Medical Coder Salary in Paducah, KY: $37,596 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical coder in Paducah, KY earns a median $37,596/year (≈ $18.07/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2072). Once you factor in Paducah's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.1), that paycheck buys what $43,674 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, medical coders in Paducah, KY, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $37,596, reflecting a slight decrease compared to the national median of $41,861. This compensation structure includes a salary range that varies from $29,967 (at the 10th percentile) to $53,542 (at the 90th percentile). Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, this salary information highlights a local market with about 80 medical coders currently employed, suggesting a reasonably stable job outlook. While the number of professionals is modest, it indicates a level of saturation that prospective coders should consider when entering the field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29,967 | $14.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $37,596 | $18.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,451 | $23.30 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $53,542 | $25.74 |
Median Salary Position
10.19% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Paducah
In Paducah, KY, the medical coder salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,575 (2026 est.). At $37,596, the local median is 10.19% below the national median of $41,861.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Paducah: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Paducah Medical Coder Pay Compares
Paducah median: $37,596/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Paducah Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $37,372 | +0.60% more |
| National Average | $41,861 | -10.19% less |
Medical Coders in Paducah, KY earn a median of $37,596 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.19% lower than the national median of $41,861 and 0.60% above the Kentucky state average of $37,372.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Paducah has a cost of living 13.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Paducah, KY has a cost-of-living index of 86.084 (below the national average of 100). A medical coder earning $37,596 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $43,674 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.17% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$33,525
2025 BLS Actual
$36,744
2026 Current Est.
$37,596
2021–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Coders in Paducah (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $33,525 | Actual |
| 2022 | $33,899 | Actual |
| 2023 | $35,048 | Actual |
| 2024 | $43,990 | Actual |
| 2025 | $36,744 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37,596 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $38,469 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Paducah metropolitan area, the median medical coder salary grew 9.6% from $33,525 (2021) to $36,744 (2025). At a 2.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $38,469 by 2027 — a total increase of $4,944 (14.75%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Paducah 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $29,967 – $31,040 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $31,040 – $37,596 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $37,596 – $48,451 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,451 – $53,542 |
CPC, CCS salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical coder compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Coder Job Market in Paducah
Examining the nuances of medical coder pay in Paducah reveals important insights into local employment conditions. With a cost of living index of 86.084, the actual purchasing power of salaries tends to be higher than what raw figures suggest. Large healthcare organizations tend to offer the most competitive salaries; however, significant pay variability exists due to factors such as shift differentials, specialty credentials, and varying employee benefits structures associated with different employers. To maximize income potential in this market, coders should focus on enhancing their qualifications, seeking certifications in specialized coding areas, and staying current with industry trends. By pursuing opportunities with larger health systems rather than smaller private practices, medical coders can potentially access higher compensation packages, thereby improving their financial standings in Paducah, KY.
More salary data for Paducah, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical coders make in Paducah, KY in 2026?
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Can medical coders make $100K in Paducah?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical coder salary in Paducah?
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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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $36,744 for medical codersin the Paducah metropolitan area. A 2.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-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