Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Decatur, IL: $29,715 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Decatur, IL earns a median $29,715/year (≈ $14.28/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Decatur's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.4), that paycheck buys what $33,606 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% above the Illinois state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Decatur, Illinois, the medical billing and coding specialist salary is projected to reach a median of $29,715 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $30,349. The salary range, spanning from $22,201 at the 10th percentile to $39,281 at the 90th percentile, reflects the value placed on different coding specialties. Inpatient CCS specialists can expect to command the highest pay, influenced by the importance of accurate coding in hospital settings, compared to outpatient CPC and risk adjustment roles. This data is derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys projected into 2026, offering a glimpse into the financial landscape for professionals in the health information management field in Decatur, where demand correlates with diverse employer needs.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22,201 | $10.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25,210 | $12.11 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $29,715 | $14.28 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31,566 | $15.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39,281 | $18.89 |
Median Salary Position
2.09% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Decatur
In Decatur, IL, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,080 (2026 est.). At $29,715, the local median is 2.09% below the national median of $30,349.
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At 40 hours/week in Decatur: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Decatur Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Decatur median: $29,715/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Decatur Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $29,655 | +0.20% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | -2.09% less |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Decatur, IL earn a median of $29,715 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.09% lower than the national median of $30,349 and 0.20% above the Illinois state average of $29,655.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Decatur has a cost of living 11.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Decatur, IL has a cost-of-living index of 88.422 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $29,715 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $33,606 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.09% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$26,497
2025 BLS Actual
$29,041
2026 Current Est.
$29,715
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Decatur (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $26,497 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,560 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,750 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,400 | Actual |
| 2025 | $29,041 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29,715 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30,404 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Decatur metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew 9.6% from $26,497 (2021) to $29,041 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $30,404 by 2027 — a total increase of $3,907 (14.75%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Decatur 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $22,201 – $25,210 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $25,210 – $29,715 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $29,715 – $31,566 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $31,566 – $39,281 |
MBS salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical billing and coding specialist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Job Market in Decatur
With 30 medical billing and coding specialists currently employed in Decatur, job availability is moderate, indicating a stable job market within the region. The cost of living index at 88.422 suggests that while salaries may lag slightly behind national averages, purchasing power remains competitive. Employers that tend to pay higher wages include hospital inpatient coding departments and third-party coding companies, especially for remote work opportunities. Factors influencing the pay disparity include specialty area, with certifications such as CPC, CCS, and CRC driving higher earnings, alongside potential productivity bonuses based on coding output. For those aiming to maximize their medical billing and coding specialist pay in Decatur, pursuing additional certifications, specializing in risk adjustment coding, and seeking remote positions can enhance both career prospects and overall salary.
More salary data for Decatur, IL:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $29,041 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Decatur metropolitan area. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 4-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