Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in San Leandro, CA: $16.58 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in San Leandro, CA runs $16.58 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $34,480 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against San Leandro's regional price level (BEA RPP 113.1, 13% above national), each hour of work buys what $14.66 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $20,687 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In San Leandro, California, the medical billing and coding specialist hourly pay is scheduled to be $16.58 in 2026, notably higher than the national median of $14.59. This hourly rate can significantly benefit part-time workers, allowing those who work three days per week to earn a steady income while balancing other commitments. Per-diem opportunities are also plentiful in this profession, as specialists can find roles in various settings such as remote home offices, hospital health information management (HIM) departments, and third-party coding companies. With the hourly earnings ranging from approximately $12.51 for entry-level positions to $25.69 for those in the top 10 percent of their field, it's clear that the compensation structure reflects both experience and the nature of the workplace, whether it be a physician group's coding cubicle or a consulting firm's client site.
About the San Leandro Market
Salary estimated from California average ($66,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $12.51 | $100.11 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $14.38 | $115.01 |
| Median (P50) | $16.58 | $132.61 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $20.59 | $164.69 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $25.69 | $205.54 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in San Leandro
Based on $16.58/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $16.58/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in San Leandro, CA can expect to earn approximately $34,478 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $19,891. With a cost-of-living index of 113.10 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in San Leandro.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in San Leandro
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $663.03 | $2,873 | $34,478 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $397.82 | $1,724 | $20,687 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $265.21 | $1,149 | $13,791 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (San Leandro) | $16.58 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.77 |
| Medical Secretary (National Avg) | $20.19 |
| Medical Lab Technician (National Avg) | $28.18 |
| Billing and Posting Clerk (National Avg) | $21.86 |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in San Leandro, CA earn a median of $34,480 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.61% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 1.70% below the California state average of $35,076.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $16.58/hr = $20,687/year (purchasing power: $18,291).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $34,478/year (purchasing power: $30,484).
CoL index: 113.1 (100 = national average).
2021 BLS Actual
$14.78/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$16.20/hr
2026 Current Est.
$16.58/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in San Leandro (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $14.78/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $14.95/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $15.45/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.27/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $16.20/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $16.58/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $16.96/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in San Leandro grew 9.6% from $14.78/hr (2021) to $16.20/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $16.96/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem medical billing and coding specialists can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the San Leandro 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.
Working as an Hourly Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in San Leandro
Part-time medical billing and coding specialists in San Leandro, working a typical 24-hour week, can expect to earn around $41,113 annually, which allows for a decent lifestyle given the city’s cost of living index. For more flexible work arrangements, per-diem medical billing and coding specialist pay in San Leandro ranges widely; those on a 1099 basis can bill anywhere from $25 to $42 per hour, with specialized coders in risk adjustment garnering even more—from $40 to $65 per hour. Hourly compensation generally varies depending on the employer type, with higher rates often found in hospital inpatient coding departments and payer coding audit teams compared to traditional private practices. However, specialists need to weigh the benefits of lower hourly rates that come with health insurance against the higher pay for independent 1099 work without benefits. Factors such as location and workplace demand also play a critical role in negotiations; it's essential for hourly workers to be aware of their worth in the job market, particularly in this competitive field.
More salary data for San Leandro, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in San Leandro 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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for medical billing and coding specialists in San Leandro. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for San Leandro is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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