Medical Claims Examiner Salary: What You’ll Make and Why
Medical claims examiners make around $40,778 to $68,712 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
According to various salary aggregate websites, a medical claims examiner’s salary in the US ranges between $40,778 and $68,712, with an average salary of $51,291. As of July 2022, the base salaries for medical claims examiners are listed as follows:
| Payscale | ZipRecruiter | Indeed | Salary.com | Glassdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45,942 | $43,800 | $57,221 | $40,778 | $68,712 |
Keep in mind: Salary aggregate websites typically rely on data submitted anonymously by individuals using their site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of data of either higher or lower than average salaries, which may affect the site’s calculated average.
Read more: What Is a Medical Claims Examiner? How to Become One
What influences a salary?
The salary of a Medical Claims Examiner is determined by a number of factors, including education, experience, and job location. In this article, we will take a closer look at how these factors impact salary.
Years of experience
Salary increases are generally tied to your experience level. In general, the more years you spend working as a medical claims examiner, the more you can expect to earn. Here’s how experience can impact your medical claims examiner salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey.
| Level of experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $34,045 |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | $40,945 |
| Mid career (5 to 9 years) | $52,127 |
| Experienced (10 to 19 years) | $62,304 |
| Late career (20+ years) | $75,219 |
Location
Where you live can also impact how much you can make as a medical claims examiner. Typically, working in a large metropolitan area correlates to a higher salary, as well as a higher cost of living.
Here is a list of some major cities with their corresponding average medical claims examiner salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $64,431 |
| New York City, NY | $61,258 |
| Washington DC, DC | $59,008 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $58,761 |
| Seattle, WA | $57,701 |
| Columbus, OH | $45,185 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $44,909 |
| Nashville, TN | $43,312 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $42,020 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $41,766 |
How does this compare to similar jobs?
Here’s how a medical claims examiner’s salary stacks up against similar jobs.
| Related Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Records Technician | $30,959 |
| Medical Coder | $44,772 |
| Medical Biller | $35,579 |
| Medical Claims Processor | $35,314 |
| Clinical Documentation Specialist | $76,299 |
| Patient Account Representative | $33,457 |
| Billing Coordinator | $40,829 |
| Health Information Technician | $35,113 |
| Medical Office Manager | $49,545 |
How to increase your medical claims examiner salary
Now that you have a better idea of what you could expect to earn as a medical claims examiner, let’s look at ways to boost your salary.
1. Strengthen your skills
Pursuing and improving in-demand skills could make you more competitive for promotions and higher-paying positions. These skills include:
- Analytical skills: Claims examiners must be able to understand and interpret data
- Communication skills: Claims examiners need to be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally
- Organizational skills: Claims examiners must be able to keep track of multiple claims and deadlines
- Problem-solving skills: Claims examiners must be able to identify problems and find solutions
- Attention to detail: Claims examiners must be able to spot errors and discrepancies in documentation
2. Negotiate your job offer
When you’re offered a job, be sure to negotiate your salary. This is especially important in the medical field, where the cost of living can be high. Be prepared to explain why you deserve a higher salary, and have data to back up your claim. If you’re successful, you could see a significant increase in your pay.
3. Take more responsibilities
One way to increase your salary as a medical claims examiner is to take on more responsibilities. This may include training new employees, working on special projects, or taking on a leadership role. By showing your boss that you’re willing to go above and beyond, you’re more likely to be rewarded with a higher salary.
Article Sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Compensation Survey, https://www.bls.gov/ncs/.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131031.htm.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
3. Payscale. “Medical / Health Claims Examiner Hourly Pay, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_%2F_Health_Claims_Examiner/Hourly_Rate.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
4. Ziprecruiter. “Medical Claims Examiner Annual Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Medical-Claims-Examiner-Salary.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
5. Indeed. “Indeed Salary Finder, https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
6. Salary.com. “Medical Claims Examiner Salary, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/position/medical-claims-examiner-salary.” Accessed July 2, 2022.
7. Glassdoor. “Medical Claims Examiner Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/medical-claims-examiner-salary-SRCH_KO0,23.htm.” Accessed July 2, 2022.