How to hire a coder operator

How to hire a coder operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step coder operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a coder operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new coder operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a coder operator job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the coder operator you need to hire. Certain coder operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A coder operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, coder operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of coder operators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Coder Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Coder Operator		$22-34
   Data Entry Representative	Data entry representatives are professionals who are responsible for entering data from different documents into the computer systems for storage, processing, and data management. These representatives must prepare documents for data entry and check the accuracy of the data that has been inputted into the database software... Show more	$12-19
   Data Entry Technician	The duties of a data entry technician depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around entering information into databases, reviewing inputs to ensure accuracy and quality, devising strategies to identify any inconsistencies, and conducting corrective measures as needed... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • AHIMA
   • Medical Terminology
   • Epic
   • AAPC
   • Surgery
   • CPT-4
   • Outpatient Services
   • Code Assignment
   • EMR
   • Radiology
   • DRG
   • CCI
   • Medical Necessity
   • WebEx

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the outsourced transcription company.
   • Assign ICD-9-CM, HCC and RxHCC diagnosis codes as appropriate and abstracts pertinent information from patient records of contract clientele.
   • Attend weekly team calls and monthly staff WebEx.
   • Adhere to coding and DRG findings/updates as well as coding clinics communicate by upper management.
   • Perform coding of cath lab, observation, pain center radiology and lab, egd's and colonoscopies.
   • Have excellent knowledge in anatomy and physiology in order to assign correct medical procedures, pathological conditions and treatment processes.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your coder operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A coder operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, coder operators' average salary in new mexico is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level coder operators earn 34% less than senior-level coder operators.
   • Certifications. A coder operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a coder operator's salary.

   Average coder operator salary

   $58,370yearly

   $28.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level coder operator salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

4. Writing a coder operator job description

   A coder operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a coder operator job description:

   Coder operator job description example

   We are currently looking for an experienced medical records coder to join our team!
   
   Located minutes from downtown Austin, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center is a level IV Designated Trauma Center with more than 700 healthcare professionals working together to provide inpatient, outpatient, surgical and emergency care for Cedar Park and the greater Austin region.
   
   Our culture nurtures each employee by developing a sense of purpose, providing worthwhile work and giving each of us the opportunity to make a difference in the patients we care for. Our goal is to create a great place for associates to work, physicians to practice medicine, and patients to receive the highest level of care in the community we call home.
   
   Position Overview
   
   Abstracts clinical information from a variety of medical records, charts and documents and assigns appropriate ICD-10 and/or CPT-4 codes to patient records according to established procedures. Works with coding databases and confirms DRG assignments.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Responsible for the coding of diagnoses and procedures on all inpatient and outpatient medical record types. This includes the assignment of optimized DRGs to inpatient Medicare, Medicaid, and Texas Star and CHAMPUS accounts. Coding is done concurrently, in that all patient populations mentioned above have a working DRG assigned to them.
   
   Responsible for the coding of diagnosis and procedures on all outpatient and emergency room records.
   
   Consults providers for clarification when encountering unclear or ambiguous documentation; initiates physician query as appropriate.
   
   Qualifications
   
   * Two years coding experience in an acute care hospital environment
   * Proficient in ICD-9-CM and CPT-4 coding, and DRG optimization
   * Must receive passing score on CHS coding test
   
   What We Offer
   
   * Competitive Pay + Shift Differentials
   * Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
   * Generous Paid Time-Off (PTO)
   * Extended Illness Bank (EIB)
   * Tuition Reimbursement
   * RN Loan Repayment Program
   * Matching 401(k)
   * Clinical Ladder Program
   * Employee Referral Bonus Program
   * Opportunities for career advancement
   * Rewards and recognition programs
   * Additional perks and discounts

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right coder operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your coder operator job on Zippia to find and recruit coder operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting coder operators requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new coder operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the coder operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new coder operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a coder operator?