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HealthcareTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Medical Coder

Process, maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards in a manner consistent with the healthcare industry's numerical coding system. They code claims for reimbursements and work with insurance billing.

Annual openings

184

Median wage

$59,020

Typical education

One to two years post-secondary training

Growth 2026–2032

+12%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

One to two years post-secondary training

Credential requirement

A certification is expected for this job.

Credential detail

Organizations such as American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) have multiple medical coding certifications. You will need to check job postings in your area to confirm which are valued by local employers.

Work experience

Entry-level

Experience detail

This is an entry-level role so no experience in a Healthcare environment is required. However, full or part-time work experience of any kind developing the listed knowledge and abilities is preferred, with previous Healthcare and Customer Service experience being valued.

Training

There are some prerequisite courses before completing a certificate, but an Associate's degree is not required.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerYes
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Healthcare
  • Healthcare Technicians

Automation exposure

Moderate exposure

Some routine tasks may shift as tools improve, but the role is likely to adapt.

A typical day

  1. Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
  2. Compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts.
  3. Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes.
  4. Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into computer.
  5. Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.
  6. Maintain or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.
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