Hello, and welcome to the fourth lesson of intro to medical billing course. I'm Jen with AAPC.

So you've been thinking about a career in medical billing, but you're wondering things like, what does this job really pay? Or will there be demand for this career in the future? In this video, we'll dive into the typical salary you can expect as a medical biller, what the job market looks like, and what kind of opportunities for advancement exist in this field. Ready to get started? Let's jump in.

Let's start with how much does a medical biller typically earn? The average salary for a medical biller in the US varies depending on a few things like location, experience, and whether you're certified. But here's a general breakdown. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median salary for medical records specialists, which includes medical billers, is forty eight thousand seven hundred eighty dollars per year.

However, higher salary is reported by those who are certified. Certified medical records specialists make sixty two thousand six hundred eighty nine dollars a year on average, which is sixteen point six percent more than those who haven't earned a certification. As mentioned before, salaries can also vary depending on where you live. For example, cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago may offer higher salaries due to the cost of living.

You'll also wanna know that, typically, the more certifications someone holds, the higher their pay. For example, in our twenty twenty four salary survey, we found that medical records specialists with two certifications earn seventy one thousand one hundred and thirty dollars a year on average. In contrast, those who hold three or more certifications make seventy six thousand thirty five dollars on average annually. Year after year, our results continually show that certification is the number one factor that affects a medical record specialist pay.

And the results highlight that income typically increases with every additional certification earned. This is helpful to know even if you're just getting started so you know the generous opportunities this career offers to keep advancing down the road. Now let's talk about job growth.

What's the outlook for medical billing over the next few years? Well, the news is pretty encouraging.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that the job outlook for medical records specialists is projected to grow nine percent from now to twenty thirty three, much faster than the average for all occupations. What does that mean?

It means that as the health care industry continues to grow, so will the need for people who can handle the financial and administrative side of things like medical billing. More people are seeking health care services. The population is aging, and with insurance requirements becoming more complex, there's a steady demand for skilled billers who can keep everything running smoothly.

So if you're thinking about getting into this field, you're looking at a stable career with solid job prospects over the next decade. Let's talk a bit more about job security.

One of the reasons medical billing is such an attractive career is because it offers something that's pretty rare these days, long term stability. Health care is one of the most stable industries in the world. No matter what's happening in the economy, people will always need medical care. And as long as there are doctors hospitals, they'll need medical billers to help process insurance claims and make sure health care providers get paid. So as a medical biller, your job is considered recession resistant.

Even during economic downturns, health care remains essential, which means medical billers are always in demand. Not only that, but as more health care services move online, including telehealth and remote patient monitoring, the role of medical billers is becoming even more important. You'll be needed to help bridge the gap between new technology and traditional health care systems. In other words, there's no shortage of demand for people in this field, and that demand is only expected to grow. If you're looking for a stable job with room to grow, competitive pay, and the potential to work remotely, it's safe to say medical billing is worth considering. Watch the next video lesson of this course to learn how to become a medical biller step by step.