News: 2017 JustCoding coder salary survey reveals stagnation and frustration
According to the 197 HIM professionals who answered the recently released 2017 JustCoding.com Coder Salary Survey, the average coder:
- Earns an annual salary of $50,000-$59,000
- Has 11-15 years of experience
- Is 50-59 years old
- Received a 2% raise in the last 12 months
- Works 32-40 hours per week
Approximately 24% of respondents earned a salary in the $40,000-49,000 range, with 18% of respondents earning $39,000 or less and 58% of respondents earning $50,000 or more, JustCoding reported.
The 2014 JustCoding.com Coder Salary Survey conducted ahead of ICD-10 implementation revealed similar findings: the average coder earned an annual salary between $50,000-59,000, 19% of respondents earned $39,000 or less, and 61% of respondents earned $50,000 or more.
In both the 2014 and 2017 surveys, 56% of respondents did not believe that the combination of coder salary, benefits, and bonuses have kept up with the cost of living, JustCoding reported.
“With all the regulatory and financial changes that continue happening, coders should have a salary increases and earn compensation for the educational training they need to stay current,” said one coder, in the most recent survey.
She added that coders play an important role in the revenue cycle and should earn additional compensation for complying with payer requirements and reducing the risk of denials.
According to Raemarie Jimenez, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CRHC, vice president of membership and certification development for Salt Lake City-based AAPC and coding liaison to the CPT Editorial Panel, stagnant salaries are the result of the current political climate, recessions, healthcare funds being spent on technological or educational preparations for necessary industry advancements like ICD-10, and a myriad of other factors.
Similar to the JustCoding findings, the “AAPC’s coder salary survey results showed the smallest average salary increase we’ve seen in nearly a decade,” she told JustCoding. “The good news we can draw from this is that there should be ample funds next year to compensate coders more.”
Editor’s note: To read further coverage of the coding salary survey, click here. To see how the CDI salary survey findings measure up to the coding survey findings, click here.