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Medical coder salary in North Carolina

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$49,620median pay per year in North Carolina, or $23.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,840lowest 10% earn less
  2. $41,49025th percentile
  3. $49,620median
  4. $64,80075th percentile
  5. $79,670top 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 North Carolina was $49,620 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $1,520 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
6,760[4]
Rank by median pay
35 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−3.0%[6]

How much do medical coders make in North Carolina?

Half of the medical coders in North Carolina earned more than $49,620 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $23.86 an hour[1]. The average was higher at $55,510[7]. Across the US, the median for this job was $51,140[3], so North Carolina sat 3.0% below it[6]. The state ranked 35th out of the 50 states and DC with a published median[5].

Compared with all jobs in North Carolina, medical coders did a bit better. The median for all occupations in the state was $47,970[8], and medical coders were $1,650 above it[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,840, while the highest-paid 10% earned more than $79,670[2]. Among metro areas, Winston-Salem had the highest median at $62,590[10]. Durham-Chapel Hill was at $57,290 and Raleigh-Cary at $54,340[11]. Greensboro-High Point was at $45,180[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

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

NCUS
Median per year$49,620[1]$51,140[3]
Median per hour$23.86[1]$24.59[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$36,840[2]$37,000[13]
Top 10% earn more than$79,670[2]$81,150[13]
Jobs6,760[4]194,720[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for medical coders, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$51,1101,450
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$50,590970
Raleigh-Cary, NC$54,340900
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$57,290620
Winston-Salem, NC$62,590520
Greenville, NC$62,570390
Greensboro-High Point, NC$45,180360
Fayetteville, NC$51,570280

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
South Carolina[14]$54,2802,750
Virginia$53,2904,630
Georgia$51,5505,930
Tennessee$48,7804,440

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 North Carolina?
The median was $49,620 a year in May 2025, and the average was $55,510[1][7].
How much does a medical coder make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage was $23.86[1]. The 10th percentile wage was $17.71 an hour and the 90th percentile wage was $38.30[17]. The 10% shares come from the percentile meaning[2].
Which city in North Carolina pays medical coders the most?
Winston-Salem had the highest median among metro areas with a published figure, at $62,590 a year[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for medical coders?
North Carolina ranked 35th of 50 states and DC by median pay for this job[5]. Its median was 3.0% below the US median[6].
What do you need to become a medical coder in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a state one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is a postsecondary nondegree award[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Records Specialists in North Carolina was $49,620 per year and $23.86 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $36,840, 25th percentile $41,490, 75th percentile $64,800, 90th percentile $79,670. 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 6,760 people worked as Medical Records Specialists in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 35th 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 North Carolina ($49,620) was $1,520 (3.0%) lower than the US median ($51,140). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Records Specialists in North Carolina was $55,510 per year and $26.69 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Medical Records Specialists in North Carolina was $1,650 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Medical Records Specialists, Winston-Salem, NC had the highest median annual wage, $62,590. 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 North Carolina (highest first): South Carolina $54,280; Virginia $53,290; Georgia $51,550; Tennessee $48,780. 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Records Specialists in North Carolina: 10th percentile $17.71, 25th percentile $19.95, 75th percentile $31.15, 90th percentile $38.30. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. 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.