Medical Assistant Salary Information
The expected medical assistant salary varies depending on geographical location, industry and work experience. Medical assistants perform clinical as well as administrative duties under a physician’s direction. The salary for medical assistant employees is also determined by the job duties they are hired to perform. Some medical assistants work directly with patients while others primarily perform clerical duties.
Hourly Medical Assistant Salary Workers
Job experience also makes a difference in how much the average medical assistant is paid. The medical assistant salary for new employees with less than one year of experience is $9.98 per hour, which represents about 10 percent of medical assistants in the country. By comparison, the national average wages for medical assistants is $13.77 per hour. However, the medical assistant salary for those with experience, which represents 90 percent of medical assistants, is $19.21 hourly.
Annual Salary
The annual salary for medical assistant workers is calculated from the hourly mean wage multiplied by full time employment of 2,080 hours. Twenty five percent of medical assistants employed in the U.S. make $24,060 yearly. Ninety percent of medical assistants make approximately $40,000 per year.
Medical Assistant Salary by Location
In the year 2009, there were approximately 496,000 medical assistants working in the United States. At that time, the state with the highest paying medical assistant salary was Alaska; where 1,030 medical assistants were paid $36,400 annually. The state of Massachusetts paid 12,770 medical assistants $34,490 yearly. The annual medical assistant salary for 6,340 workers in Connecticut was $34,200.
Medical Assistant Salaries by Industry
The industry in which a medical assistant works also influences their wages. Medical assistants who worked in doctor’s offices in 2009 totaled 307,690. On average, the medical assistant salary for workers in this industry was approximately $29,000. Medical assistant salaries for employees of psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals were the highest at more than $46,000. Other industries that pay among the highest salaries include dentists’ offices (about $35,000), scientific research ($30,000) and colleges and universities ($31,000).
Job Opportunities
The prospects for finding medical assistant jobs in the future are excellent. This means that the job openings in comparison to those looking for jobs will be more numerous than in other occupations. The U.S. Department of Labor ranks medical assistants as one of the most rapid growing occupations for the decade beginning with 2008. The highest medical assistant salary is predicted to be paid for those with formal training, especially those with certification. Medical assistants who can perform both clinical and administrative duties are also in high demand.
Expected Growth
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in this occupation is expected to grow at a rate much faster than average. This translates to an expected growth of more than 20 percent. It is predicted that the number of medical assistants will grow to 647,500 by the year 2018. Medical assistant salaries are expected to increase as the demand for health care workers increases and older workers begin to retire. In addition, the increasing number of clinics, medical practices and healthcare facilities increases need for more medical assistant personnel.
Potential Pharmacist Salary
Becoming a pharmacist will be a financially sound decision as the salary of a pharmacist is excellent and the outlook for demand is estimated to increase by 17% from 2008 to 2018 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. But as in every other profession, the salary of a pharmacist depends on where they are employed and which type of job setting they work in.
In general, in 2010 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median or average pharmacist salary was estimated at $111,570 annually or $53.64 hourly and ranged from $82,090 to $138,620 annually or $39.47 to $66.64 hourly. The lower end of this spectrum would generally be the pharmacist starting salary and there are always the exceptions to the rule at either end. Some pharmacist salaries may go way over the average high salary of $138,620 usually with exceptional circumstances.
As stated, pharmacist salaries differ according to what environment they work in. Highest wages are seen mostly in Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities at an annual mean wage of $122,380. The lowest paying industries for salary of a pharmacist are general merchandise stores and ambulatory health care services at $112,860 and $112,300 annually. By far the highest levels and highest concentration of pharmacists are employed in Health and Personal Care stores whose mean wages are $111,000 annually or $53.37 hourly. Don’t forget these are mean wages and fall somewhere in the middle of starting wages and the highest salary attainable in that environment.
The states with the highest average pharmacist salaries annually are Maine, California, Alaska, Alabama and Vermont at $121,470 ranging down to $117,900. The top paying city is Modesto California with a mean annual salary of $142,840.
Two specialties in the pharmaceutical industry are Clinical Pharmacist and Nuclear Pharmacist.
A Clinical Pharmacist reviews the uses of drugs by consulting with other medical practitioners. The average Clinical Pharmacist salary is approximately $102,00 annually. The lowest to highest pay is $89,00 to $115,000 annually.
Nuclear Pharmacy was the first specialty pharmacy to be established in 1978 by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties. It involves preparation of radioactive materials used in diagnosing and treating specific illnesses. Training for this specialty is 700 hours of classroom time and field work in the specifics of and handling of radioactive materials. The average Nuclear Pharmacist salary is $112,000 annually. Salaries range from $96,000 to $138,000 annually.
There are so many variations in salaries of pharmacists taking into account work environment, state and city of employment, beginning wages and incremental considerations that it would be impossible to name them all here, but these are good guidelines to consider when choosing where you want to work and what type of pharmacist you would prefer to become. There is a myriad of possibilities.
Average Anesthesiologist Salary
A job as an anesthesiologist is definitely a career choice not to be taken lightly. 12 plus years of education before being able to practice makes it a serious choice, not to mention the importance of the job itself, basically the lifeline of an individual while undergoing surgery. So a high anesthesiologist salary is payback for all things considered here.
Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who administer anesthetics to an individual during surgical procedures. According to CNN Money, it ranks as the 11th best job in Canada in the Health Care Sector. In Canada the median take home annual salary of an anesthesiologist is $292,000. The responsibility of an anesthesiologist does not stop at administering the anesthetic. He/she must initially assess an individual to find how appropriate they are to have an anesthetic, what type to use and how much. They monitor the patient’s condition before, during and after surgery.
Of course as in any profession, demographics play a large role in salary and wages and it is no different for anesthesiologist salary across the United States and Canada. Here are some statistics taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the different states.
The industries with the highest level of employment are physician’s offices, medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care services, colleges, universities and professional schools. Top paying industries are Physician’s offices, outpatient care centres, offices of other health practitioners, medical and surgical hospitals and specialty hospitals with annual average anesthesiologist salary ranging respectively from $181,600 to $228,040. The results based on hourly mean wages would range from $109.63 down to $87.31. There are some reports of anesthesiologist salary upwards of $300,000 to $450,000 annually for qualified and experienced anesthesiologists.
States with the highest employment levels are California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Florida. You can expect a higher anesthesiologist salary from these top paying states: Wyoming, Tennessee, Oregon, New Jersey and New Hampshire.
Anesthesiologist’s are required in any industry that involves surgery, and so this is basically a portable profession. There is currently a shortage of qualified anesthesiologists and so often doctors will take Locum Tenens assignments temporarily and are often paid bonuses and higher wages for specialty cases such as cardiac or paediatric cases.
The medical and health industry is growing and surgery is no longer considered just as a necessary requirement to sustain life. Elective surgery is in demand with waiting lists of months and even years. With an aging population and today’s society insisting on better quality of life and not just accepting old age, the need for qualified anesthesiologists will grow where there is already a deficit. Many current physicians are retiring or on the verge and there is a deficit of doctors to fill their positions. With such a high demand already and projected difficulties filling these positions, these will be highly sought after professionals and could possibly drive the wages even higher in the future.
As stated before, this is not a career choice to be taken lightly, but if your goal is already set as a medical doctor, you may want to go the extra mile and secure your future as an anesthesiologist. The statistics speak for themselves.
Dental Assistant Salary
Health care is a growing field which includes dentistry and the demand for employees grows along with it. If you are considering a career as a dental assistant you will want to know as much about the field and the job itself before making your final decision and finding a suitable training centre. A Dental assistant’s salary is one of those questions you may want to research first.
Dental Assistant salary statistics
Here are some statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2010 for hourly and yearly salaries. Dental Assistant salaries vary considerably depending on experience, what company you will be working for and where you will be working. Hourly dental assistant salary can range from $10.90 an hour to $22.64 which annually is $22,680 to $47,090 at full time hours. The mean hourly Dental Assistant salary calculates out to $16.41 hourly and $34,140 annually which takes all the factors into consideration. You can expect, with no previous experience when you complete your education, you will be starting at the lowest salary. This is the same with most professions and with time and experience you will climb your way up the pay scale ladder.
Top paying industries for a Dental Assistant are specialty hospitals with a mean annual wage of $38,650, Federal Executive Branch at $38,130 mean annual wage, state governments with a mean annual wage of $35,650, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals at $35,610 and general medical and surgical hospitals at $35,610 as well. This converts to an hourly mean wage of $18.58 down to $17.12 respectively.
Top paying states for Dental Assistant salaries including the mean hourly and annual wages are the District of Columbia with $22.90 and $47,630, Alaska with $20.20 and $42,020, New Hampshire with $20.02 and $41,640, Minnesota with $19.79 and $41,170 and Connecticut with $19.32 and $40,180.
These statistics may or may not influence where you work and who you work for, but when searching for your new or next employment, it is always good to know what to expect ahead of time.
Where you will work
If you are considering a job as a Dental Assistant and you are able to move around, it may benefit you to know which states and which companies employ the most. If you need to remain and work in your area where you currently live, you will want to know ahead of time which companies hire Dental Assistants and where the highest concentration is.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry which hires the most Dental Assistants is of course offices of dentists, but there are other options which you may wish to consider. Other employers in order of highest to lowest employment are physician’s offices, the Federal executive Branch, Colleges, Universities and professional schools and employment services.
States with the highest levels of employment and their mean hourly and annually dental assistant salaries respectively are California at $16.97 and $35,290, Texas at $15.29 and $31,800, New York at $16.55 and $34,430, Florida at $15.96 and $33,210 and Illinois at $16.00 and $33,270.
Description and Duties
As a Dental Assistant you will be required to perform many tasks. You are the dentist’s assistant and will be expected to make yourself available to him/her when the need arises while completing all your other duties. Some of your duties will include bringing the patient into the office and seating them, making sure they are comfortable, preparing them for the dentist and providing any information necessary to prepare them, taking and processing x-rays, applying topical anaesthetics, preparing the dentist’s instruments, and placing dental dams. A Dental Assistant works at the dentist’s side during procedures offering assistance in many ways to the dentist including handing instruments, rinsing and suctioning the mouth, keeping the area sterile, preparing materials for fillings, dental impressions and many more duties to list.
If you feel that a Dental Assistant salary is something you can live with, you will find that you will most likely be able to work anywhere. It is among one of the top growing professions in North America as health care benefits improve and people are becoming more aware of dental hygiene and their personal appearances.
Physical Therapy Assistant Salary
The medical and health professions are most definitely strong choices for career decisions if you are looking for a fulfilling and rewarding career both ethically and monetarily. With our country’s aging population of baby boomers and a rise in physical health problems within the general population as well, your decision to embark on a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant is a solid one.
Although this is a 2 year course, compared to the education level of an actual Physical Therapist who must go to school for 6 to 7 years, in comparison, physical therapy assistant salary is relatively comparable. As with almost any profession, your beginning physical therapy assistant salary will have a lot to do with your amount of previous experience, where you work and what company or organization you work for. Beginning physical therapist assistant salary generally start at $37,170 annually to $54,900 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Guidelines for wages according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics list the states Utah and South Dakota as paying the least amount hourly at $15.67 and $15.83 respectively and the highest paying states for physical therapy assistant salary is Texas at $29.67, California at $27.32 and Connecticut at $26.51. All other states fall somewhere in between. The states with the highest concentration of Physical Therapist Assistants are Ohio, West Virginia, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
Almost anywhere you work as a Physical Therapy Assistant, you will be working under the supervision of a Physical Therapist, providing hands-on therapy for many types of people such as handicapped children, injured athletes, disabled adults and the list goes on. You will be helping these people with their exercises, hot and cold packs, hot wax treatments, massages etc. The outcome of your work will ultimately be to reduce pain and improve mobility in your clients. It is predicted that the Physical Therapist Assistant’s duties in the future will become more demanding as numbers of Physical Therapists decline and Physical Therapist Assistant numbers increase but pta salary for medical assistant site will surely increase as well. It is less expensive for organizations to hire PTAs.
Working as a Physical Therapist Assistant requires an Associate’s degree from an accredited program and you will be required to obtain and maintain your license regularly to be able to practice. You will also be required to be certified in CPR and First Aid as you will be working within health care providing a service to individuals with many types of compromised health issues. In 2009 there were 223 accredited programs for Physical Therapist Assistant in the United States. You will require a high school diploma to enter any such program. These programs are generally made up of 2 components, academics and clinical hands-on experience. The academics portion will include algebra, English, anatomy and physiology and psychology. After you graduate and secure employment, you will most likely be required to upgrade frequently and you may decide to add additional skills and possibly specialize.
Top paying employers in this industry are home health care services, nursing care facilities and community care facilities for the elderly with a mean annual salary ranging from $59,520 to $52,970 and the top employing states are Ohio, California, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida. The top mean annual physical therapy assistant salary of $62,440 is in Texas followed by California $57,760, Connecticut $56,180, Florida $55,280 and Nevada $54,800.
Although initially you will need to invest time and money, this could be a very rewarding investment. Job security, as in the high demand for Physical Therapy Assistants and in the growing demand for them as well, almost guarantees you employment wherever you decide to work and relocation is easy as wages are fairly comparable no matter where you go. There is also room for advancement in this career. You may decide to advance to an administrative position or to teach others in an accredited program yourself.
The initial investment will definitely pay off in no time and you will have a secure future.
Pharmacy Technician Salary
In today’s economic uncertainty, you may be wondering if your employment is secure. However, some jobs seem to always be exempt from a poor economy and in demand at all times, and among today’s population, the Health and Wellness industry is booming.
Thinking about taking the plunge now to re-educate yourself may be securing your own future as a pharmacy technician or pharmacy assistant. The Pharmaceutical industry is fast growing and pharmacy technician/assistants are in demand all across the United States and Canada. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is expecting the growth rate due to demand of this profession to outpace most others.
The pharmacy technician salary is wide ranging with many factors affecting the rate. Where you will work, for what company, your previous experience in the field and your level of education will all affect your salary and any increments. Most likely if you have just completed your course you will be starting at bottom pharmacy assistant salary which will probably be around $9 to $11 an hour. Working full time or part time may of course mean a big difference in your annual salary, but a full time entry level, salary for pharmacy technician can expect to make around$19,000 to $20,000 a year according to the American Medical Association. At the top end of the wage scale you can expect possibly up to $40,000 to $50,000 annually with several years of experience and continual upgrading. If you work for an independent small town pharmacy a lesser pharmacy technician salary is what you should expect as they cannot compete with larger chain pharmacies, hospitals and government jobs where salaries are generally much higher. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest hourly wage of $9.54 gives you an annual salary of $19,840 and top wage earners at $19.57 hourly receive an annual income of $40,710.
Since there is no national training standard for pharmacy technicians, courses you take may be anywhere from 6 months to 2 years offered usually through colleges. The longer your course, the more in depth your training will be, and the better pharmacy technician salary you can expect to enter the work force with. While in school you will be trained in medical and pharmaceutical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy recordkeeping, pharmaceutical techniques, and pharmacy law and ethics. Of course it will be necessary for you to learn about the medications you will be handling, their names, actions, doses, uses, side effects, adverse effects, and any interactions they may have with other medications. When you finish your course and pass required exams, testing, etc., depending on the type of the course you took, you will receive a certificate, diploma or an associate’s degree and will be off to a new career.
Once you have completed your Pharmacy Technician course and begin working, your duties again will range according to the type of place you will be working for. Small pharmacies cannot employ many individuals and there may be the expectation for you to wear many hats, for example, you may have to lift and carry heavy boxes of supplies and restock shelves, stand for several hours dispensing medications, deal with customers, operate the cash register and answer the telephone to name a few. Generally a Pharmacy Assistant’s duties include helping the pharmacist to fill prescriptions, receiving orders for prescriptions, counting pills, labelling bottles and keeping patient or customer records.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the states which employ the most Pharmacy Technicians are California, Texas, Florida, Illinois and Ohio with an hourly mean pharmacy technician salary ranging from, respectively, $17.92 to $12.57. The top paying states are Alaska, Washington, California, Hawaii and the District of Columbia with the top hourly mean wage of $18.85 down to $16.75.
Your decision now is how much education you want to start out with to make this your career. The more education you have and maintain, the better salary you can expect for life.
Physician Assistant Salary
The amount of a physician assistant salary can be vastly different depending upon a number of factors. For instance, the physician assistant salaries of professionals working in one state may be higher or lower than those in a different geographic location. Other factors that effect physician assistant salary are work experience, industry and the job duties the physician assistant is expected to perform.
Occupational Information
Physician assistants are professionals who practice medicine while being supervised by doctors or surgeons. A physician assistant salary is earned by their skills in providing diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic health care to patients. Each state has laws that govern and define the duties of physician assistants. Depending on the state, a physician assistant my order laboratory tests, counsel patients, prescribe medication and treat injuries. The physician assistant salaries in states where they have a wider scope of responsibilities and duties are higher than in others.
Physicians Assistant Salary National Estimates
In the United States, ten percent of these professionals earn an hourly wage of $28.00, or $57,000 yearly. Twenty five percent earn a physicians assistant salary of $35.00 an hour or $73,000 annually. The median salary for this profession is $41.00 an hour; over $86,000 a year. The majority, or ninety percent earn a physician assistant salary of over $56,000, more than $110,000 per year.
Highest Physician Assistant Salaries by Occupation:
Physician assistants that work in the employment services industry earn an average wage of $104,000; making it the top paying industry, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Office administration, scientific and technical consulting industries also make higher salaries; ranging from $92,000 to $93,700 a year. Specialty hospitals, on average, pay physicians assistants around $92,200 annually. These estimates do not include physician assistants who are self employed.
Physician Assistant Salary Ranked by State
On average, the states that pay the most physician assistant salaries are:
- The state of Washington pays $47.41 hourly or $98,620 annually
- Wyoming pays physician assistants approximately $47.06 an hour or $97,890 per year
- The District of Columbia pays $46.90 hourly, $97,550 to physician assistants
- Connecticut salaries are $46.84 or $97,420
- The state of Texas pays $46.61 which is $96,940 per year
Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas
The metropolitan areas that pay the highest physician assistant salaries, which are in the range of $135,000 to $121,000, are as follows:
- Amarillo, Texas
- Racine, Wisconsin
- Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
- Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas
- Chattanooga, TN-GA
Outlook and Predictions: Physician Assistant Salary
It is expected that employment is this profession will grow must faster than the national average in other occupations. Good physician assistant salary earnings opportunities are expected to be even more available in rural areas and health care facilities in inner city areas. This is largely because of the difficulty that these areas usually have in attracting physicians and other healthcare workers. Physician assistant job opportunities will also open up because more physician assistants will be retiring. Among the industries that will be needing more physician assistants are office settings, hospitals, public clinics, prisons and medical centers on academic campuses.
Registered Nurse Salary
The degree of education, skills and geographic location will generally affect a registered nurse salary. In addition to their work experience and where they work, the RN salary will also be based upon the industry in which they practice. Registered nurses work in a wide variety of settings treating and educating patients and the public regarding medical matters. A registered nurse, or RN, also performs related duties such as keeping medical history records, assisting in performing and analyzing lab tests and counseling patients and their families.
Expected Occupational Growth
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities for registered nurses will continue to be excellent. Overall, a growth of 22 percent in the ten years between 2008 and 2018 is expected. A growth of almost 600,000 more RN’s is predicted within this time. But chances to earn a good registered nurse salary will not be the same in all areas and industries. Industries in which the highest growth rates are projected include:
-Physicians offices are predicted to grow 48 percent
-Projected growth for nurses who earn an RN salary from working in home medical care services is 33 percent
-Nursing care facilities will see a 25 percent employment growth
-A 24 percent increase is expected for nursing working in employment services
-Private and public hospitals should see an employment increase of 17 percent
States that Pay the Best Registered Nurse Salary
California pays an hourly mean RN salary of a little over $42.00 an hour or $87,400 yearly. Massachusetts pays $40.86 each hour or $84,990 per year. Registered nurse salary in Hawaii is $39.00 hourly, roughly $82,000 a year. Rounding out the top five highest paying states are Alaska and Maryland, paying $79,350 and $76,450 respectively.
The Top Paying Industries
Registered nurses working in the personal care services industry can expect an hourly mean wage of $41.57 per hour. The RN salary for a nurse who works for the Federal Executive Branch is about $38.13 hourly. Medicine and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities pay $36.00 an hour. Medical supplies and equipment manufacturers pay registered nurse about the same amount. Academic facilities, such as colleges and universities pay approximately $35.00 per hour for registered nurses.
National Estimates of Registered Nurse Salary by Percentage
The highest percentage of registered nurses in the country, ninety percent, earn over $45.00 an hour or $95,000 each year. The lowest, ten percent, earn $25.47 hourly or about $53,000 per year. The estimate for the median, or 50 percent, registered nurse salary is $31.00 or $64,690 a year.
Additional Information
Again, a registered nurse salary is affected by several things, including education level as well as length and depth of experience. While these figures reflect recent labor statistics, they do not include salaries for nurses who are self employed or work on a part time basis. In addition, some employees offer other incentives in addition to salary that are not included in these figures. These include such items as child care coverage, education benefits, flexible working schedules and bonuses.
Medical Assistant Job Description
If you want to become a medical assistant, this article includes many of the skills that you will see in a medical assistant job description when you begin looking for work. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists medical assisting as one of the fastest growing careers in the nation. They attribute this growth to more elderly in need of medical treatment and an expected increase in outpatient care and doctors’ offices. A medical assistant duties and responsibilities may be different depending on office and specialty. A medical assistant salary varies a lot because their duties and responsibilities are also heavily affected by their location.
General Medical Assistant Job Description
In general, a medical assistant helps to keep the offices of health professionals running smoothly by performing administrative duties, clinical tasks and sometimes a combination of both depending on the office. They report directly to the office manager or doctor. The scope of a medical assistant duties and responsibilities does not include diagnosing or treating patients; which are some of the duties of a physician assistant.
Medical Assistant Job Description of Administrative Duties
Medical assistants are trained to perform many administrative duties along with any clinical tasks they perform each day. Depending on where they are employed, administrative duties for a medical assistant may include:
-Greeting patients
-Maintaining patient records
-Computer related tasks
-Medical coding and insurance forms
-Scheduling appointments
-Clerical duties such as billing, bookkeeping and handling correspondence
Clinical Medical Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
The clinical duties of a medical assistance not only differ depending on the office, but each state has different laws which govern the requirements that can be posted in a medical assistant job description in that state. There are several common clinical duties that most medical assistants perform which may include:
-Recording the medical history of patients
-Explaining treatments and procedures to patients
-Taking vital signs
-Collecting laboratory specimens
-Disposing of contaminated equipment and supplies
In some states the medical assistant job description can include performing tasks directly under a physician such as giving patients information regarding medication, authorizing drug refills, preparing patients for x rays and changing dressings.
Specialty Practices
Medical assistants work in physician’s offices as well as specialty medical professions which may require special skills. For instance, a medical assistant job description for work in an ophthalmology office may include the ability to perform eye tests, measure eye function and contact lens insertion or removal. Additional skills may also be required in the offices of chiropractors, podiatrists, elder care facilities and other health practices.
Interaction Skills
Regardless of location, every medical assistant job description in a classified ad will include people skills as a qualification to apply. This is because a medical assistant must be able to interact with people through effective communication, respect and courtesy to patients and medical staff and have a compassion and caring attitude.
Personal Characteristics
A medical assistant job description will most often list excellent personal appearance as a qualification. Because they deal with the public, they must always be neat and well groomed. A medical assistant must be willing and able to maintain patient confidentiality. Physically, they should be able to stand for long periods of time if needed and have manual dexterity. They must be patient and be able to perform several tasks at once while maintaining professionalism at all times.
Medical Billing and Coding Salary
Medical billing and coding salary expectations will continue to rise as more demand for the skills in this profession increases. Experience and geographic location will affect wages; along with industry, training and education. For the most part, all indications are that a medical coding and billing salary can provide a very good income to those who apply themselves to their career.
Skills Needed to Earn a Good Medical Billing and Coding Salary
A fully qualified medical billing and coding professional performs follow up on insurance claims that result in payment to healthcare providers. Basically, this comprehensive interaction between the provider and the insurance company is known as a billing cycle. It includes evaluation of the level of service that a patient has received and translating it into a code. Professionals who earn the highest medical billing and coding salary are proficient in the terminology needed to translate the code into a database, using the computer to transmit a claim to the insurance company, and other skills such as processing rejected claims.
Average Medical Billing and Coding Salary
Billing and coding salary also varies by region in addition to skill and education level. On average, the medical billing and coding salary range across the United States is between $25,000 and $39,000 per year. However, ten percent of these professionals earn well over $50,000 per year depending on other factors.
This graph was taken from http://www.aapc.com/resources/research/medical-coding-salary-survey/2009.aspx and shows the impact of age/experience on medical billing and coding salaries
Medical Coding and Billing Salary Ranked by City
In general, big cities pay a higher medical billing and coding salary based on the cost of living in that region. By some estimates, the difference in salaries can be as much as $5.00 per hour depending on the size of the city. The city of Newark, New Jersey pays the highest average medical billing and coding salary at $25.00 per hour. San Jose, California pays $23.00 an hour and San Francisco, California pays approximately the same. Vineland and Edison, New Jersey are cities that also pay high salary averages; around $21.00. Again, these are estimates of averages and the salary in this occupation can be higher or lower.
States that Pay the Top Medical Coding and Billing Salary
The states that pay the highest salaries on average are New Jersey at $46,000 annually, Hawaii and the District of Columbia tied at around $41,000 and Alaska at $39,000 average annual salary. South Dakota, Alaska, Mississippi and Nebraska employ the most medical billers and coders in the country.
Highest Paying Industries
Performing billing and coding in the neuropsychiatry industry pays the highest salary in this profession. Rheumatology, Nephrology, radiology and plastic surgery also rank high on the top paying medical billing and coding industries list.
Other Factors that Affect Medical Coding and Billing Salary
Medical coders and billers with experience who pursue more training and obtain certifications in the occupation make a higher salary than others. Medical billers and coders with specialized training earn more because there is more competition for their unique services. The economy also plays a part in a medical coding and billing salary expectations. For instance, when the economy is thriving, this occupation tends to pay less in areas with smaller populations where the demand for their services is lower.