Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Kearney, NE: $15,510 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Kearney, NE earns a median $15,510/year (≈ $7.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Kearney's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $16,951 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.7% below the Nebraska state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Kearney, Nebraska, the projected median annual salary for a medical billing and coding specialist in 2026 is $15,510. When compared to the national median salary of $30,349, this figure indicates a significant disparity, highlighting Kearney's unique labor market dynamics. The salary range for these specialists locally spans from $12,015 at the 10th percentile to $24,040 at the 90th percentile. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost variations, paint a clear picture of the economic environment for healthcare coding professionals. In Kearney, salary potential can vary considerably depending on specialization; those in inpatient coding roles typically earn more than their outpatient counterparts, reflecting the increasing demand for expertise in risk adjustment coding, a rapidly growing area in the healthcare sector.
About the Kearney Market
Salary estimated from Nebraska average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $12,015 | $5.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $13,653 | $6.56 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $15,510 | $7.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $19,541 | $9.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $24,040 | $11.56 |
Median Salary Position
48.89% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kearney
In Kearney, NE, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $12,025 (2026 est.). At $15,510, the local median is 48.89% below the national median of $30,349.
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At 40 hours/week in Kearney: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kearney Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Kearney median: $15,510/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kearney Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $16,106 | -3.70% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -48.89% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Kearney, NE earn a median of $15,510 per year (2026 est.), which is 48.89% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 3.70% below the Nebraska state average of $16,106.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kearney has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kearney, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $15,510 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $16,951 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$13,830
2025 BLS Actual
$15,158
2026 Current Est.
$15,510
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Kearney (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $13,830 | Actual |
| 2022 | $13,984 | Actual |
| 2023 | $14,458 | Actual |
| 2024 | $40,532 | Actual |
| 2025 | $15,158 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $15,510 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $15,869 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kearney metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew 9.6% from $13,830 (2021) to $15,158 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $15,869 by 2027 — a total increase of $2,039 (14.74%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kearney 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) | $12,015 – $13,653 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $13,653 – $15,510 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $15,510 – $19,541 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $19,541 – $24,040 |
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 Kearney
The local job market has around nine medical billing and coding specialists currently employed in Kearney, reflecting a modest demand relative to national trends but underscoring a consistent need for qualified professionals. The cost of living index for Kearney sits at 91.5, indicating that while salaries are lower than the national averages, the purchasing power offers reasonable comfort locally. Employers such as physician group practices, hospital coding departments, and third-party coding companies can vary significantly in pay structures, depending on skills and specialty certifications like CPC, CCS, and CRC. The wide range of salaries is influenced by credential stacking, with specialists who hold multiple certifications often commanding higher wages. To maximize pay in Kearney's market, professionals should focus on acquiring diverse credentials and consider remote positions that exploit the current trend toward work-from-home arrangements, particularly in sectors experiencing growth such as HCC and risk adjustment coding.
More salary data for Kearney, NE:
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 $15,158 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Kearney 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
Salary data for Kearney is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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