How long does medical billing and coding specialist training take in Colorado?

Most people become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Colorado through a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Do medical billing and coding specialists need a license in Colorado?

No statewide license is required for medical billing and coding specialists in Colorado. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Colorado (2026)

Q: How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Colorado?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical billing and coding specialists in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,020. Employment concentration in Colorado is roughly 0.49 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical billing and coding specialists in Colorado?

Colorado currently employs approximately 1,780 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado medical records specialists earn a median annual wage of $59,020 ($28.37/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,780 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 15.4% above the national median of $51,140 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,020 ($28.37/hr)
25th percentile: $49,280 per year
75th percentile: $68,140 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $82,980 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,280 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 1,780
Versus national median: 15.4% above the U.S. median of $51,140
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.49 - this occupation is less concentrated in Colorado than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Colorado employs about 1,780 medical billing and coding specialists earning a median $59,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist here means completing a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Compare Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Schools in Colorado

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Red Rocks Community College	64.2	$4,859 in-state / $17,459 out-of-state	$62,695	32%	Yes*	22 mi
2	Front Range Community College	61.3	$4,663 in-state / $17,263 out-of-state	$50,353	35%	Yes*	31 mi
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3	Arapahoe Community College	57.3	$4,434 in-state / $17,034 out-of-state	$57,589	29%	Yes*	31 mi
4	Aims Community College	52.8	$2,258 in-state / $11,786 out-of-state	$51,704	40%	Yes*	62 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Intellitec College-Colorado Springs	39.3	Contact school for pricing	$42,178	51%	—	75 mi
6	Community College of Denver	37.0	$4,902 in-state / $17,136 out-of-state	$53,984	20%	Yes*	31 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Colorado employs approximately 1,780 medical billing and coding specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,020 ¹. Nationally, medical billing and coding specialist employment is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Colorado, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical billing, coding, or health-information program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles
Exam: CPC, CCS, or RHIT
Median wage (Colorado): $59,020 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Colorado

How to become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Colorado? Complete a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Colorado? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT. See the licensing section below.

What do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Colorado is $59,020 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,280 and experienced professionals can earn $82,980 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in Colorado

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a billing, coding, or HIT program. Finish a certificate or associate program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT. Pass AAPC CPC, AHIMA CCS, or RHIT depending on the role. Employers typically require a named credential.
No statewide license in most states. Do not invent a licensing board for billers and coders.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist License Requirements in Colorado

Most states do not license medical billers, coders, or health-information technicians. Employers expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

Typical path

Complete a program.
Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical records specialists wages in Colorado vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	870	$61,240	$66,180	$47,830	$96,180
Colorado Springs	200	$54,950	$58,110	$41,130	$78,120
Boulder	130	$58,280	$57,920	$47,260	$72,050
Fort Collins-Loveland	80	$55,670	$59,220	$45,360	$79,550
Grand Junction	60	$48,500	$53,120	$42,490	$68,220
Pueblo	60	$48,590	$54,200	$39,810	$73,520
Greeley	40	$48,320	$50,790	$39,340	$63,460

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical billing and coding specialists in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 1,780 medical billing and coding specialists ¹. Nationally, medical billing and coding specialist employment is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Colorado? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Colorado.

How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in Colorado is $59,020, which is $8,770 above the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In Colorado

Best Trade Schools in Colorado (2026)

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)