How to Become a Medical Coder in North Carolina (2026)

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Carolina employs about 6,760 medical coders earning a median $49,620 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Medical Records Specialists”). Training as a Medical Coder here means completing a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Compare Medical Coder Schools in North Carolina

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
160.6$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state$42,84443%Yes*34 mi
258.9$2,040 in-state / $6,648 out-of-state$43,95253%Yes*25 mi
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353.1$2,672 in-state / $8,816 out-of-state$44,89248%Yes*28 mi
452.6$2,538 in-state / $8,682 out-of-state$41,82484%Yes*9 mi
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551.7$2,416 in-state / $8,176 out-of-state$39,54658%Yes*16 mi
651.6$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state$44,53346%Yes*37 mi
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749.0$1,956 in-state / $6,564 out-of-state$42,77146%Yes*38 mi
847.2$2,064 in-state / $6,672 out-of-state$43,91635%Yes*43 mi
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945.0$2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state$46,65738%Yes*41 mi
1035.2$2,320 in-state / $7,696 out-of-state$44,92431%Yes*39 mi
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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.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina employs approximately 6,760 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category (SOC 29-2072), with a median annual wage of $49,620 1. Nationally, employment in this category 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 Coder in North Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track medical coder salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072). Actual medical coder earnings may vary.

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 (North Carolina): $49,620 per year (based on related “Medical Records Specialists” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Coder in North Carolina

How to become a Medical Coder in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT. See the licensing section below.

What do medical coders earn in North Carolina? The BLS does not track medical coder wages separately. Based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category, the median annual wage in North Carolina is $49,620, with entry-level wages around $36,840 and experienced workers earning $79,670 or more 1.

How to Become a Medical Coder in North Carolina

  1. Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
  2. Complete a billing, coding, or HIT program. Finish a certificate or associate program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT. Pass AAPC CPC, AHIMA CCS, or RHIT depending on the role. Employers typically require a named credential.
  4. 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 Coder License Requirements in North Carolina

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

Typical path

  1. Complete a program.

  2. Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

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

Medical Coder Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia1,450$51,110$58,080$40,150$82,090
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk970$50,590$53,970$37,200$75,600
Raleigh-Cary900$54,340$60,580$37,130$93,950
Durham-Chapel Hill620$57,290$59,850$40,730$82,040
Winston-Salem520$62,590$56,250$36,700$78,030
Greenville390$62,570$59,690$37,390$79,670
Greensboro-High Point360$45,180$50,290$36,640$73,140
Fayetteville280$51,570$54,770$36,510$80,820
Asheville270$44,280$48,110$37,940$66,730
Wilmington220$42,930$54,530$37,080$109,410
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton150$39,900$43,640$31,170$59,240
Pinehurst-Southern Pines130$47,360$47,850$34,710$62,090
Rocky Mount90$40,360$46,600$36,630$66,980
Jacksonville80$51,930$52,590$35,870$69,240
Goldsboro60$44,500$53,190$35,430$84,190
Burlington40$43,220$48,500$37,950$64,510

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 coders in North Carolina? North Carolina employs approximately 6,760 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do medical coders earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical coders in North Carolina is $49,620 (based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category), which is $630 below the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data 1.

In North Carolina

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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

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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)