Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Brownsville, TX: $23,026 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Brownsville, TX earns a median $23,026/year (≈ $11.07/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Brownsville's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.0), that paycheck buys what $26,782 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 14.0% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the estimated pay for medical billing and coding specialists in Brownsville, TX, stands at a median annual salary of $23,026. This compensation is significantly lower than the national median of $30,349 and reflects the local economy's nuances. The salary range is broad, spanning from $16,515 at the lower end (10th percentile) to $35,951 at the high end (90th percentile), based on official BLS OEWS surveys. Factors such as specialty focus significantly influence earning potential. Medical coding for hospital inpatient systems usually commands higher pay compared to outpatient coding, with additional premiums for specialists in risk adjustment and HCC (hierarchical condition category) coding. Understanding these dynamics is key for professionals looking to optimize their salary prospects in Brownsville.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16,515 | $7.94 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19,804 | $9.52 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $23,026 | $11.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $28,172 | $13.55 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $35,951 | $17.29 |
Median Salary Position
24.13% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Brownsville
In Brownsville, TX, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $19,436 (2026 est.). At $23,026, the local median is 24.13% below the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Brownsville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Brownsville Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Brownsville median: $23,026/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Brownsville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $26,775 | -14.00% less |
| National Average | $30,349 | -24.13% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Brownsville, TX earn a median of $23,026 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.13% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 14.00% below the Texas state average of $26,775.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Brownsville has a cost of living 14.03% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Brownsville, TX has a cost-of-living index of 85.975 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $23,026 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $26,782 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.31% 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
$29,690
2025 BLS Actual
$22,504
2026 Current Est.
$23,026
2021–2027 Growth
+-20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Brownsville (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $29,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $33,500 | Actual |
| 2023 | $39,410 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,550 | Actual |
| 2025 | $22,504 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23,026 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $23,560 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Brownsville metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -24.2% from $29,690 (2021) to $22,504 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $23,560 by 2027 — a total increase of $-6,130 (-20.65%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Brownsville 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) | $16,515 – $19,804 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $19,804 – $23,026 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $23,026 – $28,172 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $28,172 – $35,951 |
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 Brownsville
The job market in Brownsville features around 190 medical billing and coding specialists, which indicates a steady demand despite competitive pricing. A cost-of-living index of 85.975 indicates that the area's living expenses are lower than the national average, giving professionals a somewhat enhanced purchasing power. Leading employers include physician group practices, hospital inpatient coding departments, and insurance companies, where the highest wages are typically found. The substantial spread in wages can be attributed to several factors, including specialty differences, credential stacking (such as CPC and CCS), and productivity bonuses tied to coding efficiency. To maximize pay, professionals should consider furthering their credentials, focusing on high-demand specialties, and exploring remote work options that might offer greater flexibility and potential earnings. Knowledge of coding changes like ICD-10-CM and CPT updates foster career growth, making continued education through AAPC or AHIMA essential for advancement.
More salary data for Brownsville, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Brownsville, TX in 2026?
Is Brownsville, TX a good place to work as a medical billing and coding specialist?
Can medical billing and coding specialists make $100K in Brownsville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical billing and coding specialist salary in Brownsville?
How much does a medical billing and coding specialist make per hour in Brownsville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Texas
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 $22,504 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Brownsville 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