Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Los Lunas, NM: $7.43 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Los Lunas, NM runs $7.43 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $15,444 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Los Lunas's regional price level (BEA RPP 94.4, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $7.87 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $9,271 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Los Lunas, New Mexico, medical billing and coding specialists earn a median hourly rate of $7.43, which represents a significant gap when compared to the national hourly median of $14.59. This discrepancy suggests that part-time workers, who might only work three days a week, would earn approximately $15,372 annually based on this hourly rate, limiting their financial mobility. A typical setting for these specialists includes remote home offices, which have gained popularity since 2020, as well as hospital health information management (HIM) departments and coding positions for third-party companies. The hourly pay ranges from around $5.91 for entry-level positions to $11.10 for top earners, indicating varying levels of experience and expertise among those in Los Lunas. This range illustrates the reality for medical billing and coding professionals in the area, where estimated hourly rates are derived from annual salary projections.
About the Los Lunas Market
Salary estimated from New Mexico average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $5.91 | $47.31 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $6.60 | $52.80 |
| Median (P50) | $7.43 | $59.43 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $9.18 | $73.42 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $11.10 | $88.81 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Los Lunas
Based on $7.43/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $7.43/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Los Lunas, NM can expect to earn approximately $15,451 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $8,914. With a cost-of-living index of 94.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Los Lunas.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Los Lunas
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $297.14 | $1,288 | $15,451 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $178.28 | $773 | $9,271 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $118.85 | $515 | $6,180 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Los Lunas) | $7.43 |
| 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 Los Lunas, NM earn a median of $15,444 per year (2026 est.), which is 49.11% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 7.10% below the New Mexico state average of $16,625.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $7.43/hr = $9,271/year (purchasing power: $9,821).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $15,451/year (purchasing power: $16,368).
CoL index: 94.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$6.62/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$7.26/hr
2026 Current Est.
$7.43/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Los Lunas (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $6.62/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $6.70/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $6.92/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.40/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $7.26/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $7.43/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $7.60/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Los Lunas grew 9.6% from $6.62/hr (2021) to $7.26/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $7.60/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 Los Lunas 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 Los Lunas
Examining the potential for part-time work reveals that a medical billing and coding specialist working 24 hours a week would bring home significantly less than if employed full-time. While some may choose per-diem or agency work—which can offer hourly pay rates between $25 and $42 for 1099 medical coders—the average earnings fluctuate greatly depending on employer type in Los Lunas. Professionals working in physician group practices may see different compensation structures than those employed by hospitals or insurance audit teams. Additionally, a trade-off often exists between higher hourly wages without health benefits and lower wages with coverage. To enhance their earning potential, specialists should leverage their skills and experience to negotiate hourly rates that reflect their expertise while staying informed about local market trends. With the growing demand for risk adjustment and HCC coding within Medicare Advantage and ACA marketplaces, there can be lucrative opportunities for those who remain adaptable in their careers.
More salary data for Los Lunas, NM:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Los Lunas 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 Los Lunas. 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 Los Lunas 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