Have you been considering a career in healthcare? Are you looking for a stable career that pays well and has room for advancement? Does the idea of helping patients and being an important part of a medical team sound like a job you would enjoy? Campus now has an Online Medical Billing and Coding program for our students in Washington state. Before you decide on this career, let’s take a closer look at why you should take the steps to become a medical coder and biller.
What is Medical Billing and Coding?
Medical billers and coders help healthcare facilities by encoding the entirety of patient appointments into a set of alphanumeric codes which are used for medical records and insurance claims. The claims are prepared by the medical biller, using the codes they receive from the medical coder or the provider directly. These two roles can be separate or done by a single person. Medical billing and coding is now often done remotely. This is an incredibly important job, as the medical office relies on insurance reimbursement for the revenue cycle.
Medical coders transcribe the details of a patient appointment into alphanumeric codes that can be understood by all healthcare facilities and medical insurance companies. These codes are used to update patient medical records and to create insurance reimbursement claims. It is very important that the medical coder use the correct codes for every diagnosis, procedure, prescription, and medical supply, as insurance companies (known as payers) can be rather particular about getting things correct before claims approval.
Medical billers take the medical codes from the coders or directly from the providers and create medical insurance claims. They are responsible for creating, scrubbing, formatting, submitting, and following up on reimbursement claims. The medical biller checks the insurance claims for potential errors by “scrubbing” the claims for errors. Part of this role is learning how each insurance company prefers the formatting and small details that might cause them to reject a claim. Minimizing errors and warnings is important, because error-free claims are processed and approved quickly, allowing the revenue cycle of the medical office to continue smoothly.
Reasons to Become a Medical Coder or Biller
There are many reasons to become a medical biller and coder. Some people choose to go into medical coding because the pay is competitive, especially for an entry-level job. For most employers in Washington, medical coding and billing is a good career path, with room for growth and advancement. According to a 2025 survey by the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) [2] earning additional specialty certifications can help you earn an even higher salary. Coders are able to take these specialized certifications with the appropriate amount of work experience.
Medical billing and coding is a job that is still highly in demand. Washington currently ranks #9 of all states in sheer number of medical coders and billers. This job is projected to outpace the average of all job positions over the next ten years. Demand is still high due to the growing population and rising average age of citizens. These changing demographics and an awareness of better health practices is facilitating a demand for more qualified billers and coders.
One of the biggest perks of becoming a medical coder and biller is being able to work from home. Many billing and coding jobs moved to remote positions in the early 2020s, and this provides better flexibility for many people. For people with chronic conditions, families, or even those who want to avoid a daily commute, this career is a great choice that lets them earn a living.
What Code Sets Do You Need to Know as a Medical Biller and Coder?
Medical coders and billers use specific sets of medical codes that are understood by every healthcare facility and insurance company. These codes were created by different organizations and were intended to fill specific needs.
Coders and billers with good problem solving and analytical skills tend to do well, as medical coding requires accuracy. These are the major coding sets with which medical coders need to be familiar:
ICD-10-CM: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. This is maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO).
CPT®: Current Procedural Terminology codes, these were created by the American Medical Association (AMA), currently maintained by the CPT Editorial Panel, appointed by the AMA.
HCPCS: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, created for use by government agencies such as Medicare and Medicaid. These codes fill in the gaps in ICD-10-CM and CPT.
Interested in enrolling at Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.
Salary and Job Outlook
Jobs for medical billers and coders nationally are very robust, with jobs projected by 7 percent from 2024 to 2034 according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics [1] [3] (BLS). In May 2024, the BLS showed medical coders and billers earned a median annual salary of $50,250 and a median wage of $24.16 per hour.
In Washington state in 2024 the BLS reported [4] medical billers and coders earned an annual median salary of $62,250 and a median hourly wage of $29.93. Medical billers and coders from Washington in 2024 earned an annual mean salary of $68,020 and a mean average hourly wage of $32.70 according to BLS data.
Salary and Wage for Medical Billers and Coders (2024)
| Washington (2024) | United States (2024) | |
|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $62,250 | $50,250 |
| Mean Annual Salary | $68,020 | $55,970 |
| Median Hourly Wage | $29.93 | $24.16 |
| Mean Hourly Wage | $32.70 | $26.91 |
Get Ready to Start Your Medical Billing and Coding Career with Campus
If you’ve ever considered becoming a medical coder or biller, there’s never been a better time. Campus is offering an Online Medical Billing and Coding program for our students in Colorado. In less than ten months, you’ll learn everything you need to know to pass all the major entry certification exams for medical coding and medical billing. This program is available to eligible students in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, Bellevue and the rest of Washington state. For more information on class schedule, start dates, or financial aid, contact our Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.
[1] Note: The data provided in this article is from sources unaffiliated with Campus, formerly known as MTI College, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.
[2] American Association of Professional Coders, https://www.aapc.com/resources/medical-coding-salary-survey , Retrieved November 4, 2025.
[3] Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm#tab-1 , Retrieved November 5, 2025 .
[4] Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Maps, https://data.bls.gov/oesmap/ , Retrieved November 5, 2025 .