Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Panama City, FL: $11.96 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Panama City, FL runs $11.96 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $24,883 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Panama City's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.3, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $12.29 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $14,928 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Panama City, the hourly pay for medical billing and coding specialists is projected at $11.96 in 2026, which falls short of the national median rate of $14.59. This pay scale significantly impacts part-time and per diem positions within this field, especially since many specialists now work remotely from home offices or in various healthcare settings such as hospitals and physician group practices. For those in the early stages of their careers, starting at around $10.20 contrasts sharply with the upper echelon, where experienced coders can earn approximately $20.69 per hour. The local professional landscape includes around 140 specialists employed in various capacities, each navigating through coding, documentation, and compliance within health information management (HIM) departments and coding firms.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $10.20 | $81.61 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.49 | $91.92 |
| Median (P50) | $11.96 | $95.69 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $13.37 | $106.99 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $20.69 | $165.51 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Panama City
Based on $11.96/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $11.96/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Panama City, FL can expect to earn approximately $24,879 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $14,353. With a cost-of-living index of 97.30 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Panama City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Panama City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $478.45 | $2,073 | $24,879 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $287.07 | $1,244 | $14,928 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $191.38 | $829 | $9,952 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Panama City) | $11.96 |
| 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 Panama City, FL earn a median of $24,883 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.01% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 6.90% below the Florida state average of $26,727.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $11.96/hr = $14,928/year (purchasing power: $15,342).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $24,879/year (purchasing power: $25,571).
CoL index: 97.296 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$17.92/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$11.69/hr
2026 Current Est.
$11.96/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+-31.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Panama City (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $17.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $17.66/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $19.66/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $17.87/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $11.69/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $11.96/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $12.24/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Panama City grew -34.8% from $17.92/hr (2021) to $11.69/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $12.24/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 Panama City 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 Panama City
Considering the financial implications of part-time work, a medical billing and coding specialist who works three days a week, totaling 24 hours, could expect to take home approximately $18,704 annually. In contrast, per diem or agency coders often command higher rates, billing anywhere from $25 to $42 per hour, with specialized roles such as CCS inpatient coders earning between $35 and $55 per hour. Hourly rates can oscillate depending on the employer, with positions in hospital inpatient departments generally trending lower compared to third-party coding companies that allow for remote work. However, many professionals in this field choose jobs providing health benefits over higher hourly pay that comes with fewer workplace perks. For those negotiating pay in Panama City, emphasizing remote work flexibility and ongoing education through recognized certification bodies like AAPC and AHIMA can be effective strategies.
More salary data for Panama City, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 Panama City. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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