Medical Coder Salary in California: $51,772 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median medical coder pay sits at $51,772/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2072. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $45,775 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($71,144), Santa Clara ($70,677), San Jose ($69,512).
In 2026, the average median salary for medical coders in California is projected to be $51,772, which is 23.7% higher than the national median of $41,861. The highest paying city in the state is Sunnyvale, where salaries reach $72,795, while in Modesto, the lowest salaries are around $39,487, highlighting a significant gap of $33,308 between these two cities. This disparity is often driven by factors such as the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and the concentration of healthcare facilities in urban areas. California's unique landscape includes specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that may impact job opportunities and earning potential. The state has a strong demand for medical coders due to its large and diverse population, contributing to a projected growth rate of 2.32% annually in this field. With a total employment figure of 20,479 medical coders statewide, cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, Vallejo, and Oakland also show promising salary figures: $72,317, $71,125, $67,310, and $62,287, respectively. This outlook suggests a steady job market for those pursuing a career in medical coding within California.
California Medical Coder Salary Range
Overall salary range in California: $31,564 (lowest entry-level) to $124,028 (highest top earner)
California vs National Average
California medical coders earn 23.68% more than the national median (+$9,911/year difference).
California Medical Coder Salary Distribution (2026)
Medical Coder salaries in California range from $36,102 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $82,588 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $51,772. The California median is $9,911 above the US national median of $41,861. The average hourly rate is $24.89/hr. Approximately 20,479 medical coders are employed across 158 cities.
2021 BLS Actual
$51,763
2025 BLS Actual
$50,598
2026 Current Est.
$51,772
2021–2027 Growth
+2.3%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Coders in California (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $51,763 | Actual |
| 2022 | $56,821 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,012 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,008 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,598 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $51,772 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,973 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median medical coder salary grew -2.3% from $51,763 (2021) to $50,598 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $52,973 by 2027 — a total increase of $1,210 (2.34%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.32% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California
Lowest Paying Cities in California
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Modesto | $39,487 |
| Yuba City | $41,386 |
| San Luis Obispo | $44,096 |
| Bakersfield | $45,242 |
| Brea | $45,907 |
Best Value Cities for Medical Coders in California
When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for medical coders.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $71,125 | 110.423 | $64,411 |
| Sunnyvale | $72,795 | 113.1 | $64,363 |
| Santa Clara | $72,317 | 113.1 | $63,941 |
| Vallejo | $67,310 | 108.479 | $62,049 |
| Sacramento | $61,515 | 106.67 | $57,669 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in California
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $36,102 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $51,772 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $82,588 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 158 Cities in California
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale | $72,795 |
| 2 | Santa Clara | $72,317 |
| 3 | San Jose | $71,125 |
| 4 | Vallejo | $67,310 |
| 5 | Oakland | $62,287 |
| 6 | Folsom | $61,930 |
| 7 | Sacramento | $61,515 |
| 8 | Roseville | $61,261 |
| 9 | Fremont | $60,913 |
| 10 | San Francisco | $60,901 |
| 11 | Stockton | $51,528 |
| 12 | Santa Ana | $51,265 |
| 13 | Lodi | $50,817 |
| 14 | Santa Maria | $50,710 |
| 15 | Santa Rosa | $50,481 |
| 16 | Chula Vista | $50,383 |
| 17 | San Diego | $50,325 |
| 18 | Fontana | $50,317 |
| 19 | Irvine | $50,262 |
| 20 | Pomona | $50,016 |
| 21 | Petaluma | $49,998 |
| 22 | Simi Valley | $49,989 |
| 23 | Escondido | $49,977 |
| 24 | Carlsbad | $49,905 |
| 25 | Fairfield | $49,887 |
| 26 | El Centro | $49,809 |
| 27 | Fullerton | $49,704 |
| 28 | Daly City | $49,661 |
| 29 | El Monte | $49,645 |
| 30 | Vista | $49,618 |
| 31 | Concord | $49,606 |
| 32 | Santa Cruz | $49,588 |
| 33 | Clovis | $49,532 |
| 34 | Garden Grove | $49,481 |
| 35 | Temecula | $49,469 |
| 36 | Santa Clarita | $49,436 |
| 37 | Lancaster | $49,371 |
| 38 | Inglewood | $49,371 |
| 39 | Corona | $49,309 |
| 40 | Richmond | $49,301 |
| 41 | Rialto | $49,277 |
| 42 | Anaheim | $49,247 |
| 43 | Torrance | $49,215 |
| 44 | Elk Grove | $49,121 |
| 45 | Oceanside | $49,110 |
| 46 | Whittier | $49,095 |
| 47 | San Rafael | $49,091 |
| 48 | Rancho Cucamonga | $49,047 |
| 49 | Hayward | $49,019 |
| 50 | Woodland | $49,007 |
| 51 | Buena Park | $48,999 |
| 52 | Encinitas | $48,995 |
| 53 | Downey | $48,992 |
| 54 | Dublin | $48,964 |
| 55 | Redlands | $48,949 |
| 56 | Chino | $48,922 |
| 57 | Westminster | $48,907 |
| 58 | Santa Monica | $48,903 |
| 59 | San Mateo | $48,899 |
| 60 | Tulare | $48,884 |
| 61 | San Buenaventura | $48,867 |
| 62 | Moreno Valley | $48,834 |
| 63 | Mission Viejo | $48,834 |
| 64 | Pleasanton | $48,827 |
| 65 | Redding | $48,811 |
| 66 | Ontario | $48,805 |
| 67 | Pasadena | $48,758 |
| 68 | Santee | $48,723 |
| 69 | Glendale | $48,680 |
| 70 | Mountain View | $48,654 |
| 71 | Pittsburg | $48,650 |
| 72 | Visalia | $48,639 |
| 73 | Novato | $48,635 |
| 74 | Costa Mesa | $48,616 |
| 75 | Berkeley | $48,566 |
| 76 | Huntington Beach | $48,554 |
| 77 | Long Beach | $48,546 |
| 78 | Jurupa Valley | $48,511 |
| 79 | Hemet | $48,498 |
| 80 | Union City | $48,494 |
| 81 | West Covina | $48,487 |
| 82 | Chino Hills | $48,474 |
| 83 | Gilroy | $48,406 |
| 84 | Los Angeles | $48,385 |
| 85 | San Marcos | $48,378 |
| 86 | Tustin | $48,336 |
| 87 | San Ramon | $48,332 |
| 88 | Eastvale | $48,287 |
| 89 | Murrieta | $48,285 |
| 90 | Vacaville | $48,285 |
| 91 | Brentwood | $48,263 |
| 92 | Hesperia | $48,241 |
| 93 | Lake Elsinore | $48,237 |
| 94 | San Bernardino | $48,215 |
| 95 | Citrus Heights | $48,175 |
| 96 | Riverside | $48,156 |
| 97 | El Cajon | $48,132 |
| 98 | San Clemente | $48,118 |
| 99 | Bellflower | $48,099 |
| 100 | Palmdale | $48,077 |
| 101 | La Mirada | $48,077 |
| 102 | Apple Valley | $48,068 |
| 103 | Menifee | $48,054 |
| 104 | Hanford | $48,033 |
| 105 | Yucaipa | $48,033 |
| 106 | Norwalk | $48,030 |
| 107 | Napa | $48,025 |
| 108 | Rancho Cordova | $47,987 |
| 109 | Montebello | $47,941 |
| 110 | Compton | $47,923 |
| 111 | Porterville | $47,888 |
| 112 | Lompoc | $47,882 |
| 113 | Hawthorne | $47,807 |
| 114 | Fresno | $47,804 |
| 115 | Antioch | $47,792 |
| 116 | Burbank | $47,788 |
| 117 | Alhambra | $47,677 |
| 118 | Livermore | $47,677 |
| 119 | Orange | $47,663 |
| 120 | South Gate | $47,662 |
| 121 | Victorville | $47,651 |
| 122 | West Sacramento | $47,635 |
| 123 | Poway | $47,623 |
| 124 | San Leandro | $47,558 |
| 125 | Merced | $47,526 |
| 126 | Indio | $47,504 |
| 127 | Lake Forest | $47,504 |
| 128 | Oxnard | $47,452 |
| 129 | Carson | $47,420 |
| 130 | Rocklin | $47,413 |
| 131 | Salinas | $47,378 |
| 132 | Newport Beach | $47,332 |
| 133 | Redwood City | $47,328 |
| 134 | Turlock | $47,317 |
| 135 | Manteca | $47,302 |
| 136 | Perris | $47,297 |
| 137 | Thousand Oaks | $47,261 |
| 138 | Madera | $47,260 |
| 139 | Baldwin Park | $47,175 |
| 140 | Palo Alto | $47,175 |
| 141 | Lakewood | $47,156 |
| 142 | Chico | $47,059 |
| 143 | Beaumont | $47,018 |
| 144 | Tracy | $47,007 |
| 145 | Alameda | $46,991 |
| 146 | Laguna Niguel | $46,979 |
| 147 | Milpitas | $46,957 |
| 148 | Camarillo | $46,857 |
| 149 | Oakley | $46,838 |
| 150 | Davis | $46,827 |
| 151 | Upland | $46,792 |
| 152 | La Habra | $46,722 |
| 153 | Lynwood | $46,704 |
| 154 | Brea | $45,907 |
| 155 | Bakersfield | $45,242 |
| 156 | San Luis Obispo | $44,096 |
| 157 | Yuba City | $41,386 |
| 158 | Modesto | $39,487 |
More California Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore medical coder hourly pay in California cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced medical coders.
Compare Cities in California
View all comparisons →Explore More Medical Coder Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical coders make in California in 2026?
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How does California medical coder pay compare to the national average?
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Written by Aisha Patel, RHIT, CPC
Career Analyst
Aisha has over 10 years of experience in medical coding. She specializes in inpatient coding at acute care facilities. Aisha works closely with healthcare providers to ensure accurate coding practices.
Methodology & Data Source
Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 medical coder compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more medical coderscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical coders (SOC 29-2072).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, RHIT, CPC, a licensed medical coder with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov