How Much Do RN Coders Make? | NurseJournal.org (2024)

How Much Do RN Coders Make? | NurseJournal.org (1)

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Updated February 28, 2024

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Registered nurses interested in becoming coders can boost their earnings with certifications, workplace and location changes, and specializations.

How Much Do RN Coders Make? | NurseJournal.org (2)

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Nurse coding jobs offer another career option to registered nurses (RNs) seeking non-clinical work. An RN coder can work from home and has a more predictable work schedule compared to nurses, who often work overnight, holiday, and weekend shifts. This guide highlights RN coder salaries and how to improve your salary potential.

Average Salary for RN Coders

RN coders earn an average annual salary of $84,699, or $41 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. RN coder salaries are comparable to clinical nurse salaries and are typically higher than other coding and billing salaries.

To become an RN coder, you need an active registered nursing license, which requires an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. Holding an RN license can help coders pursue higher average salaries than other health technology professionals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health information technologists and medical registrars earned a median annual salary of $58,250 as of May 2022. RN jobs can pay $61,250-$129,400, reports the BLS, depending on the nursing specialty.

Factors that may influence your earnings include your healthcare degree, experience, credentials, setting, and location.

$84,699
Average Annual Salary
Source: ZipRecruiter

$41
Average Hourly Wage
Source: ZipRecruiter

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Highest-Paying States for RN Coders

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) provides state-level salary data for medical billing and coding professionals.

While these salaries do not reflect earnings for RN coder jobs specifically, they may provide insights as to where RN coders can anticipate higher or lower wages.

On the low end, billing and coding specialists in West Virginia make an average annual salary of $52,556. But California billers and coders earn the highest average salary of $76,695.

Top 5 Highest-Paying States for RN Coders
RankState2023 Average Salary
1California$76,695
2Rhode Island$73,611
3Massachusetts$72,510
4New Jersey$70,228
5New York$70,187

How Do RN Coder Salaries Compare to Other Healthcare Roles?

The BLS projects medical records specialist jobs to increase by 8% from 2022-2032, which is faster than the average growth for all U.S. jobs. The continued use of electronic health records and a growing aging population will contribute to the increased demand for nurse coders.

While registered nurses earn a higher average salary than coders, RN coders make more on average than technologists and technicians without an RN license.

Four Ways to Increase Pay as an RN Coder

RN coders can increase their salaries by taking proactive steps, including earning certifications, obtaining a higher degree, pursuing a specialty, and changing work settings.

  1. 1

    Earn Additional Certifications and Credentials

    RN coders earn above-average salaries, and obtaining certification can further boost their salary potential. The AAPC indicates that RN coders can increase their paychecks with certifications, including certified professional billers, certified professional coders, and certified outpatient coders.

  2. 2

    Choose a Specialty

    RN coders can gain recognition for their expertise and boost their salaries by pursuing specialties through the AAPC. Specialties include cardiology, dermatology, anesthesia and pain management, and pediatrics. Nurse coders understand specific medical terminology to handle insurance and patient claims.

  3. 3

    Earn a Bachelor’s in Nursing

    It only takes an associate degree in nursing to become an RN coder, but earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) provides advancement opportunities. With a BSN, RN coders can become medical and health services managers who earn a median annual salary of $104,830, according to the BLS.

  4. 4

    Change Practice Settings

    Salaries for RN coders vary by setting. RN coders can find the highest salaries working for major healthcare organizations. Health systems pay medical billing and coding professionals an average salary of $59,129, according to the AAPC. Those at solo practices and small group practices might earn $50,709 a year.

Frequently Asked Questions About RN Coder Salaries

Yes. The growing aging population will require employers to hire more RN coders. Individuals with knowledge of specialized systems will be in high demand. RN coders enjoy relative job security.

Surf City, New Jersey, pays nurse coders the highest average salary of $92,098, according to Ziprecruiter. The second and third highest-paying cities for RN coders are Bolinas, California, and Harris, Minnesota, which pay nurse coders average salaries of $91,012 and $89,431, respectively.

The AAPC recommends that RN coders earn certifications in specialty areas to compete in the changing job market. RN coders can continue to grow professionally by pursuing higher degrees and keeping up to date on changes in the field.

RN coders pay for courses and exams, along with other expenses. AAPC offers courses that cost about $2,295-$3,095. Exams cost $399-$475 and include two attempts. Members receive significant discounts. RN coders can also take supplementary courses in medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.

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How Much Do RN Coders Make? | NurseJournal.org (2024)

FAQs

How Much Do RN Coders Make? | NurseJournal.org? ›

Average Salary for RN Coders

What does an RN coder do? ›

What is an RN Coder? An RN coder applies medical coding and reimbursem*nt policies in the claims process. Nurse coders review patient charts and provide diagnosis codes based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD) or Current Procedural Terminology guidelines.

What is the highest salary for a certified professional coder? ›

Certified Professional Coder salary in India ranges between ₹ 1.9 Lakhs to ₹ 4.5 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 3.0 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 27 latest salaries received from Certified Professional Coders.

What is RN in coding? ›

While not all medical coding positions require a BSN and registered nurse (RN) license, the nurse coder/RN coder position is for those with a nursing license. Nurse coders/RN coders are responsible for extracting information from medical reports and assigned industry standard codes.

Do medical coders make more than nurses? ›

LVNs typically earn a higher median salary than Medical Billers and Coders. Both professions have good job prospects, but the demand for LVNs is generally higher. LVNs require in-person training and licensing, while Medical Billers and Coders can often complete their training online.

Can you make 6 figures as a medical coder? ›

Experienced coders can enhance their earning potential by becoming peer reviewers, supervisors and then auditors. They can also become consultants and start earning a six figure salary. Medical coding is one profession in the US healthcare industry that offers flexibility as well as a good package.

What is the hardest part of being a medical coder? ›

One of the trickiest aspects of the job is applying a binary mindset to complex scenarios. Rarely is a patient's condition as simple as it looks on paper. The coder's job is to take a vague collection of symptoms, medical history and past treatments.

Does being a coder pay well? ›

Learn more about different roles that require coding and their salaries. Depending on your job title, you can earn an average of $79,059 to $106,399 per year as a coder. Roles that require coding typically have lucrative salaries that are influenced by industry, location, and level of experience.

Can coders make 200k a year? ›

It's definitely possible to make $200k as a Software Engineer. Salaries are very high, especially in the US, because venture capital puts so much money into startups. Investors are eager to find the next unicorn e.g. a company worth more than $1bn. So tech companies have a lot of money to spend on Software Engineers.

Which medical coding certification is best? ›

Certified Professional Coder (CPC)

Considered the gold standard in medical coding, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) accredits the CPC credential.

How much can you make coding from home? ›

As of Aug 29, 2024, the average annual pay for a Computer Programmer Work From Home in the United States is $64,974 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $31.24 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,249/week or $5,414/month.

What makes more money medical billing or coding? ›

In general, medical coders typically earn more than billers. Some positions entail one person working as both biller and coder, though that is less common and tends to occur in small markets or small medical settings.

Is being a Medical Coder worth it? ›

Not only does medical coding and billing certification give you a practical advantage in getting a job, but it may also help you get a better salary. A 2021 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the median salary for all medical records specialists (coders and billers) was $46,660.

What is the role of a code nurse? ›

Critical Care/Code Nurse –supports the team and administers emergency medications. Staff nurse – provides clinical data to the team. Nursing assistant – performs chest compressions and acts as a runner and offers relief. Nurse supervisor – oversees the process and manages patient transfers.

What does a coder do in a hospital? ›

A medical coder translates details from a patient's medical documents, such as physician's notes, lab reports, procedures, and diagnoses into universal medical codes to maintain accurate medical records. Healthcare providers and insurance companies use these standardized codes for billing and record-keeping.

What are the duties of a clinical coder? ›

Clinical Coders assign codes to narrative descriptions of patients' diseases, operations and procedures in accordance with recognised classification systems to allow for easy storage, retrieval and analysis of health data.

Is it hard to get a job as a medical coder? ›

It can be tough to get a coding or billing job right away. Many new coders and billers start working in related healthcare fields, and then use that experience as leverage to get a billing or coding job. With a lucrative, growing field like coding and billing, it's all about getting your foot in the door.

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