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Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary in the United States

How much does a Medical Records Coding Technician I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Medical Records Coding Technician I in the United States is $41,062 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Medical Records Coding Technician I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $49,411
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,546 to $45,432
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34,345

Key Factors That Influence Medical Records Coding Technician I Salaries

A Medical Records Coding Technician I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Medical Records Coding Technician I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Records Coding Technician I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Medical Records Coding Technician I (0-1 years): $41,062
  • Medical Records Coding Technician II (1-3 years): $50,435
  • Medical Records Coding Technician III (3-5 years): $66,389
  • Medical Records Coding Manager (5+ years): $80,972
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Medical Records Coding Technician I0-1 years$41,062
Medical Records Coding Technician II1-3 years$50,435
Medical Records Coding Technician III3-5 years$66,389
Medical Records Coding Manager5+ years$80,972

Top Paying Cities for Medical Records Coding Technician I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $51,792
  • San Francisco: $51,224
  • Oakland: $50,145

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Records Coding Technician I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.14% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Health Information Management (Mentioned in 3.61% Job Postings): Health information management (HIM) is information management applied to health and health care. It is the practice of acquiring, analyzing and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. With the widespread computerization of health records, traditional (paper-based) records are being replaced with electronic health records (EHRs). The tools of health informatics and health information technology are continually improving to bring greater efficiency to information management in the health care sector. Both hospital information systems and Human Resource for Health Information System (HRHIS) are common implementations of HIM. Health information management professionals plan information systems, develop health policy, and identify current and future information needs. In addition, they may apply the science of informatics to the collection, storage, analysis, use, and transmission of information to meet legal, professional, ethical and administrative records-keeping requirements of health care delivery. They work with clinical, epidemiological, demographic, financial, reference, and coded healthcare data. Health information administrators have been described to "play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare in the United States through their focus on the collection, maintenance and use of quality data to support the information-intensive and information-reliant healthcare system".
  • EHR (Mentioned in 2.55% Job Postings): An electronic health record is the systematized collection of patient and population electronically stored health information in a digital format. These records can be shared across different health care settings
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 12.14%
Health Information Management 3.61%
EHR 2.55%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Medical Records Coding Technician I's salary.

  • McKesson: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
McKesson $48,453
18%
Innovation $48,043
17%
Collaboration $46,811
14%

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Medical Records Coding Technician I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $44,235. While startup companies pay approximate $37,543.

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $37,543
Growth Stage 51~500 $39,678
Established 501~5000 $42,743
Enterprise 5000+ $44,235

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Medical Records Coding Technician I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Medical Records Coding Technician positions in Insurance or Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Medical Records Coding Technician I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Medical Records Coding Technician I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$61,593$30.050%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$49,274$24.020%

How Education impacts an Medical Records Coding Technician I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Medical Records Coding Technician I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Medical Records Coding Technician I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $41,603 and $44,406.

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Medical Records Coding Technician I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 35.1%
Associates 44.1%
Bachelors 19.1%
Masters 0.5%
Doctorate 0.0%

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Records Coding Technician I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$37,546
Average $41,062/year
$45,432
$3,129
Average $3,422/month
$3,786
$722
Average $790/week
$874
$18
Average $20/hour
$22
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $45,432 $3,786 $874 $22
Average $41,062 $3,422 $790 $20
25th Percentile $37,546 $3,129 $722 $18

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Medical Records Coding Technician I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Medical Records Coding Technician I Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Tumor Registrar $62,195 51%
Medical Records Coding Technician II $50,435 23%

Most common benefits for Medical Records Coding Technician I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Medical Records Coding Technician I

Here are companies hiring for Medical Records Coding Technician I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Medical Records Coding Technician I

1. Where can a Medical Records Coding Technician I earn the most?

A Medical Records Coding Technician I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Medical Records Coding Technician I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Medical Records Coding Technician I is $51,792.

2. What is the highest pay for Medical Records Coding Technician I?

The highest pay for Medical Records Coding Technician I is $49,411.

3. What is the lowest pay for Medical Records Coding Technician I?

The lowest pay for Medical Records Coding Technician I is $34,345.

4. What are the responsibilities of Medical Records Coding Technician I?

Abstracts clinical information from medical records and assigns the appropriate ICD or CPT codes using industry-standard coding guidelines. Assigns required DRG (diagnosis-related grouping) codes. Works with coding databases and software to input and maintain data according to standard procedures. Performs quality audits of work. Maintains and up-to-date knowledge of coding and documentation requirements. Does not require a medical coding certification. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Medical Records Coding Technician I?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Medical Records Coding Technician I roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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