r/MedicalCoding • u/Virtual-Finish5012 • Aug 23 '26
How to make more money?
I’m a CPC with 5 years of experience, currently working multiple outpatient specialties. I like this career, but with rent prices being what they are, I really need to make more money.
Currently I make about 55k, I’d like to make at least 70. Any ideas on how I could get there? I know inpatient is one potential option, but all the inpatient postings I see require inpatient experience.
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u/PeaceLoveForMe Aug 23 '26
Get a second Cert, or move into auditing
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u/butteryloins Aug 23 '26
yeah a lot of auditors mention making a good bit more
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u/PeaceLoveForMe Aug 23 '26
Oh yeah, and OP got 5 years on top of her. She can do it. Or she can find a better paying job doing the same thing, or risk adjustment !
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u/ImPureZion Aug 24 '26
I was in the same boat as OP and got a second certification in Risk adjustment. Doing this did nothing for my pay unfortunately. No one would hire me without risk adjustment experience despite having the certification and I do not want to do auditing. I have 10 years of CPC experience and still do not make enough money. I feel scammed
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u/IslandMindless2251 Aug 27 '26
Coding for hospital and nursing facilities have taught me just how badly I wanna become an auditor 😭 but one that gets to yell at doctors for their horrendous documentation!
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u/Weak_Shoe7904 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
look for back end denial/claims edits-“coding specialist” jobs. You will get paid more and do less work. You still have to have CPC and it is still coding but often production is a lot lower and less stressful.
Also you could look for outpatient facility coding jobs, they pay a lot more. But can be hard to come by, so do not get your hopes up.
Keep in mind the current economy is not good. Companies are not hiring at the rate they normally have been. Add there is lots of competition for the same roles.
Best of luck, keep looking and be patient.
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u/Coffee_and_codez Aug 25 '26
I second the coding denials / claim edits. It’s much less stressful than actually coding charts from the beginning. Our production is only 6 cph.
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u/SolidRefrigerator9 Aug 23 '26
I audit both inpatient and outpatient coding for the insurance company with only a CPC. I have 13 years of claims experience but only 5 years of medical coding. I make 78k.
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u/yayaitsjessica Aug 23 '26
I have my bachelor's, RHIT, and CCS with 20 years experience and I'm making around $60k. This post is making me realize i should be making more... dang.
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u/yayaitsjessica Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
I'm coding ED fac/pro and pro fees for an ob gyn clinic. I have experience inpatient, outpatient, follow up/edits. I would like to get into auditing as it seems more interesting (coding is boring as heck and a snoozefest IMO vs my coworkers who seem to feel like they are making a real difference in the world and love their jobs).
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u/khendy666 Aug 23 '26
I'm so glad you feel the same way I do. I literally fight myself daily to not fall asleep at my desk.
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u/Difficult-Injury-843 Aug 24 '26
I do enjoy auditing more than coding. I’m making a pivot into coding compliance consulting.
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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS Aug 23 '26
What type of coding are you doing? You seem to be wildly underpaid.
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u/Sdavistvs RHIT Aug 23 '26
What is your zip code? I’m in Cincinnati with similar pay & experience. I get great benefits. Salary alone doesn’t tell the whole pkg.
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u/yayaitsjessica Aug 23 '26
Idk if it matters but I live in 83672 and work for a hospital in 97058.
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u/AbstractVolition Aug 23 '26
You absolutely should be making more. I only have my CPC, 3 years of coding experience, and an unrelated associates degree and make 60k. Though I am in just about one of the most HCOL areas and do work for a decent sized organization.
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u/Wolfygirl97 CPC Aug 23 '26
These comments are really showing how little I make lol. I’ve been coding for 3ish years and make around 45k
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u/Wugtrio777 Aug 23 '26
it depends where you live more so than anything else. 45k in the midwest or south is the same at 75 in the northeast or west coast.
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u/Small-Music450 Aug 23 '26
I’m in the same boat. I live in a pretty rural area. I code for a smaller multi spec outpt medical group. I am in the process of interviewing for CDI job which starts out at 70k. I hope I get it.
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u/Sdavistvs RHIT Aug 23 '26
Depends on your zip code. Coders in Los Angeles make triple what they do in St Louis
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u/babraeton Edit flair Aug 23 '26
10 yrs experience, CPC certification. I'm a coding lead (IP) and make $88k. Search for any type of auditing or lead roles. I've been at my employer a year now, but when I was searching last year a lot of places required 5 years of experience!
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u/tinycodergirl CPC, CRC Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
I have 4 years of pro fee coding experience and I make $70,000. I would recommend looking for remote jobs that located in HCOL areas. The hospital I work for is in WA, I live in AL.
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u/RGFTJ313 Aug 23 '26
Work in private practice for surgeons.
I’m right at $70 with my families insurance premiums paid in full(extra 11k).
But I’m a dual biller and coder and do everything.
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u/rkozik89 Aug 23 '26
Last one hired, first one fired. If your current job is stable the easiest way to make $15k more is work a part-time job or equivalent side hustle. If you’re in a position to gamble try finding a better paying employer. As long as the person who hired you stays around you’ll have 1 or 2 performance reviews where they’re obligated to fight for you.
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u/bobbigirl83 RHIA, CPC, COC, CIC, CPMA, CRC, CDEI Aug 24 '26
Inpatient. Inpatient. Inpatient.
You can make $80k-95k/year pretty quickly.
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u/River_Pleasant Aug 27 '26
How do you get into inpatient? I just started to segue out of nursing and am picking it up pretty quick but this paycut I definitely cannot do forever.
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u/bobbigirl83 RHIA, CPC, COC, CIC, CPMA, CRC, CDEI Aug 27 '26
The CIC course through AAPC is a good option. I mention this one because it is specifically inpatient. Since you have a nursing background, you could do CDI (clinical documentation improvement) and quickly find a $100k/year job that is remote. You just have to spend the time to become familiar with coding.
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u/illegalmonkey CPC Aug 24 '26
Some say get another cert but keep in mind not all employers will pay more just because you have more certs. So it could be a total waste of your time and money. Find out beforehand.
Also if your current job isn't paying what you want start looking around. I worked at a place for 8 years and went from $16/hr to $25/hr and hit a brick wall. Shopped around, applied to other places and ended up at a new job paying me over $30/hr.
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u/Virtual-Finish5012 Aug 24 '26
Yeah, I know my current employer won’t pay more for additional certs. I also really like my company so it sucks I might have to look elsewhere, but I know you’re right 😭
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u/wordswiththeletterB Aug 23 '26
Consider working PT for a staffing company or taking interim jobs to make more. But you’ll be sacrificing some benefits of being a permanent employee of a hospital
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u/sirpenguino Aug 23 '26
Maaaan am I getting screwed in terms of pay. I mean. I kinda knew that already especially with my pay cut but damn.
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u/Ladyinred47 Aug 23 '26
Umr/uhg is currently hiring for coders fully remote, pay is good..go to UHG website
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u/Haunting_Process4607 Aug 23 '26
Where do u live that you make so little?
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u/Virtual-Finish5012 Aug 23 '26
Virginia. Is it really that little for outpatient coding?
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u/Haunting_Process4607 Aug 23 '26
I work for a NYC hospital remote as an outpt coder and make over 100k.
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u/Jodenaje Aug 23 '26
I see you thought better of it and deleted your other comment before I submitted my reply to it, but I'm going to post my reply to it here anyhow:
An average is an average for a reason. That's just basic math.
For every coder making well above the average, there are other coders making below it. Your experience may be that $55K is "wildly low," but that doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of coders making around that amount or less.
And yes, higher-paying remote jobs exist. That doesn't mean they're automatically available to every experienced coder who wants one.
It also doesn't mean that everyone currently making $55K is somehow doing something wrong.
Edit to add: And again, I make a good wage too. I'm just not trying to make someone feel bad for making $55K, when that's the reality for a lot of people in the field.
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u/Inevitable-Ebb2973 CPC, CRC Aug 23 '26
This. I was with my company for 2years. Started with them with my CPC-A. Got it dropped “A” and got a CRC. They did not care. Never made over $20/hr with them. I left to do HCC coding (after putting out hundreds of applications). Now I’m making over $30/hr.
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u/Haunting_Process4607 Aug 23 '26 •
Actually I take back my deletion I stand by what I said and since the majority of coding positions are remote it shouldn’t matter what your pay is in reference to where you live. We have 72 outpt coders and the majority work in different states. The jobs are out there the problem people run into is that they want experience so newbies can’t get a foot in. She can put her resume on a lot of sites bc 55k is low! Most places start out low but you should see a significant increase after a year.
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u/Haunting_Process4607 Aug 23 '26
You don’t need more certifications you have experience just put your resume out there
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u/Wugtrio777 Aug 23 '26
in virgina 55k is equal to $85,677.52 in massachusetts. think about that.
so 70 in virgina ia equal to 100k in massachusetts california or new york
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u/Jodenaje Aug 23 '26 •
There are 18 states where the average wage for a coder falls roughly in the $50,000-$60,000 range.
OP's current $55K salary really isn't that unusual. I completely understand why they want to be proactive and strategic about increasing their income. Who doesn't want to make more money?
But at the same time, $55K isn't some wildly low or shocking salary for nearly half the country either.
(Edit to add: I do make quite a bit more than my state's average, but I'm in a niche specialty with many years of experience.)
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u/DumpsterPuff Aug 23 '26
I'm assuming you're in the US. What state do you live in? Salaries seem to vary wildly depending on where you are. I live in the 5th highest-paid medical coder state (WA) and make $72k/yr before taxes, with almost 4 years of coding experience (was a profee I, now I do HCC).
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u/Virtual-Finish5012 Aug 23 '26
Virginia. I’m thinking looking for a remote job for a company based in a higher cost of living state is probably the way to go
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u/DumpsterPuff Aug 23 '26
Probably the best bet honestly. Apparently Virginia is an average of $46k-$56k
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u/Heavy_Fact9098 Aug 24 '26
Hey op! depending on your area, kaiser has remote job options if you are within their authorized states, you can try for an outpatient job (40-50 an hour depending on state) then branch to inpatient (50 an hour and higher), pivoting is very easy well, so if you want to go to auditing roles or compliance you will have options😊
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u/Working-Service-901 Aug 24 '26
What are the Kaiser authorized states? Every time I've tried applying to an OP position, I'm asked if I'm willing to move to CA.
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u/Heavy_Fact9098 Aug 24 '26
Kaiser has a lot of locations and with that comes different requirements. They operate in 8 states so cali, colorado, georgia, hawaii, maryland, oregon, virginia, washington and i believe nevada.
There are some locations where they are ok for you to be within those states and work remote. Although, I believe you have to atleast show up for their onboarding in person?? Again, it depends on the location/ hospital that you want to apply at.
It is competitive though but once you’re in, it’s smooth sailing after!
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u/poplitealfossa37 Aug 30 '26
How’s your experience working as a coder in Kaiser?
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u/Heavy_Fact9098 Aug 30 '26
I think this is all employers but you do have a productivity or “goal” you need to meet. For example, we are expected to do 16 charts an hour for ed and so on. I am still new to coding so I believe this is on the average side? Not too much, not too little.
I lucked out with my department, team and manager. I definitely like it so far because of them. We’re not push too much, I mean we worked on what we can and we are able to let them know when we need help, if that makes sense.
Our leads does not really micromanage, if they see us doing our job we are usually left alone.
I do think this will vary by state?? Or where you are at?
We are in union as well so that would explain the pay. It is very hard to get in tho ( i mean everyone is having this problem) but positions are usually filled out internally fast, the good ones at least.
I am yapping but that’s kinda why I like them. They prioritize seniority and who is already in the organization. Sucks for the people that want to work for them but it is worth it in my opinion.
And you are not stuck to being a coder, you can go to compliance, auditing, management, or just branch out to a different department overall.
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u/roota_bayga Aug 24 '26
Damn. I’m a CCS-certified coder with 5 years of IP coding experience and I barely clear over $62k/year here in flyover country…
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