Medical Billing Salary

Huntsville vs Pelham: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary (2026)

Compare medical billing and coding specialist salaries between Huntsville, AL and Pelham, AL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Huntsville, AL
$22,640
$10.89/hr
Pelham, AL
$24,206
$11.63/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHuntsville, ALPelham, AL
Median Salary$22,640$24,206
Hourly Rate$10.89$11.63
Entry Level (P10)$19,584$19,088
25th Percentile$21,911$21,377
75th Percentile$31,643$29,807
Top Earner (P90)$37,797$35,918
Total Employed4204
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Huntsville ($22,640) and Pelham ($24,206) medical billing and coding specialist salaries.HuntsvillePelhamMedian Salary$22,640$24,206Entry Level (P10)$19,584$19,088Top Earner (P90)$37,797$35,918US Median $30,349

Verdict

Huntsville and Pelham are closely matched on overall medical billing and coding specialist compensation, each winning on different metrics.

The salary gap between Huntsville and Pelham is $1,566 (6.92%). Pelham's median is -20.24% compared to the US national median of $30,349.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Huntsville spans $18,213,Pelham spans $16,830. Huntsville has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Huntsville
P10 (Entry)$19,584
P25$21,911
Median$22,640
P75$31,643
P90 (Top)$37,797
Pelham
P10 (Entry)$19,088
P25$21,377
Median$24,206
P75$29,807
P90 (Top)$35,918

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Pelham ($27,538 effective) pays 13.21% more than Huntsville ($24,325 effective).

Huntsville
Nominal: $22,640
CoL Index: 93.072
Adjusted: $24,325
Pelham
Nominal: $24,206
CoL Index: 87.9
Adjusted: $27,538

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Huntsville if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($37,797)
  • Larger job market (420 employed)
  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Choose Pelham if…

  • Higher median salary ($24,206/year)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $27,538)
  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, medical billing and coding specialist salaries in Huntsville grew -40.9% from 2021 to 2025, compared to -30.7% growth in Pelham over the same period.

Huntsville, AL

+-40.9%

$37,440 (2021) → $22,127 (2025)

Pelham, AL

+-30.7%

$34,141 (2024) → $23,657 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays medical billing and coding specialists more: Huntsville or Pelham?

Pelham has a higher median medical billing and coding specialist salary at $24,206/year, compared to Huntsville at $22,640/year — a difference of $1,566 (6.92%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Huntsville and Pelham?

Huntsville medical billing and coding specialists earn $10.89/hr while Pelham hygienists earn $11.63/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Huntsville to Pelham as a medical billing and coding specialist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Huntsville and Pelham. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Huntsville = $24,325, Pelham = $27,538), job availability (420 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level medical billing and coding specialists earn in Huntsville vs Pelham?

Entry-level (10th percentile) medical billing and coding specialists earn $19,584 in Huntsville and $19,088 in Pelham. The Huntsville area offers higher starting salaries.
AP

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.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Johnson, RHITData verified by Sofia Nguyen, CCS

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

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