Salary · CA · SOC 29-2072

Medical Coder salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for medical records specialists in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for medical records specialists in California was $61,810 a year, or $29.71 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $43,800 to $102,470. About 18,700 were employed.

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Medical Coder pay in California vs the US

Medical Coder wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$61,810	$29.71	$51,140
Mean (average)	$68,230	$32.80	$56,790
10th percentile	$43,800	$21.06	$37,000
25th percentile	$49,000	$23.56	$43,490
75th percentile	$80,630	$38.76	$64,820
90th percentile	$102,470	$49.27	$81,150

Employment in California: 18,700. Location quotient: 0.82 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Medical Coder salary by metro area in California

Medical Coder median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$59,110	$28.42	7,240
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$74,400	$35.77	1,880
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$61,480	$29.56	1,600
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$58,830	$28.28	1,350
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$75,150	$36.13	1,340
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$86,890	$41.78	920
Fresno, CA	$58,400	$28.08	430
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$55,270	$26.57	310
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$57,970	$27.87	290
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$62,950	$30.27	280
Modesto, CA	$48,240	$23.19	210
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$61,950	$29.78	210
Visalia, CA	$59,420	$28.57	200
Salinas, CA	$57,880	$27.83	190
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$61,670	$29.65	170
Vallejo, CA	$82,230	$39.53	130
Chico, CA	$57,490	$27.64	120
Redding, CA	$59,630	$28.67	120
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$60,580	$29.12	100
Merced, CA	$58,060	$27.91	70
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$53,870	$25.90	70
El Centro, CA	$60,850	$29.26	60
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$58,680	$28.21	60
Napa, CA	$58,670	$28.21	60
Yuba City, CA	$50,560	$24.31	60

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Medical Coder salary in California

Median pay: $61,810 a year ($29.71 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $43,800 to $102,470 a year

Employed: 18,700

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Medical Coder salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$61,810</strong> a year ($29.71 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $43,800 to $102,470 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 18,700</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/medical-coder/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Medical Coder make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $29.71 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $21.06 and the 90th was $49.27.

What is the average Medical Coder salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $68,230 a year and a median of $61,810 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do medical records specialists in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $61,810 is 21% higher than the US median of $51,140 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for medical coder pay?

California ranks 5 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for medical records specialists (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-2072. BLS counts medical coders under Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072). Figures BLS did not publish are left out.