Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in St. Joseph, MO: $29,103 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in St. Joseph, MO earns a median $29,103/year (≈ $14.00/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in St. Joseph's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.4), that paycheck buys what $33,691 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.7% below the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, the projected median annual salary for a medical billing and coding specialist in 2026 is set at $29,103, reflecting a slight decrease compared to the national average of $30,349. Professionals in this field can expect salaries ranging from $22,106 at the lower end (P10) to $43,322 for those at the higher end (P90). This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, indicates a competitive salary environment for medical coders, particularly when considering the specialty pay gradient associated with different coding specialties such as inpatient CCS, outpatient CPC, and risk adjustment in HCC coding. The evolving healthcare landscape, with an increasing focus on risk adjustment, presents opportunities for higher earnings based on expertise and credentialing.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22,106 | $10.63 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26,693 | $12.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $29,103 | $14.00 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37,572 | $18.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43,322 | $20.83 |
Median Salary Position
4.11% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Joseph
In St. Joseph, MO, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $21,216 (2026 est.). At $29,103, the local median is 4.11% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Joseph: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Joseph Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
St. Joseph median: $29,103/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Joseph Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $29,606 | -1.70% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -4.11% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in St. Joseph, MO earn a median of $29,103 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.11% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 1.70% below the Missouri state average of $29,606.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Joseph has a cost of living 13.62% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Joseph, MO has a cost-of-living index of 86.382 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $29,103 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $33,691 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.76% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$48,070
2025 BLS Actual
$28,443
2026 Current Est.
$29,103
2021–2027 Growth
+-38.1%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in St. Joseph (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $48,070 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,400 | Actual |
| 2023 | $43,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,640 | Actual |
| 2025 | $28,443 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29,103 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29,778 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Joseph metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -40.8% from $48,070 (2021) to $28,443 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $29,778 by 2027 — a total increase of $-18,292 (-38.05%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Joseph 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) | $22,106 – $26,693 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $26,693 – $29,103 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $29,103 – $37,572 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $37,572 – $43,322 |
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 St. Joseph
Looking at the local job market, St. Joseph employs around 50 medical billing and coding specialists, which suggests a relatively stable employment landscape in this sector. With a cost of living index at 86.382, professionals here may find their take-home pay permits a comfortable lifestyle relative to other regions. Employers that typically offer higher compensation include physician group practices, hospital inpatient coding departments, and third-party coding firms, especially those that allow for remote work. The salary variation seen in St. Joseph can largely be attributed to coding specialty focus, additional credentials, and performance incentives such as productivity bonuses. For those looking to enhance their medical billing and coding specialist pay in St. Joseph, pursuing certifications beyond the basic CPC, such as CCS or CRC, and staying updated with ICD-10-CM and quarterly CPT code revisions are effective strategies.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
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 $28,443 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the St. Joseph 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