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Informatics salary versus coder salary - coder student then health informatics student

Posted: Jan 15, 2013

Hello Everybody. First, let me say I have gotten a lot of good advice from this board in the past few years. I have been encouraged to go back to school, am currently enrolled in Andrews for coding, and am looking to the future to obtain a degree to further advance myself in the field.

I am very strongly considering WGU's Informatics course. I think this will be a good fit for me, especially considering this program also includes many IT certifications and I have always been interested in learning more about IT and computers. That being said, I have been perusing various salary web sites, and I found the following information that I copied and pasted.

I will be graduating from Andrews in the next couple of months, obtain the CCS, CPC (God willing, but I have no doubt that I will be well prepared), then plan to obtain employment where tuition reimbursement is provided to help me pay for WGU's tuition. I will make a loan if I have to, though, because I do not want to put off school for very long.

Okay, ummmmm, the salary stated in the below article is much lower than I thought it would be. Won't I make more $ being a coder having my CCS and CPC? At this stage in my life, I am after the big bucks (to put it bluntly), and I was hoping for more of a $60-70,000 salary with a Bachelor's in informatics, the 7 IT certifications, my CCS, and CPC. Please share your wisdom with me regarding the salary and job outlook.

Average Salary Figures

The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups health care informatics workers under the job category of "Medical Records and Health Information Technicians." Average wages for this position were $17.27 per hour or $35,920 per year as of May 2011. Half of all medical records an health information technicians reported annual salaries ranging from $26,280 to $43,410. Those in the top 10 percent of earners made $55,170 or more, while those in the bottom 10 percent earned $21,680 or less.

Salary by Region

Health information technicians working in the West and Northeast reported the highest average salaries across the country in 2011. Those in New Jersey were the highest earners, averaging $51,850 per year. The District of Columbia ranked second at $44,620 per year, followed by Hawaii at $42,290, Massachusetts at $41,700 and Alaska at $40,900. California was the highest-paying state in the West, reporting an average of about $40,330 per year. Mississippi reported the lowest salary at an average of about $27,500 per year.

I think - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
that the position they are talking about, "Medical Records and Health Information Technicians", is more of a medical records tech job, like organizing records, filing, and even just a coding job like a CPC. I don't think this job is actually in health informatics or one who has their RHIA certification. I think those with a bachelors with the RHIA make much more. I see these jobs in health IT or HIM management making 60k to 70k a year. But keep in mind that those jobs require years of experience. I, too, am interested in WGU to obtain my RHIA, and I like that they have several IT certifications. I have my RHIT and I make about 33k a year, which is the average salary for a RHIT in my area. I am just wondering how to get a job in health IT and if WGU RHIA program is enough or if you also need more of a computer science degree.

Please note - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
There is quite a range here, with only the top 10% quoted as making 55K or more. Going in to any job, you are going to start at the bottom of the pay scale for that position and work your way up. With your education, you should be on the higher end of the scale, but don't expect to make it from day one until you gain some experience. If you become a coding auditor or analyst you will be paid more than a coder. You should have many options with your certification, particularly with the Health Informatics degree. Also note that the article speaks about Health Information Technicians, which is different than health informatics.

Explanation of what you are seeing - Informatics

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you are misreading something. The fact that health informatics workers are in the "Medical Records and Health Information Technicians" does not mean that they are the ones getting $17.27/hr. The "health information technician" title you see there is also not the same thing as health informatics. Yes, the words health and information are somewhere in both, but these are entirely different.

Also, the average wage does not mean everyone makes that much. It isn't even "the middle" or the "usual" salary . . . it is an AVERAGE.

If half made between $26 and $43K, then half made more or less than that. The top 10% made more than $55K, meaning that $55K is THE BOTTOM of what the top 10% made. I personally make $75K and I'm not at all unusual, nor am I a manager.

The "average wages" the BLS gives as $35.920 are AN AVERAGE. It is on the low side, in fact, because there are far more low-paid workers in the group than higher-paid professionals. (It is the same in every job field.) Those lower salaries drag the average down.

You are looking at that "generic" number and thinking you should make more as a coder or informaticist. You probably will eventually.

Be careful that you read the terminology accurately. If you do not know what a health information technician is, as opposed to a health informatics professional, and what they do, you need to find out before you make any decisions.

A health information technician is 2-year associate degree leading to the RHIT. However, many of those jobs require no education at all. They're the ones that drag the average income down to $17.27. In fact, they often make little more than minimum wage.

A health information administrator is a 4-year bachelor's degree leading to an RHIA. Those jobs WILL require the education. They are the people in the top 10%.

A medical coder can be either of the above, but with the ability to code and possibly with additional certifications in coding. They make more than techs do.

A health informaticist works with electronic medical records. They are IN the health information field, but they are NOT technicians. There are few health informaticists because the field is so new. Hence, the BLS doesn't have a lot of data on them. The salaries are good, though.

Please go to the AHIMA website and find the salary surveys there. One is on the membership tab--look at the bottom of the links on the left side of the page. They are broken down into job categories.

Coders - $43K
Supervisor - $50K
Data/Systems Analyst - $58K
Manager - $64K
Privacy Officer - $64K
Compliance Officer - $72K
HIM Director - $73K
Security Officer - 83K
Information Systems/Information Technology Director - $97K

Which jobs would you be able to get with a 4-year informatics degree and an RHIA? Any of them.

Which jobs would you not want? The clerical/administrative and HIM tech jobs -- the two at $33 and $43K. While you might have to take one to get a foot in the door, you would not stay in it very long. (It's still not bad pay.)

Keep in mind that those are 2008 salaries. They've gone up.

What is your job that you make 75k a year? - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Informatics - Medical record administration

[ In Reply To ..]
That is why I answered the question . . . because I have and know about the jobs the OP asked about.

Your specific title and duties? And what is your degree in? - Thanks nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Medical records administration - x 3

[ In Reply To ..]
I am not sure why this should be such an issue for everyone. If you will look at the AHIMA salary surveys, you can see that there are people in HIMS who make 50+K. The AAPC surveys show good incomes for coders, as well.

The answer to your questions is "medical records administration." My duties are that, that is my job title, and my degree is in that. I have widely varied duties, but they are all focused on informatics, not paper records, because we have an EHR.

If you want to see what people like me do, go to the AHIMA website and read. There is a ton of information there that will give you some understanding of what we do.

Why the attitude? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
a simple question to ask you what you do and what your degree is in does not mean I don't believe you. This is a board for people to ask questions and others to answer and help as they can. No need to get so defensive.

Because ... - Now an annoyed MRA

[ In Reply To ..]
The annoyance is because the first question had a confrontational tone to it. It wasn't a request for more information, but a snarky-sounding demand for a specific job title, as if you did not believe me.

Then, after I told you what it was, you came back demanding the same information again.

Not to mention the person below who voiced disbelief outright.

Maybe you should do some career investigation on your own instead of expecting it to be handed to you on a platter. Seriously, how many posts here provide links to salary surveys and career information in HIA and its fields like coding, privacy, security, compliance, documentation improvement, and informatics?

And with all of that, there are still challenges and expressions of disbelief from people here every time someone tries to share their personal experience so that others can see that there ARE viable and well-paying careers outside of MT.

There is a big difference between "this is what I found on the website ... how does it relate to what you do?" and "what job do you have that you are making 75K? State your exaxct duties, job title, and degree."

If you want out of MT, you have to climb out on your own. You have to make the effort. There is an abundance of information available. The big difference between those who got out already and those who have not, I am beginning to think, is the difference between being in control of your own life and passively waiting for handouts.

I have a question - crossroads

[ In Reply To ..]
Did you happen to go through the informatics course at WGU and set out on that career course first? Or was informatics something you got into later--as in, did you start out as a coder and then transition to records administration/informatics?

Answer - MRA

[ In Reply To ..]
MT to coder, then while working in that did a health information admin program for an RHIA. WGU did not have a program like that yet, so I did it online at another university.

The WGU program is a lot better than the one I did. It is better and less costly than pretty much any similar HIA program.

If you only have an associate degree and it is not in HIT, you can either do the WGU program and get motivated to do it in 2 to 3 years, or you can try to find a HIA program that you can do without repeating everything you did before. That is the problem with those programs . . . they have always taken forever and been impossible to finish. That is why I suggested WGU for you.

I do not know what you mean by WGU requiring prerequisites you do not have. Do you not have healthcare background??? That is what MT is, isn't it? So far, you have not even spoken to them. I suggested that you do so because that would answer those questions better than we can.

Your other option is to do coding first. Andrews is a 1 year program, not a 2 year program. You have to motivate yourself to get it done. It is exactly the same as a 1 year college coding program. Some students just require a college's rigid dates and the threat of failure to make them do the work.

Both Andrews and WGU are tremendous bargains in terms of what you can learn and flexibility in terms of completing them faster than expected. You have to be highly motivated and able to work on your own. You must be self-directed and self-supervising. Those are also required for work in coding and the higher levels of HIA.

If that isn't you, then do a 2 year program in HT at a local college and get one of those 32K file room jobs. Those programs include coding and you can eventualy move up. You might not even need to attend school for that. Many hositals hire off the street for those jobs and you hsave relevant background already.

I second WGU program - I am in it now

[ In Reply To ..]
I had my AA degree in HIT and was a RHIT (but never used it as I was an MT). Now I am taking the WGU program and I am almost finished. When I finish I will sit for the RHIA. This program, when I am done, will have taken me only 16 months to finish.

Good for you! Bravo! - RHIA

[ In Reply To ..]
I am actually sorry I did mine already because WGU's program looks so interesting!

16 months is record time for the second half of an RHIA program. The only thing you are missingis a lot of needless busywork and aggravation.

I saw one university that gloated about students being able to complete those last 2 years in . . . 3 . . . years. And their pass rate on the exam was "higher than average." You can complete the last 2 years of Harvard in 2 years, you know? And, saying your pass rate is higher than average isn't saying much considering how low the pass rate is nationally. If it was anything special they would have told you how high it was. Sheesh!

I am glad you chose WGU. Best of good luck to you.

Thanks so much! - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
One thing I really like about WGU is that you actually have to learn the material, not just read some chapters, take a test and then you pass your class. You really have to know your stuff with them. Plus, there are some great IT classes that I have taken and got certifications in, which makes me feel like I really am learning and on my way to a great career. This university has been the best experience I've had with secondary education. I highly recommend them to everyone who is interested in the RHIA program or health care IT.

You make 75k a year and you're not management? hmmmm? - dunno

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

It's possible - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
There are plenty of careers where people can make 75K without being management.

I'm not the person you are referring to, but I hope to be there someday.

Definitely possible - coding rock stars

[ In Reply To ..]
It's not common to make 75K, but there are people out there who can command that kind of money. I even knew a few back in the 90s. They would show up at the hospital on their own schedule and pick up charts. These were the people to whom complicated cases/surgeries were entrusted to. They never made errors and they were paid very well for their knowledge and ability to bring in payment while avoiding any liability. Many of them had advanced degrees. They were treated with great respect by our hospital. I hope to be there someday too.

op here, thanks to all - coding student then health infomatics student

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for all the information! I find this board a valuable source of information, and I am always grateful for answers to questions. I complete my coding studies within 2 months, will take a little break from school while job hunting, and then WGU. Ideally, I want to work for someone who offers tuition reimbursement, but I may not get that right away. Health infomatics sounds like a fascinating career, and it has me excited. What I like most about it is that I will not limit myself to only coding, even though that is where I am beginning my new career. Ready to hang up my MT hat (though I have no regrets and it has served me well in the past).

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