Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Lincoln, NE: $29,596 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Lincoln, NE earns a median $29,596/year (≈ $14.23/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Lincoln's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.6), that paycheck buys what $32,317 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 83.8% above the Nebraska state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median salary of $29,596 for medical billing and coding specialists in Lincoln, Nebraska, the compensation level reflects a slight decline compared to the national median of $30,349. This salary range spans from $22,937 at the 10th percentile to $43,447 at the 90th percentile, indicating a significant variance in earnings depending on factors such as specialty focus, experience, and employment structure. Derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected to 2026, these figures highlight how local professionals may require a diverse skill set—especially with inpatient coding (CCS) generally yielding higher pay than outpatient coding (CPC) or risk adjustment roles. As the healthcare coding environment evolves, the ongoing demand for specialists within Lincoln remains strong, rooted in the comprehensive understanding of code sets and regulatory requirements.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22,937 | $11.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26,307 | $12.65 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $29,596 | $14.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36,896 | $17.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43,447 | $20.89 |
Median Salary Position
2.48% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lincoln
In Lincoln, NE, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $20,510 (2026 est.). At $29,596, the local median is 2.48% below the national median of $30,349.
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At 40 hours/week in Lincoln: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lincoln Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Lincoln median: $29,596/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lincoln Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $16,102 | +83.80% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | -2.48% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Lincoln, NE earn a median of $29,596 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.48% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 83.80% above the Nebraska state average of $16,102.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lincoln has a cost of living 8.42% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lincoln, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.581 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $29,596 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $32,317 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.19% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$37,500
2025 BLS Actual
$28,925
2026 Current Est.
$29,596
2021–2027 Growth
+-19.2%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Lincoln (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $37,500 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $46,330 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $28,925 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29,596 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30,283 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lincoln metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -22.9% from $37,500 (2021) to $28,925 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $30,283 by 2027 — a total increase of $-7,217 (-19.25%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lincoln 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) | $22,937 – $26,307 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $26,307 – $29,596 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $29,596 – $36,896 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $36,896 – $43,447 |
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 Lincoln
The job market for medical billing and coding specialists in Lincoln supports approximately 270 professionals, which is indicative of a healthy demand for these roles. With a cost-of-living index of 91.581, living expenses in Lincoln are below the national average, which can enhance the take-home purchasing power for employees in this field. Primarily, physician group practices and hospital inpatient coding departments offer the most competitive salaries, but third-party coding companies that allow remote work have also attracted attention. The disparity in salaries can often be attributed to specialty focus—those with multiple credentials (CPC, CCS, CRC) tend to command higher wages, while productivity bonuses for charts coded per hour can create additional earning potential. For professionals looking to increase their pay in Lincoln, pursuing further specialization and maintaining certification through AAPC or AHIMA are practical steps to stand out in this growing market.
More salary data for Lincoln, 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 $28,925 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Lincoln 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