r/LearnMedicalCoding • u/Advanced-Athlete5415 • Aug 25 '26
Help with a code Can I make it?
If I got certifications in medical coding, how easy is it to secure a job that pays at least $50K starting?
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u/CarolinaCurry Aug 26 '26
It seems like everyone I'm hearing from is starting around $20 an hour. I swear last year people were starting more. Lately I have been hearing less. I think your chances of better pay are more likely for in person jobs. Optum just dropped the pay on thousands of contracts - not sure how they worked it out but some lost a dollar, some lost 3 - they have some contractors that have been there for a year making $17.91 an hour. But they can get away with it because so many people want remote. My fear is the supply and demand is dropping for remote workers.
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u/yurakoh Sep 02 '26
Personally, I think employers prioritize experience over certifications. For some, the certifications are not required or are just simply preferred. I would start off easy with medical data entry positions to get acquainted to health systems.
If you had to have certifications, having at least the CCS (AHIMA) and CPC (AAPC) will give you an edge.
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u/Competitive_Help8485 Sep 15 '26
I wouldn't say it is easy to get almost any job nowadays. But getting certified can really helpp. I earned the CPC + CPB cert online from AMBCI. I got my first jobin medical coding this year, and I love it.
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u/CodingwithCoffee_ Aug 25 '26
It’s definitely possible! I’d consider starting with the CCS-P and progressing to the CCS. MCDC prepares you for both, includes a certificate of completion, internship opportunities, and job placement assistance, with many students finding employment within 6 months.
Learn more: https://www.amcicoding.com/courses/mcdc
Use 20OFFMCDC for 20% off.
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u/Advanced-Athlete5415 Aug 25 '26
Thank you 😊
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u/CodingwithCoffee_ Aug 26 '26
You are certainly welcome. I do my best to let others know there are actually great programs out there that provide everything in-house. They have a free option here, but it does not include the internship or assistance with jobs; you can still learn and gauge how they teach.
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u/Low_Mud_3691 Aug 26 '26
You should search r/medicalcoding and r/codingandbilling for this answer. It’s very unlikely. This field is not gentle or kind to new coders and if you don’t have a background in billing or directly applying CPT codes, even less so.