Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Watertown, NY: $30,201 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Watertown, NY earns a median $30,201/year (≈ $14.52/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Watertown's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.7), that paycheck buys what $34,441 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% below the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected salary for a medical billing and coding specialist in Watertown, New York, sits at $30,201, slightly lower than the national median of $30,349. With a salary range spanning from $25,809 at the lower end (P10) to $44,967 at the upper end (P90), this figure reflects the competitive compensation landscape in the region, influenced by the rise of remote work opportunities that have broadened competitive standards. These insights are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, indicating steady growth within this sector, which aligns with the upward trajectory of other healthcare-related fields in Watertown.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $25,809 | $12.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28,978 | $13.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $30,201 | $14.52 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36,462 | $17.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $44,967 | $21.62 |
Median Salary Position
0.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Watertown
In Watertown, NY, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $19,158 (2026 est.). At $30,201, the local median is 0.49% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Watertown: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Watertown Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Watertown median: $30,201/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Watertown Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $30,599 | -1.30% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -0.49% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Watertown, NY earn a median of $30,201 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.49% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 1.30% below the New York state average of $30,599.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Watertown has a cost of living 12.31% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Watertown, NY has a cost-of-living index of 87.69 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $30,201 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $34,441 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.04% 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
$39,960
2025 BLS Actual
$29,516
2026 Current Est.
$30,201
2021–2027 Growth
+-22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Watertown (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $39,960 | Actual |
| 2022 | $39,730 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,240 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,950 | Actual |
| 2025 | $29,516 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30,201 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30,901 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Watertown metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -26.1% from $39,960 (2021) to $29,516 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $30,901 by 2027 — a total increase of $-9,059 (-22.67%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Watertown 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) | $25,809 – $28,978 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $28,978 – $30,201 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $30,201 – $36,462 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $36,462 – $44,967 |
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 Watertown
Currently, Watertown employs approximately 70 medical billing and coding specialists, providing a stable market for those entering the profession. The area's cost of living index of 87.69 suggests that while salaries may be lower than some national averages, the purchasing power remains reasonable for residents. Employers such as hospital inpatient coding departments and payer insurance companies commonly offer higher wages, reflecting their need for specialized expertise like risk adjustment and compliance auditing. Factors such as specialty knowledge (inpatient coding vs. outpatient), credentialing combinations (like a CPC paired with CCS and CRC), and productivity gains significantly influence salary variation. To maximize earnings, professionals should consider pursuing additional credentials and focusing on high-demand coding specialties, exploring remote work options, and consistently updating their knowledge in line with ICD-10-CM and CPT changes.
More salary data for Watertown, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Watertown, NY in 2026?
Is Watertown, NY a good place to work as a medical billing and coding specialist?
Can medical billing and coding specialists make $100K in Watertown?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical billing and coding specialist salary in Watertown?
How much does a medical billing and coding specialist make per hour in Watertown?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in New York
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 $29,516 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Watertown 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