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Medical coder salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$61,810median pay per year in California, or $29.71 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $43,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,00025th percentile
  3. $61,810median
  4. $80,63075th percentile
  5. $102,470top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $51,140[3]

The median pay for medical coders in California was $61,810 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $10,670 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
18,700[4]
Rank by median pay
5 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+20.9%[6]

How much do medical coders make in California?

Medical coders in California had a median wage of $61,810 a year, or $29.71 an hour[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less. The average was higher, at $68,230 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $51,140 a year[3], so California pay was $10,670 (20.9%) higher[6]. Against all jobs in the state, where the median was $58,240[8], medical coders earned $3,570 more[9].

The lowest-paid 10% of medical coders in California earned less than $43,800 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $102,470[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $49,000 and $80,630[2].

Pay differs across the state. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median of the 25 metro areas with a published figure, at $86,890[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 7,240 jobs, with a median of $59,110[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses or the value of benefits like health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for medical coders in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$61,810[1]$51,140[3]
Median per hour$29.71[1]$24.59[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$43,800[2]$37,000[13]
Top 10% earn more than$102,470[2]$81,150[13]
Jobs18,700[4]194,720[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for medical coders, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$59,1107,240
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$74,4001,880
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$61,4801,600
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$58,8301,350
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$75,1501,340
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$86,890920
Fresno, CA$58,400430
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$55,270310

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for medical coders in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$59,0002,560
Nevada$50,3002,350
Arizona$47,6303,750

Median pay for medical coders in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for medical coders are projected to grow 7.8% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a medical coder make in California?
The median wage for medical coders in California was $61,810 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $68,230 a year[7].
How much does a medical coder make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $29.71[1]. The average was $32.80 an hour[7].
Which city in California pays medical coders the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median annual wage among California metro areas with a published figure, at $86,890[10]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom followed among the largest metros with $75,150[11].
Is California a good state for medical coders?
California had the 5th highest median annual wage for medical coders among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $10,670 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a medical coder in California?
Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is a postsecondary nondegree award[16]. The same source lists no work experience in a related job and no on-the-job training as typical[16]. This is a US figure, not specific to California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Records Specialists in California was $61,810 per year and $29.71 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Records Specialists in California: 10th percentile $43,800, 25th percentile $49,000, 75th percentile $80,630, 90th percentile $102,470. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Records Specialists in the US as a whole was $51,140 per year and $24.59 per hour, with about 194,720 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 18,700 people worked as Medical Records Specialists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 5th highest median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in California ($61,810) was $10,670 (20.9%) higher than the US median ($51,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Records Specialists in California was $68,230 per year and $32.80 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in California was $3,570 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Medical Records Specialists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $86,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Records Specialists in the US: 10th percentile $37,000, 25th percentile $43,490, 75th percentile $64,820, 90th percentile $81,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $59,000; Nevada $50,300; Arizona $47,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Medical Records Specialists is projected to grow 7.8% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Medical Records Specialists: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.