $23,403 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23,946 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24,501 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houma metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -38.2% from $37,850 (2021) to $23,403 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $24,501 by 2027 — a total increase of $-13,349 (-35.27%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houma 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) | $17,490 – $21,513 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $21,513 – $23,946 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $23,946 – $27,227 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $27,227 – $37,133 |
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 Houma
Houma's job market currently employs 90 medical billing and coding specialists, indicating a stable local demand for professionals in this role. The cost of living index, set at 85.103, suggests that take-home pay is relatively favorable compared to national averages, helping residents manage living expenses effectively. Employers in the area that tend to offer higher compensation include hospital inpatient coding departments and third-party coding companies that provide work-from-home options. The variation in salaries often correlates with specialties — inpatient coding roles typically pay more, alongside those with advanced credentials. To maximize pay in Houma, professionals should focus on acquiring multiple certifications, staying updated on coding changes, and considering remote coding opportunities to improve their earning potential.
More salary data for Houma, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Houma, LA in 2026?
Is Houma, LA a good place to work as a medical billing and coding specialist?
Can medical billing and coding specialists make $100K in Houma?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical billing and coding specialist salary in Houma?
How much does a medical billing and coding specialist make per hour in Houma?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Louisiana
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 $23,403 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Houma 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