Medical Billing Salary

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Montana: $30,100 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Montana's 7 metropolitan areas, the average median medical billing and coding specialist pay sits at $30,100/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2072. Because Montana sits at BEA RPP 96.2 (4% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $31,289 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Bozeman ($30,740), Missoula ($30,467), Great Falls ($29,377).

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Montana - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Montana medical billing and coding specialist salary overview (2026)
$30,100
Avg Median Salary
$14.47
Avg Hourly Rate
531
Metro Employed
7
Cities

The landscape for medical billing and coding specialists in Montana is characterized by a projected average median salary of $30,099 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $30,349, marking a difference of -0.8%. The highest salaries can be found in Bozeman, where specialists are expected to earn $31,453, while Kalispell reflects the lowest earnings at $28,702, resulting in a salary gap of $724. This discrepancy can be attributed to factors like local demand for services, cost of living variations, and the concentration of healthcare facilities in urban areas. Montana has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can impact job opportunities and salary levels. The demand for billing and coding specialists is driven by an aging population and an increase in healthcare services, contributing to a positive job market outlook. The annual growth rate for this field in the state is projected at 2.32%, indicating steady job development. In 2026, other significant cities include Missoula at $31,174, Great Falls at $30,059, Billings at $29,785, and Butte at $29,211. Overall, the employment figures, with 531 specialists active in the state, suggest a stable market for aspiring billing and coding professionals in Montana.

Montana Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$24,185
avg across 7 cities
Median
$30,100
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$38,804
avg across 7 cities

Overall salary range in Montana: $20,784 (lowest entry-level) to $46,307 (highest top earner)

Montana vs National Average

Montana
$30,100
National Median
$30,349

Montana medical billing and coding specialists earn 0.82% less than the national median ($-249/year difference).

Montana Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Montana medical billing and coding specialist salary percentiles: 10th percentile $24,185, 25th $26,750, Median $30,100, 75th $35,500, 90th $38,804. US national median is $30,349.$10.9K$21.7K$32.6K$43.5K$24.2K10thEntry Level$26.8K25thEarly Career$30.1KMedianMid Career$35.5K75thExperienced$38.8K90thTop EarnerUS Median $30.3K

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist salaries in Montana range from $24,185 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $38,804 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $30,100. The Montana median is $249 below the US national median of $30,349. The average hourly rate is $14.47/hr. Approximately 531 medical billing and coding specialists are employed across 7 cities.

2021 BLS Actual

$47,520

2025 BLS Actual

$29,417

2026 Current Est.

$30,100

2021–2027 Growth

+-35.2%

Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Montana (20212027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for medical billing and coding specialists in Montana. Baseline $47,520 in 2025, projected to $30,798 by 2027.$25.5K$32.3K$39.2K$46.0K$52.9K20212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$47.5K$44.2K$46.6K$48.9K$29.4K$30.1K$30.8K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2021$47,520Actual
2022$44,234Actual
2023$46,557Actual
2024$48,947Actual
2025$29,417Actual
2026(current)$30,100Estimated
2027$30,798Projected

Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Montana metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -38.1% from $47,520 (2021) to $29,417 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $30,798 by 2027 — a total increase of $-16,722 (-35.19%) from 2021.

Note: Historical values (20212025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Montana metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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 Montana

#1
Bozeman
60 employed · $15.12/hr
$31,453
+4.50% vs avg
#2
Missoula
90 employed · $14.99/hr
$31,174
+3.57% vs avg
#3
Great Falls
50 employed · $14.45/hr
$30,059
-0.14% vs avg
#4
Billings
260 employed · $14.32/hr
$29,785
-1.05% vs avg
#5
Butte
7 employed · $14.05/hr
$29,211
-2.95% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Montana

CityMedian Salary
Kalispell$28,702
Helena$28,729
Butte$29,211
Billings$29,785
Great Falls$30,059

Best Value Cities for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Montana

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

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Missoula$31,17496.445$32,323
Billings$29,78593.526$31,847
Great Falls$30,05996.845$31,038
Bozeman$31,453102.51$30,683
Butte$29,21196.2$30,365

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

Salary by Experience Level in Montana

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$24,185
Mid Career (3-7 years)$30,100
Experienced (7+ years)$38,804

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

All 7 Cities in Montana

#CityMedian Salary
1Bozeman$31,453
2Missoula$31,174
3Great Falls$30,059
4Billings$29,785
5Butte$29,211
6Helena$28,729
7Kalispell$28,702

More Montana Salary Data

Hourly Rates

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

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new medical billing and coding specialists.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced medical billing and coding specialists.

Explore More Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The average median medical billing and coding specialist salary in Montana is $30,100/year across 7 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $28,702 in Kalispell to $31,453 in Bozeman. This makes Montana 0.82% below the national median of $30,349. The state employs approximately 531 medical billing and coding specialists.

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

Bozeman offers the highest medical billing and coding specialist salary in Montana at $31,453/year ($15.12/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Bozeman ($31,453), Missoula ($31,174), Great Falls ($30,059). 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 Montana medical billing and coding specialist pay compare to the national average?

Montana's average medical billing and coding specialist salary of $30,100 is 0.82% below the national median of $30,349 in 2026. The state employs approximately 531 medical billing and coding specialists across 7 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 Montana?

Entry-level medical billing and coding specialists (10th percentile) in Montana earn approximately $24,185/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $20,784 in lower-paying areas to $27,465 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 Montana?

Montana employs approximately 531 medical billing and coding specialists across 7 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the medical billing and coding field expands and the population ages.

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

When adjusted for cost of living, Missoula offers the highest purchasing power for medical billing and coding specialists in Montana, with an adjusted salary of $32,323 (nominal: $31,174, CoL index: 96.445). This means your dollar goes 4% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
AP

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 Montana. State averages are employment-weighted across 7 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 (). 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: