Texas is one of the largest and most diverse states in the United States, offering a wide range of opportunities in healthcare administration. Among essential roles in this field, medical billing and coding professionals play a vital part in the smooth operation of medical practices, hospitals, and healthcare systems. Their work ensures that medical services are properly documented, coded for insurance purposes, and ultimately reimbursed. With growing demand fueled by healthcare expansion, regulatory updates, and technological advances, these roles continue to demonstrate strong salary potential across Texas.
In this article, we present an in-depth ranking of the top 20 medical billing and coding salary figures across the state. Drawing on current payroll data, regional economic factors, and industry trends, this list highlights where professionals can expect the most competitive compensation. Each entry details the position title, geographic area, typical experience level, salary range, and factors contributing to higher pay—such as employer type, certification status, and cost of living. Whether you’re a recent grad, contemplating relocation, or exploring advancement opportunities, this ranking provides clear insights to guide your career decisions in Texas healthcare administration.
Medical Billing and Coding Salaries in Texas: Top 20
Now, let’s dive into the rankings, starting with the highest-paying roles down toward those that are still strong but comparatively lower. Each entry provides a snapshot of location, salary range, experience level, and key contributing factors.
1. Senior Medical Coding Manager – Houston Metro Area
Position level: Senior management / supervisory
Location: Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metro
Typical experience: 8–12 years in coding and leadership
Salary range: $110,000–$135,000 per year
Highlights: Leading a team of coders in a large teaching hospital or integrated health system; managing coding strategy, accuracy, compliance, and training; often requires CPC-H, CCS, CCS-P, or other advanced certifications; adjustments for high urban cost of living.
2. Complex Case Medical Biller – Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex
Position level: Mid- to senior-level, case complexity specialist
Location: Dallas–Fort Worth metro
Typical experience: 6–10 years, deep familiarity with high-complexity billing (e.g., oncology, cardiology, multi-facility claims)
Salary range: $95,000–$120,000 per year
Highlights: Focus on specialty billing with high reimbursement potential; credentialed (CPC, CPB) professionals in large multi-specialty practices or hospital departments; proficiency in EHR systems like Epic or Cerner; metro cost-of-living premium applies.
3. Medical Coding Auditor – San Antonio Area
Position level: Auditor / quality & compliance specialist
Location: San Antonio metropolitan region
Typical experience: 5–8 years in coding, auditing backgrounds, CPC, COC, or CCS credentials
Salary range: $85,000–$105,000 per year
Highlights: Ensuring coding accuracy and compliance with payer rules; reviewing charts and documentation across departments; employed by large hospital systems or pay-for-performance networks; San Antonio offers moderate cost of living support.
4. Revenue Cycle Specialist – Austin
Position level: Mid-level revenue cycle management
Location: Austin metropolitan area
Typical experience: 4–7 years in billing, coding, and revenue cycle operations
Salary range: $80,000–$100,000 per year
Highlights: Overseeing billing operations, payment posting, denial management, and coding coordination; may be employed in fast-growing health tech startups or health systems; Austin’s booming tech economy contributes to elevated salaries.
5. Physician Practice Coding Lead – Fort Worth
Position level: Lead / team supervisor
Location: Fort Worth metro
Typical experience: 5–9 years, CPC or similar certification, experience in outpatient clinic coding and education
Salary range: $78,000–$95,000 per year
Highlights: Supervising coding staff, serving as resource for coding questions, training new coders, acting as liaison with physicians; Employed in large multi-physician clinics or community health centers.
6. Insurance Liaison Biller – El Paso
Position level: Specialized billing / payer relations
Location: El Paso area
Typical experience: 3–6 years, CPB or equivalent, bilingual skills often helpful
Salary range: $70,000–$85,000 per year
Highlights: Managing complex payer negotiations, prior authorization, appeals, and patient financial counseling; border-region bilingual staff in bilingual environment may earn higher than El Paso averages.
7. Hospital System Senior Coder – Houston Suburban Hospitals
Position level: Senior coder
Location: Suburban Houston area
Typical experience: 5–8 years, certifications like CCS or CPC-H
Salary range: $75,000–$90,000 per year
Highlights: Handling inpatient and outpatient coding for large hospital networks, working with DRG or APC systems, mentoring junior coders, ensuring compliance.
8. EHR Billing Specialist – Plano / McKinney
Position level: Mid-level billing specialist focused on EHR platforms
Location: Northern Dallas suburbs (Plano, McKinney)
Typical experience: 4–7 years, experienced with Epic, Meditech, NextGen billing modules
Salary range: $72,000–$88,000 per year
Highlights: Deep expertise integrating coding and billing into EHR workflow; often works in practice management organizations or ambulatory health systems.
9. Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) – Corpus Christi
Position level: Individual contributor / certified coder
Location: Corpus Christi area
Typical experience: 3–6 years, CCS certification
Salary range: $68,000–$82,000 per year
Highlights: Coding hospital inpatient/outpatient cases, working in regional hospital settings; CCS certification commands a premium over non-certified counterparts.
10. CPC-Certified Outpatient Coder – Lubbock
Position level: Outpatient coding role
Location: Lubbock region
Typical experience: 2–5 years, CPC certification
Salary range: $65,000–$78,000 per year
Highlights: Focused coding for physician offices, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers; outpatient coding spheres; mid-sized city with moderate living costs supports competitive salaries.
11. Medical Billing Coordinator – Waco
Position level: Billing coordination lead
Location: Waco area
Typical experience: 3–5 years in billing, CPB or similar credential
Salary range: $63,000–$75,000 per year
Highlights: Coordinating billing workflow, resolving claim rejections, supporting patient billing inquiries; local hospital systems or outpatient networks; Waco’s mid-sized economy gives solid pay.
12. Remote Medical Coder – Statewide / Telecommute
Position level: Remote individual contributor
Location: Based anywhere in Texas—commute not required
Typical experience: 3–7 years, CPC or CCS, reliable home office setup
Salary range: $62,000–$80,000 per year
Highlights: Flexibility of remote work, coding for hospitals or billing companies, sometimes performance bonuses or home-office stipends; range varies with employer and specialty.
13. Clinic Billing Specialist – Midland / Odessa
Position level: Clinic-focused billing role
Location: Midland–Odessa region
Typical experience: 2–5 years, CPB or similar
Salary range: $60,000–$73,000 per year
Highlights: Billing in small to mid-size clinic environments (e.g., primary care, specialty clinics), regional oil-industry-adjacent economy offers strong wage base.
14. Medical Records and Coding Assistant – Amarillo
Position level: Entry- to mid-level assistant coder
Location: Amarillo area
Typical experience: 1–3 years, CPC aspirant or on-the-job trained
Salary range: $55,000–$68,000 per year
Highlights: Supportive role coding under supervision, processing documentation and charges; good starting point for career progression in the Texas Panhandle.
15. Specialty Outpatient Coder (e.g., Orthopedics, OB/GYN) – Galveston
Position level: Specialist outpatient coder
Location: Galveston / Coastal region
Typical experience: 3–6 years in specific specialty areas
Salary range: $58,000–$70,000 per year
Highlights: Coding for niche specialties with specialized codes and modifiers; hospitals and clinics with high surgical volumes; coastal location may include hazard pay or stipend.
16. Entry-Level Medical Biller – Beaumont
Position level: Entry-level billing role
Location: Beaumont–Port Arthur area
Typical experience: < 2 years, billing training or certification in progress
Salary range: $50,000–$62,000 per year
Highlights: Often in smaller clinics or rural hospitals; good entry point into medical billing field with room for growth.
17. Outpatient Coding Trainee – College Station / Bryan
Position level: Trainee or intern level coding trainee
Location: College Station / Bryan area
Typical experience: Internship or less than a year in training programs
Salary range: $48,000–$60,000 per year (often with training incentive)
Highlights: Opportunities through hospital-affiliated training pipelines or community college partnerships; lower wages balanced by learning and certification support.
18. Billing and Coding Support Clerk – Tyler
Position level: Support staff / clerk role
Location: Tyler area
Typical experience: < 2 years, basic billing and data entry skills
Salary range: $45,000–$58,000 per year
Highlights: Data entry, patient billing inquiries, claims preparation assistance; good stepping stone for career development.
19. Temporary Coders (Contract) – Texas Statewide Assignments
Position level: Temporary or contract coder
Location: Varies by assignment across Texas
Typical experience: Varies; often CPCs or CCSs hired for short-term peaks or system migrations
Salary range: $40–$55 per hour (equivalent to $83,000–$115,000 annualized)
Highlights: Higher effective rates due to contract nature, no benefits; best for experienced coders seeking short-term premium assignments.
20. Volunteer or Pro Bono Coding Assistant – Nonprofit Clinics
Position level: Volunteer or low-paid assistant
Location: Various, especially in underserved or rural Texas areas
Typical experience: Students or newly certified coders seeking experience
Salary range: Often stipend or very low hourly pay ($15–$20/hr), not full salary
Highlights: Focus on gaining experience, fulfilling public service; not stable income, but valuable for resume building and community contribution.
Factors Influencing Medical Billing and Coding Salaries in Texas
Medical billing and coding salaries in Texas vary widely depending on several factors, including geographic location, level of experience, education, certification status, and the type of healthcare facility. Understanding these variables can help professionals plan their careers and negotiate better pay packages.
1. Geographic Location
Urban areas like Houston, Dallas, and Austin typically offer the highest salaries due to higher patient volumes, larger hospital systems, and increased cost of living. Conversely, smaller towns and rural regions may offer lower wages but often balance this with a lower cost of living and less competition for jobs.
2. Level of Experience
Entry-level medical billers and coders in Texas typically start around $40,000–$50,000 annually, while experienced professionals with five or more years in the field may earn $70,000–$95,000 or more, depending on their specialization. Senior-level management positions can exceed $120,000 annually.
3. Certifications and Education
Certifications like CPC (Certified Professional Coder), CCS (Certified Coding Specialist), and CPB (Certified Professional Biller) significantly boost earning potential. Employers value certified professionals due to their proven knowledge and compliance expertise. Additional training in EHR systems like Epic or Cerner can further enhance salary prospects.
4. Healthcare Facility Type
- Large hospital systems: Higher pay due to complex cases and high patient volumes.
- Private physician practices: Competitive salaries with stable schedules.
- Outpatient clinics: Slightly lower pay but strong growth opportunities.
- Insurance companies: Attractive salaries for billing specialists and auditors.
Regional Salary Comparisons Across Texas
Texas is vast, and pay scales vary significantly depending on the region. Here’s a breakdown of average annual salaries in key metropolitan areas for medical billing and coding professionals:
| Region | Average Salary | Top Range |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Metro Area | $75,000 | $135,000 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | $72,000 | $120,000 |
| Austin | $70,000 | $100,000 |
| San Antonio | $68,000 | $105,000 |
| El Paso | $62,000 | $85,000 |
| Corpus Christi | $60,000 | $82,000 |
| Lubbock | $58,000 | $78,000 |
| Midland–Odessa | $65,000 | $73,000 |
| Waco | $60,000 | $75,000 |
| Amarillo | $55,000 | $68,000 |
From this data, we see that Houston and Dallas offer the highest earning potential due to their large hospital systems and major healthcare networks. Meanwhile, smaller cities like Lubbock and Amarillo provide modest pay but lower living costs, which can balance overall financial well-being.
Career Growth Opportunities in Medical Billing and Coding
Medical billing and coding is more than just an entry-level administrative role—it can be a gateway to lucrative career paths in healthcare administration and management.
1. Senior Coding Specialist
Professionals with advanced certifications and extensive coding experience often move into senior roles where they handle complex medical cases, regulatory compliance, and auditing.
2. Medical Billing Supervisor
Billing specialists with strong leadership skills can progress into supervisory roles, managing teams, streamlining billing processes, and ensuring compliance with payer requirements.
3. Revenue Cycle Manager
For those interested in a broader scope, revenue cycle management offers higher salaries and greater responsibility, focusing on financial operations and strategic planning for hospitals and large clinics.
4. Compliance Officer
As healthcare regulations grow more complex, coders and billers with compliance expertise are in demand. These roles focus on avoiding costly fines and ensuring adherence to federal and state guidelines.
5. Health Information Management (HIM) Director
With additional training, coders can advance into HIM leadership roles, overseeing entire departments responsible for patient data, coding, and billing operations.
Demand Outlook for Medical Billing and Coding in Texas
According to current labor market trends, the demand for medical billing and coding professionals in Texas is expected to grow by over 8% in the next five years, outpacing many other administrative roles in healthcare. Several factors drive this growth:
- Expanding healthcare systems due to Texas’ rising population
- Shift toward electronic health records (EHRs) requiring skilled professionals
- Increase in aging population leading to higher patient volumes
- Insurance and reimbursement complexities requiring specialized coding expertise
This steady growth translates to strong job security and consistent opportunities for professionals across urban and rural Texas.
Tips to Maximize Your Salary as a Medical Biller or Coder
If you’re looking to increase your earning potential in Texas, consider these strategies:
- Earn Advanced Certifications
Employers pay a premium for certifications like CPC, CCS, and CPB. - Specialize in High-Demand Areas
Focus on specialties like oncology, orthopedics, or cardiology coding, which often command higher pay. - Gain Experience with EHR Systems
Proficiency in platforms like Epic, Cerner, and Meditech can make you more valuable. - Seek Employment in Larger Markets
Major cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin offer better compensation due to higher patient volumes and more complex cases. - Pursue Continuing Education
Healthcare regulations evolve frequently, so staying updated improves job prospects and negotiation power.
Final Thoughts
Medical billing and coding is one of the most in-demand administrative healthcare careers in Texas, with salaries ranging from entry-level positions around $40,000 to senior management roles exceeding $130,000 annually. Your earning potential largely depends on your location, experience, certifications, and the type of facility where you work.
As the healthcare industry continues to grow, professionals in this field can expect more opportunities, competitive salaries, and multiple pathways for career advancement. Whether you’re just starting or seeking a higher-paying role, understanding these salary trends across Texas gives you the insight needed to make informed decisions.