Is there a shortage of medical coders?
Asked by: Kayli Runolfsson DVM | Last update: September 8, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (70 votes)
Are medical coders being phased out?
Answer: While AI is increasingly being used in medical coding to automate routine tasks and improve accuracy, it is not expected to replace medical coding jobs entirely. Instead, AI will complement the work of medical coding specialists, allowing them to focus on more complex cases, quality assurance, and oversight.
Are medical coders in high demand?
Medical billers and coders are in high demand
Medical billing and coding jobs are rising and are expected to grow 8% through 2029. This is double the national average job growth, according to the BLS. It estimates that an additional 29,000 new medical billing and coding jobs will be opened in the next eight years.
Why is there a shortage of medical coders?
With 95,000-plus codes from three medical coding systems, coders play a critical role in a hospital's revenue cycle and financial health. However, the demand for certified coders has significantly increased, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a notable shortage in this crucial profession.
Is it hard to get hired as a medical coder?
Yes indeed it is very hard these days to gain an entry. The way the employers ask for an experience is so distressing when it comes to a certified coder waiting for 1year and X exponentials. Many of them already have been in an 'atmosphere' and a sort of hands- on-experience for a year or two.
If I Wanted To Become a Medical Coder in 2025, I'd Do This
What medical coder gets paid most?
- Coding Director. Salary range: $44,500-$122,000 per year. ...
- Coding and Reimbursement Specialist. Salary range: $59,000-$97,000 per year. ...
- Coding Manager. Salary range: $52,000-$83,000 per year. ...
- Medical Coding Auditor. ...
- Hospital Coder. ...
- Coding Compliance Specialist. ...
- Coder. ...
- Medical Coding Manager.
Why did I quit medical coding?
Compensation: One of the most common reasons for experienced coders to leave their jobs is compensation. If they feel that they are not being paid fairly or that their skills and experience are not being recognized, they may be tempted to look for opportunities elsewhere.
What is the downside of medical coding?
You may find the work repetitive.
Medical billing and coding can be mundane. You may enter the same patient details into different systems multiple times during the day. Although there would be other work, most of your days will be spent on the computer doing repetitive tasks.
Do most medical coders work from home?
Because many healthcare organizations now offer more remote opportunities due to the rise of telehealth services, it's easier to work from home as a medical coder. This setup offers flexibility in managing your schedule and work environment as long as you have a reliable internet connection and a dedicated workspace.
Is there a future for coders?
The future of coding is likely to be more interdisciplinary, drawing on knowledge from a variety of fields to solve complex problems. As technology continues to intersect with disciplines like biology, neuroscience, and physics, we can expect more collaboration between coders and experts in these fields.
What is the hardest part of being a medical coder?
Medical coding is challenging due to the complexity of medical terminology, procedures, and diagnosis codes. The sheer volume of codes and constant updates to coding guidelines make accuracy critical but difficult to maintain.
Is medical billing and coding going to be replaced by AI?
Given these potential impacts and challenges, what does the future hold for medical billing and coding professionals? While AI is likely to significantly transform the field, it's unlikely to completely replace human coders in the near future.
Is there a 4 week online course for medical billing and coding?
Currently, there is only one 4-week online medical billing and coding program. It is offered by Medicalbillingcourse.com. The next shortest program available is roughly 16 weeks in length.
Is medical billing and coding a dying field?
The health care industry isn't going anywhere, and each office visit requires billing and insurance coding through a billing and coding professional. Positions in this field require specialized skills; having those skills can create great opportunities for growth and a career you can be proud of.
Are coding jobs decreasing?
The demand for software developers has declined sharply from the peak seen in 2021 and 2022, according to independent analysis by job portal Indeed and research firm ADP, reflecting a broader slowdown in high-paying white-collar job opportunities across tech, marketing, and finance sectors.
Is there still a need for medical coders?
Absolutely. With the growing healthcare industry, an aging population, and advances in medical technology, the need for skilled professionals in this field will continue to rise.
Can you live off being a medical coder?
Factors Influencing Salaries
Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $70,000 annually. Certification: Holding certifications such as Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) can significantly boost earning potential.
What is the best company to work for as a medical coder?
Kareo. It is impossible to talk about the top-performing medical coding companies in the USA without naming Kareo. Based in California, Kareo has been in operation for over 20 years. It has evolved to become more than a cloud-based platform.
How many hours a day do medical coders work?
A typical shift may last eight hours, and medical coders work five days a week. However, they may be required to work overtime during peak periods, such as at the end of the fiscal year.
What pays more, medical billing or coding?
In general, medical coders typically earn more than billers.
Will medical coding be obsolete?
Suppose you're a medical coder or perhaps thinking of getting your medical coding certification. In that case, you may be wondering if advancing technology – i.e. artificial intelligence (AI) – is about to make you obsolete. The short answer for those in the medical coding and medical billing fields is “no.”
Is medical coding hard to pass?
The certification exam for medical coding and billing can be challenging, but certainly not impossible—over 70% of examinees passed in 2022.
How happy are medical coders?
At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, medical billing and coding technicians rate their career happiness 2.7 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 14% of careers.
What percentage of people quit coding?
Why 90% of People Quit Learning Programming? It's a common phenomenon that a significant percentage of people who start learning programming eventually quit. There are several reasons contributing to this trend.
Is it easy to get hired as a medical coder?
It can be tough to get a coding or billing job right away. Many new coders and billers start working in related healthcare fields, and then use that experience as leverage to get a billing or coding job.