Does Being Certified Affect My Salary as a Medical Coder?

During these tough economic times, it can be difficult to find a job, and finding employment with a high enough salary to support your lifestyle can be an even bigger challenge. Even the healthcare industry is not immune to cutbacks in this economy, and salaries for the medical professionals, especially for registered nurses, nursing assistants, and medical office clerical staff, have decreased in recent years. But despite this downturn, salaries for medical coders have continued to increase, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,and there is an even greater demand for certified professionals.

Certification Matters

According to a 2009 survey of their members, the AAPC found that despite the recession, salaries for certified medical coders rose 4% from the previous year. Salaries for non-certified coders only rose by 2%. Though the outlook was good for the medical coding career as a whole, it is clear that those with certifications had a greater advantage over those who did not.

The type of certification a medical coder earns can also affect earnings. Certification from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is highly regarded and can open the door to more job opportunities with better wages. The association also provides opportunities for continuing education and conferences, all of which can help an individual advance within their careers.

In addition, getting your certification in specific areas of medical coding can also increase your salary. The AAPC survey found that medical coders with specialized certifications had higher salaries than those with more general certifications. These specialties include radiology, cardiovascular and thoracic, plastic and reconstructive, and rheumatology. Specialized certifications can also open up more career choices within the field.

Additional Salary Factors

The following are additional factors that can influence your salary as a medical coder:

• Associations. An affiliation with a group like the AAPC.
• Experience. Typically, the more experience you have, the higher your salary will be.
• Education level. Medical coders with a bachelor’s or master’s degree earned more than those with an associate degree or diploma.
• Location. Where you live can also influence your salary.

All in all, even though certification is not the only factor in determining your salary as a medical coder, it certainly helps. Not only does it make you more desirable to prospective employers, but it can help secure you a higher salary.

About our expert.
Jan Jacobs has worked in medical offices since the early 1980's. Ms. Jacobs has worked for M.D.'s and D.O.'s in primary care and specialty care. She is employed as a senior medical biller and has been at her current job for nearly 10 years, where she uses three different billing systems.