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Coding salaries - fivefingers

Posted: Jan 24, 2015

I say "sorry" in advance if this has been posted before, but I am new to the Coding forum.

I plan to get out of MT and go into Coding. I have decided on The Andrews School. I have a contact who is the CEO of a remote coding business, and she highly recommended this school.

When just quickly talking about salary, she said coders make between 50K to 60K, which would be wonderful. What I am wondering is ..... are coders paid by production or hourly.

Thanks for any info.

I am paid hourly - edited - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have seen some companies that pay by the chart. I have been a coder for just over a year and my salary is at the higher end of the range the CEO quoted you.

Edit: I am an Andrews graduate, so if you have any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you.

Coding salaries - fivefingers

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you. So, I guess it is definitely worth going back to school for coding.

Five fingers - Dream on

[ In Reply To ..]
60K is not a starting salary for coders. The people I know who make that kind of money work as auditors or compliance officers. Heads-down coders probably make more in the range of 35K to 40K. No. this is not based on an inflated AAPC salary survey, it is based on real world experience.

DREAM ON - fivefingers

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for your comment. I realize that I will not start at the top of this salary range. Whatever it is, though, it will get me out of MT, so I can once again be proud of my profession and start to make some decent money again.

The AAPC and AHIMA salary surveys. - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
The AAPC and AHIMA salary surveys are not inflated. If anyone says they are, I have to wonder if they saw the survey and understood it, because the pay ranges are given, not just averages. Ranges are given for new coders, too, not just experienced ones. Ranges are also given by geographic area. Both surveys are in line with federal pay rates for that job classification.

Coders can be paid on production or hourly. At my facility, we can do either. Some of our coders work second jobs doing contract coding, and it pays quite well.

I posted the results of the latest AAPC survey about a month or two ago. The link below may be it. That discussion contains the usual argument from the noncoder objectors, so maybe they can save their breath this time.

The AHIMA survey posted at www.ahima.org/careers lists the average salary for coding professionals at $49,222. Some make less, some make more. That is in line with what the CEO told you.

I don't think you can go wrong with Andrews.

thank you - fivefingers

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for your help!

Not the OP, but I have a question for you - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Do you work remotely or in-house? I've seriously been considering Andrews, too.
TIA for any info.

Both - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
When I first started, I was on site a few days a week. I now work remotely most days. I can work on site whenever I want to. It's just a whole lot easier not to have to commute. Also, since there are so many distractions in the office, I am much more productive when I work from home!

coding - salary

[ In Reply To ..]
I have also been a coder for just over a year. I code clinic work on site for one of the clinics in our health system. I am paid hourly but the pay can vary if you are certified or not.

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