Billing specialist vs billing representative

The differences between billing specialists and billing representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a billing specialist and a billing representative. Additionally, a billing specialist has an average salary of $35,624, which is higher than the $35,002 average annual salary of a billing representative.

The top three skills for a billing specialist include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a billing representative are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Billing specialist vs billing representative overview

	Billing Specialist	Billing Representative
Yearly salary	$35,624	$35,002
Hourly rate	$17.13	$16.83
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	55,205	95,425
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	2	2

What does a billing specialist do?

Billing specialists are accounting or finance employees who are responsible for sending out billing invoices to clients. They calculate charges that their clients have incurred. They then write bills, ensure that all details are correct, and send these out to clients. They also manage payment due dates and ensure that clients are duly reminded of such deadlines. Billing specialists also manage client accounts and ensure that they are paying on time. They help identify clients who have outstanding payables and send out collection notices to them. At times, billing specialists also manage the receipt of payments to manage account records better.

What does a billing representative do?

A billing representative assists with the overall operations of the organization's billing department. Billing representatives post payments timely on the database, update account statements, generate financial reports, release invoices, and resolve account discrepancies. They also perform client accounts reconciliation as needed, monitor account receivables, review overdated balance, and notify clients of payment updates to ensure accurate and timely billing. A billing representative must have strong analytical and communication skills to manage clients' accounts, as well as comprehensive knowledge on the accounting industry to explain the payment terms and policies of an organization to a client.

Billing specialist vs billing representative salary

Billing specialists and billing representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Billing Specialist	Billing Representative
Average salary	$35,624	$35,002
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $45,000	Between $28,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Worcester, MA
Highest paying state	Delaware	Massachusetts
Best paying company	TIBCO Software	Relevante
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Technology

Differences between billing specialist and billing representative education

There are a few differences between a billing specialist and a billing representative in terms of educational background:

	Billing Specialist	Billing Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Stanford University

Billing specialist vs billing representative demographics

Here are the differences between billing specialists' and billing representatives' demographics:

	Billing Specialist	Billing Representative
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3%	Male, 15.7% Female, 84.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 7.3% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between billing specialist and billing representative duties and responsibilities

Billing specialist example responsibilities.

Use of QuickBooks to manage vendors' accounts, set up filing system to maintain files and supporting billing documents.
Manage the daily correspondence with keeping doctor/patient confidentiality under consideration along with HIPPA regulations.
Use independent judgment, manage and impart confidential information appropriately per HIPAA regulations and company requirements.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Provide additional information/clarification for insurance claims using knowledge of CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS codes, as well as modifiers.
Assist staff with proper billing for patients, ensure proper coding using ICD-10, ICD-9 and CPT-4 coding.

Billing representative example responsibilities.

Manage software programs for MSP accounts, monthly billing and EMC file transfers to Medicare.
Accept and process healthcare claims and confidential medical records; verify patient eligibility and manage the Medicare and Medicaid billing process.
Process orders in compliance with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance verification guidelines; confirming customer's eligibility and insurance coverage.
Verify insurance eligibility for schedule appointments, and verify cash pricing for private pay patients who request cost by CPT code.
Submit and receive Medicare and Medicaid claims electronically on a daily basis.
Utilize extensive computer skills and coding knowledge to produce and submit physical therapy and occupational therapy claims through medicaid and medicare.

Billing specialist vs billing representative skills

Common billing specialist skills

Patients, 16%
Customer Service, 10%
Data Entry, 9%
Medical Billing, 7%
Medicaid, 6%
CPT, 3%

Common billing representative skills

Patients, 18%
Customer Service, 13%
Data Entry, 6%
Medical Billing, 5%
Medicaid, 5%
Patient Accounts, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Billing Specialist
Billing Specialist vs Billing Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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