Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay in Oak Ridge, TN: $13.27 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a medical billing and coding specialist working in Oak Ridge, TN runs $13.27 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $27,602 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Weighted against Oak Ridge's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.8, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $14.46 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $16,562 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the prevailing medical billing and coding specialist hourly pay stands at $13.27, which is slightly below the national median hourly rate of $14.59. This rate is significant for part-time professionals, particularly those working three days a week, as their earnings can translate to substantial income depending on the number of hours worked. In settings such as remote home offices, hospital Health Information Management (HIM) departments, and third-party coding companies, entry-level coders might find themselves earning as little as $9.60 per hour, while more experienced coders can climb up to $20.57 per hour. The variation in hourly rates reflects the competitive landscape of medical billing and coding roles in Oak Ridge, where the mix of experience, employer type, and work environment plays a vital role in determining compensation.
About the Oak Ridge Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($44,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $9.60 | $76.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $11.17 | $89.39 |
| Median (P50) | $13.27 | $106.17 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $16.51 | $132.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $20.57 | $164.53 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Oak Ridge
Based on $13.27/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $13.27/hr, a medical billing and coding specialist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Oak Ridge, TN can expect to earn approximately $27,603 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $15,925. With a cost-of-living index of 91.80 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Oak Ridge.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Oak Ridge
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $530.84 | $2,300 | $27,603 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $318.50 | $1,380 | $16,562 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $212.33 | $920 | $11,041 |
Compare MBS Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (Oak Ridge) | $13.27 |
| 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 Oak Ridge, TN earn a median of $27,602 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.05% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 1.90% below the Tennessee state average of $28,136.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $13.27/hr = $16,562/year (purchasing power: $18,041).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $27,603/year (purchasing power: $30,069).
CoL index: 91.8 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2021 BLS Actual
$11.83/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$12.97/hr
2026 Current Est.
$13.27/hr
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Oak Ridge (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $11.83/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $11.97/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $12.37/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.05/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $12.97/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $13.27/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $13.58/hr | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for medical billing and coding specialists in Oak Ridge grew 9.6% from $11.83/hr (2021) to $12.97/hr (2025). At a 2.32% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $13.58/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 Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge
In examining the financial outlook for part-time medical billing and coding specialists, those working in Oak Ridge could achieve an approximate annual take-home of around $17,078 for a 3-day work week, significantly lower than their full-time counterparts. Per diem medical billing and coding specialist pay in Oak Ridge often ranges from $25 to $42 per hour, especially for those operating as independent contractors, while specialized roles such as Certified Coding Specialists (CCS) can command even higher rates, reaching up to $55 per hour. Hourly rates can notably vary across different employer types, with physician group practices, hospital coding departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and insurance company coding teams all offering unique compensation packages. While some professionals may opt for positions that provide health benefits at the expense of higher hourly pay, others might embrace opportunities that maximize their hourly earnings, especially in the remote coding trend that has gained traction post-2020. For those in Oak Ridge, effectively negotiating hourly rates by emphasizing skills in ICD-10-CM and risk adjustment coding could enhance earning potential and career satisfaction.
More salary data for Oak Ridge, TN:
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 Oak Ridge. 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 Oak Ridge 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