Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Salt Lake City, UT: $34,955 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Salt Lake City, UT earns a median $34,955/year (≈ $16.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Salt Lake City's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.9), that paycheck buys what $34,654 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 28.1% above the Utah state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, a medical billing and coding specialist salary in Salt Lake City is projected to reach a median of $34,955, notably surpassing the national median of $30,349 by approximately 15.18%. The salary range for this occupation is quite broad, with an entry-level earning around $22,456 at the 10th percentile and an experienced professional potentially making up to $61,719 at the 90th percentile. This data is derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys. Given the shift to remote work that affects nearly 80% of medical coding roles, the local job market is increasingly competitive, offering specialists a diverse range of employers from physician practices to third-party coding companies, potentially enhancing their overall job security and earnings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22,456 | $10.79 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28,106 | $13.52 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $34,955 | $16.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $46,414 | $22.32 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $61,719 | $29.67 |
Median Salary Position
15.18% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salt Lake City
In Salt Lake City, UT, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $39,263 (2026 est.). At $34,955, the local median is 15.18% above the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Salt Lake City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Salt Lake City Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Salt Lake City median: $34,955/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salt Lake City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Average | $27,287 | +28.10% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | +15.18% more |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $34,955 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.18% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 28.10% above the Utah state average of $27,287.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salt Lake City has a cost of living 0.87% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost-of-living index of 100.868 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $34,955 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $34,654 — a 0.86% reduction.
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2021 BLS Actual
$47,270
2025 BLS Actual
$34,162
2026 Current Est.
$34,955
2021–2027 Growth
+-24.3%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Salt Lake City (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $47,270 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,250 | Actual |
| 2023 | $59,930 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,010 | Actual |
| 2025 | $34,162 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34,955 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35,766 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -27.7% from $47,270 (2021) to $34,162 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $35,766 by 2027 — a total increase of $-11,504 (-24.34%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salt Lake City 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) | $22,456 – $28,106 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $28,106 – $34,955 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $34,955 – $46,414 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $46,414 – $61,719 |
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 Salt Lake City
With about 1,180 medical billing and coding specialists currently employed in Salt Lake City, the local job market demonstrates resilience. The cost of living index is slightly above average at 100.868, influencing take-home pay and purchasing power. Higher salaries can be found among employers such as hospital inpatient coding departments and consulting firms, which may prefer specialists with advanced certifications like CPC or CCS and experience in areas like risk adjustment coding. Factors that affect the disparity in pay include specialty focus, credential stacking, productivity rates, and the growing trend of remote versus in-office roles. To maximize earnings in Salt Lake City UT, professionals should pursue ongoing education in ICD-10-CM coding, remain current with quarterly CPT changes, and consider obtaining multiple certifications to increase their marketability and negotiating power.
More salary data for Salt Lake City, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical billing and coding specialists make in Salt Lake City, UT in 2026?
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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 $34,162 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Salt Lake City 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