Coding jobs

Medical Coding Jobs Overview

Every healthcare facility needs a skilled medical coding specialist to organize patient data. Without medical coders, health insurance companies would have a difficult time communicating with medical providers, and there would be no cost standardization across practices. Medical coding jobs typically don't require a four-year college degree, but they do require specialized training.

Medical coders translate important medical information to properly document it for medical records or billing. As a medical coder, your day-to-day duties will include reviewing patient data, updating databases and registries, and recording data for storage, retrieval, and reporting. You may also work as a liaison between billing offices and healthcare providers. If you're looking for job security, you may be in luck. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical records positions like medical coding are expected to grow by 8% over the next 10 years.

Increase your search for healthcare support jobs by considering these positions:

• medical office jobs
• medical records jobs
• medical transcription jobs

Medical Coder Training and Skills

Depending on where you're applying, you may need some postsecondary education to be a medical coder. Some medical coders only have a high school diploma, while others have an associate degree in medical coding or a related field or a certification, such as the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), and Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certifications. Depending on which certificate program you enroll in, you might need to pass an exam or graduate from an accredited program. Read our article on how to become a medical coder for an in-depth guide to getting a medical coding job.

When hiring medical coders, medical facilities look for candidates with these skills and qualities:

• Precise attention to detail.
• Integrity and confidentiality.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge of computer systems and medical coding software.

Get a glimpse into what a medical coding job looks like by reading Monster's medical coder job description sample.

Update Your Medical Coder Resume

Before you start applying for medical coding positions, make sure you revise your resume to highlight your expertise. Monster has a health information technician resume sample you can use as a visual reference. When applying for a medical coder job, you may be asked to submit a cover letter. A cover letter gives you an opportunity to briefly introduce yourself, discuss your credentials, and explain why you're a good fit for the job. You can use the examples in our sample cover letters and writing best practices as a guide to writing a cover letter that will impress hiring managers.

Interviewing for a Medical Coding Job

When medical employers interview candidates, they want to know that they're hiring someone who can meet the daily requirements of the job. How do you convey to interviewers that you're up for the challenge? Monster can help you prepare. We have a list of common interview questions for medical billing and coding specialists. Be sure to study these questions and the employer's goals so you can be prepared with well-thought-out answers. You may encounter questions such as:

• Which procedures have you most often billed in your current and prior positions?
• Which medical coding programs are you familiar with?
• Do you have medical billing certification?
• What's your strategy and process for appealing a denied claim?

How Much Do Medical Coding Jobs Pay?

If your interview went well, the next thing on your mind is probably money. So, what can you expect to make as a medical coder? Medical coders in the U.S. earn a median of $20.88 per hour. More advanced positions such as medical records and coding supervisors earn a median annual salary of $63,851. Your pay may be influenced by your location and experience level. To find out for yourself, search our Salary Tool using your job title and location.

Enter a Medical Coding Job the Monster Way

Are you ready to start clicking on medical coding jobs? Get started by creating your profile at Monster for free. We'll match your resume with the right medical coding positions and send you free, customized job alerts.