California · BLS SOC 29-2072
Medical Billing & Coding salary in California
Median $53,580 · Top 10% earn $81,660+ · Roughly 75,048 workers in California. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- California median
- $53,580
- $25.76/hr
- Top 10%
- $81,660
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $34,360
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $47,083
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 113.8)
California pays modestly above the U.S. median for medical billing & codings — $53,580 versus the national median of $47,840. After adjusting for California's high cost of living, real purchasing power is actually below the U.S. average — the headline number is misleading. The state employs roughly 75,048 medical billing & codings.
What drives medical billing & coding pay in California
California medical billing and coding pay is solid but not at the top of the U.S. — non-expansion states with academic medical centers (NJ, MD, MA) actually pay coding specialists more. Bay Area pay is highest in-state.
Top-paying metros in California
California-area metropolitan areas with the highest medical billing & coding medians.
California metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $71,200 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $73,400 |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,800 |
California ranks #11 of 50 states
Where California sits in the national distribution for medical billing & coding pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|
| #10 | Connecticut | $54,060 | +$480 |
| #9 | Hawaii | $54,060 | +$480 |
| #8 | Oregon | $54,540 | +$960 |
| #11 | California (this page) | $53,580 | — |
| #12 | Minnesota | $51,190 | −$2,390 |
| #13 | Colorado | $50,710 | −$2,870 |
| #14 | Rhode Island | $50,230 | −$3,350 |
Find Medical Billing & Coding programs near you
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Education path for California
The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (cpb, cpc, cca, ccs) or associate, taking about 9 months. Tuition ranges from $1,200 (community college) to $12,000 (private accelerated). On the California median of $53,580, payback periods are typically 0.6 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.
For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Medical Billing & Coding salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with California selected.
Medical Billing & Coding salary in California — FAQ
What is the average medical billing & coding salary in California?
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Methodology note
California-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2072: Medical Billing & Coding (combined)), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where California's RPP is 113.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.