"How long does it take to become a medical billing and coding specialist in New Mexico?"

"Most paths into the medical billing and coding specialist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do medical billing and coding specialists need a license in New Mexico?"

"No statewide license is required for medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CPC (Certified Professional Coder), and CCS (Certified Coding Specialist)."

"What apprenticeships are available for medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico?"

"In New Mexico, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Mexico Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in New Mexico

Q: "How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in New Mexico?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,470. Employment concentration in New Mexico is about 1.28 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico?"

"New Mexico currently employs approximately 1,400 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

New Mexico medical records specialists earn a median annual wage of $57,470 ($27.63/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,400 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 12.4% above the national median of $51,140 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,470 ($27.63/hr)
25th percentile: $43,470 per year
75th percentile: $66,240 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $76,460 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,600 per year
Workers employed in New Mexico: 1,400
Versus national median: 12.4% above the U.S. median of $51,140
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.28 - this occupation is more concentrated in New Mexico than the national average

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

New Mexico employs approximately 1,400 medical billing and coding specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,470 ¹. The state’s concentration of medical billing and coding specialist jobs is 1.28x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 New Mexico, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Medical Billing and Coding Specialist in New Mexico

How do I become a medical billing and coding specialist in New Mexico? New Mexico does not require a state license for medical billing and coding specialists, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CPC (Certified Professional Coder) and CCS (Certified Coding Specialist). Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in New Mexico? No state license is required, but certifications such as CPC (Certified Professional Coder) and CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) are expected by most employers.

What do medical billing and coding specialists earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico is $57,470 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,600 and experienced professionals can earn $76,460 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New Mexico): $57,470 per year ¹

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Certification Options in New Mexico

New Mexico does not require a state license to work as a medical billing and coding specialist. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for medical billing and coding specialists include:

CPC (Certified Professional Coder)
CCS (Certified Coding Specialist)

For more information, visit the AAPC - Medical Coding Certification ³. Contact training programs in New Mexico for details on certification preparation courses.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), medical records specialists wages in New Mexico vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Albuquerque	770	$60,020	$58,880	$38,330	$76,110
Las Cruces	110	$44,160	$49,510	$33,010	$71,730
Farmington	90	$54,700	$56,230	$35,400	$78,070
Santa Fe	90	$62,280	$63,430	$38,240	$100,550

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 2025.

Top Metros for Medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest medical billing and coding specialist employment within New Mexico according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Albuquerque	770	$60,020
Las Cruces	110	$44,160
Farmington	90	$54,700
Santa Fe	90	$62,280

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 1,400 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 New Mexico? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Mexico.

How much do medical billing and coding specialists earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical billing and coding specialists in New Mexico is $57,470, which is $7,220 above the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
AAPC - Medical Coding Certification: https://www.aapc.com/ ↩︎

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)