Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Salary in Houston, TX: $30,415 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical billing and coding specialist in Houston, TX earns a median $30,415/year (≈ $14.62/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $30,838 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.6% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Houston’s medical billing and coding specialists can expect a median annual salary of $30,415 in 2026, reflecting a minor uptick above the national median of $30,349. Salaries typically range between $22,640 at the lower end and up to $47,779 for those in the highest-paying positions. These figures derive from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys. The compensation landscape varies notably within specialized sectors, where professionals focusing on inpatient coding may find higher pay compared to their outpatient counterparts or those dealing with risk adjustment coding. Given Houston's diverse healthcare ecosystem, specialists with advanced credentials or those working in high-demand areas like risk adjustment can secure more competitive salaries as the market continues to expand.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22,640 | $10.89 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26,913 | $12.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $30,415 | $14.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $38,960 | $18.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $47,779 | $22.97 |
Median Salary Position
0.22% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the medical billing and coding specialist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,139 (2026 est.). At $30,415, the local median is 0.22% above the national median of $30,349.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Pay Compares
Houston median: $30,415/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $26,773 | +13.60% more |
| National Average | $30,349 | +0.22% more |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Houston, TX earn a median of $30,415 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.22% higher than the national median of $30,349 and 13.60% above the Texas state average of $26,773.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A medical billing and coding specialist earning $30,415 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $30,838 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$44,010
2025 BLS Actual
$29,725
2026 Current Est.
$30,415
2021–2027 Growth
+-29.3%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Houston (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $44,010 | Actual |
| 2022 | $40,100 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,760 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,940 | Actual |
| 2025 | $29,725 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30,415 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31,120 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median medical billing and coding specialist salary grew -32.5% from $44,010 (2021) to $29,725 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $31,120 by 2027 — a total increase of $-12,890 (-29.29%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $22,640 – $26,913 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $26,913 – $30,415 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $30,415 – $38,960 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $38,960 – $47,779 |
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 Houston
Amid a workforce of approximately 3,680 medical billing and coding specialists in Houston, the job market remains robust with a cost-of-living index of 98.629, indicating that salaries afford a relatively favorable purchasing power. Employers in physician group practices, inpatient hospital coding, and third-party coding companies often offer the most attractive compensation packages. The disparity in pay is largely influenced by the level of specialization; inpatient CCS professionals generally command higher wages, benefiting also from productivity bonuses, while those with multiple credentials (CPC, CCS, CRC) further enhance their earning potential. Remote work has become increasingly standard, especially post-2020, adding flexibility to how specialists can structure their careers. For local coders seeking to maximize earnings within the Houston, TX market, pursuing additional certifications from organizations like AAPC or AHIMA and staying updated on ICD-10-CM and CPT code changes are wise strategies to stay competitive.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 $29,725 for medical billing and coding specialistsin the Houston 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, 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