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The differences between health information coders and health information specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a health information coder and a health information specialist. Additionally, a health information coder has an average salary of $54,353, which is higher than the $33,343 average annual salary of a health information specialist.
The top three skills for a health information coder include medical terminology, ICD-10-CM and CPC. The most important skills for a health information specialist are patients, HIPAA, and medical terminology.
| Health Information Coder | Health Information Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,353 | $33,343 |
| Hourly rate | $26.13 | $16.03 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 112,238 | 135,448 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A health information coder is responsible for translating the reports of physicians into beneficial medical codes. Health information coders make sure that all important information is appropriately coded for accuracy and consistency. The coders read the medical chart of a patient and analyze it and identify patient diagnoses and medical procedures. They categorize the diagnoses and the necessary procedures based on a national classification system. Also, they assign particular alphanumeric or numeric code to each procedure or diagnosis.
A health information specialist is in charge of overseeing and developing strategies to optimize information management procedures in hospitals, physicians' offices, and other similar environments. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and updating medical records, receiving and organizing files, and updating databases according to the appropriate coding systems and procedures. Furthermore, as a health information specialist, it is essential to coordinate with nurses and other staff to ensure accuracy in documentation, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Health information coders and health information specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Health Information Coder | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average salary | $54,353 | $33,343 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $78,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | University of California |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a health information coder and a health information specialist in terms of educational background:
| Health Information Coder | Health Information Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Health Care Administration | Health Care Administration |
| Most common college | Georgetown University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between health information coders' and health information specialists' demographics:
| Health Information Coder | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.0% Female, 88.0% | Male, 15.1% Female, 84.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |