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Medical coder salary in Illinois
- $38,890lowest 10% earn less
- $46,29025th percentile
- $56,440median
- $64,36075th percentile
- $77,520top 10% earn more
The median pay for medical coder jobs in Illinois was $56,440 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $5,300 above the US median[6].
How much do medical coders make in Illinois?
The median is the middle point of the pay range. Half of medical coders in Illinois earned more than $56,440 a year, or $27.14 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was $57,160 a year[7].
Across the US, the median was $51,140[3]. Illinois sits $5,300 (10.4%) above that[6]. It ranked 16th out of the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Compared with all jobs in Illinois, where the median was $51,960[8], medical coders earned $4,480 more[9].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,890, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,520[2]. Of the 12 metro areas with a published median, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest at $57,970, with 4,510 jobs[10][11]. Springfield had a median of $55,800 and Peoria had $49,860[10]. These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out self-employed workers, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].
Illinois vs US pay
Pay for medical coders in Illinois next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in Illinois
Metro areas in Illinois with the most jobs for medical coders, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN[10] | $57,970 | 4,510 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $51,260 | 1,410 |
| Peoria, IL | $49,860 | 230 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $45,560 | 210 |
| Rockford, IL | $49,770 | 120 |
| Springfield, IL | $55,800 | 120 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $45,930 | 80 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $51,090 | 70 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for medical coders in the states that border Illinois, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin[14] | $60,280 | 2,870 |
| Missouri | $50,750 | 3,890 |
| Iowa | $50,640 | 2,250 |
| Kentucky | $48,410 | 4,210 |
| Indiana | $47,670 | 5,860 |
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].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a medical coder make in Illinois?
- The median was $56,440 a year in May 2025, and the average was $57,160[1][7]. The middle half of medical coders earned between $46,290 and $64,360[2].
- How much does a medical coder make an hour in Illinois?
- The median was $27.14 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $18.70 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $37.27[17].
- Which city in Illinois pays medical coders the most?
- Of the 12 metro areas with a published median, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest at $57,970[11]. Springfield had a median of $55,800[10].
- Is Illinois a good state for medical coders?
- Illinois ranked 16th out of the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Its median was 10.4% above the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a medical coder in Illinois?
- This is a US figure, not an Illinois one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[16].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Records Specialists in Illinois was $56,440 per year and $27.14 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Records Specialists in Illinois: 10th percentile $38,890, 25th percentile $46,290, 75th percentile $64,360, 90th percentile $77,520. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 5,740 people worked as Medical Records Specialists in Illinois (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: Illinois had the 16th highest median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in Illinois ($56,440) was $5,300 (10.4%) higher than the US median ($51,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Records Specialists in Illinois was $57,160 per year and $27.48 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Illinois was $51,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in Illinois was $4,480 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($51,960). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in Illinois with a published median for Medical Records Specialists, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median annual wage, $57,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in states that border Illinois (highest first): Wisconsin $60,280; Missouri $50,750; Iowa $50,640; Kentucky $48,410; Indiana $47,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Records Specialists in Illinois: 10th percentile $18.70, 25th percentile $22.25, 75th percentile $30.94, 90th percentile $37.27. BLS OEWS, May 2025