Entry Level Medical Coder Jobs
New grad medical coder jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong internship or coding certification can carry more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings mix on-site and remote settings across Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Insurance, with employers like Optum, Inova Health, and University of Mississippi Medical Center hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 13+ Entry Level Medical Coder jobs
Description
Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.
Summary
Performs technical and administrative work reviewing, abstracting and assigning accepted medical CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 codes for professional services. Duties are performed in compliance with third party, state and federal regulations according to standardized procedures. Employees report to an administrative superior but independently handle assigned tasks.
Responsibilities
- Assigns International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes in an accurate and productive manner.
- Assigns all diagnosis codes to chronic conditions documented that may impact Hierarchal Condition Categories (HCCs) or expected mortality.
- Assigns Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes in an accurate and productive manner.
- Groups codes and completed product into payment groups. Analyzes information for optimal and proper reimbursement.
- Reviews National Coverage Determination (NCD), Local Coverage Determination (LCD), and Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits and any other coding edits and applies changes to code assignments appropriately, and/or adds modifiers appropriately.
- Recognizes and has knowledge of Medical Necessity requirements and resolves edits during code assignments.
- Ensures compliance with all appropriate coding, billing and data collection regulations and procedures.
- Provides information to physicians and other health care staff regarding current coding practices and changes in 3rd party, state and federal regulations and guidelines.
- Reviews, analyzes and abstracts physician/other documentation for diagnoses, procedures, and other services provided.
- Obtains missing information and/or clarifies existing information.
- Accepts feedback from Auditor as needed to avoid future errors.
- Researches appropriate databases for validation of information.
- Utilizes a variety of software (e.g. Epic, Optum CAC, MS Office, etc.) to compile and validate medical information.
Education Requirements
- High school diploma or GED required; higher-level degree may satisfy this requirement. Successful completion of the UNC HCS Hospital Outpatient Coder Proficiency Test.
Licensure/Certification Requirements
- Must have one of the following:
- AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) certification and credential
- AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) certification and credential
Professional Experience Requirements
- Twelve (12) months of experience in hospital coding.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements
- Strong knowledge of ICD-10-CM and HCPCS/CPT coding with strong analytical and data mining skills. Ability to effectively manage projects. Ability to work effectively with various levels of staff (including on-site and remote). Must possess strong communication skills, both written and verbal and have extensive attention to detail. Exhibits effective organizational skills, time management, and management of multiple priorities. Ability to interpret moderately complex medical conditions and work with complex coding applications. Ability to have an excellent balance of being highly productive and yet produce high quality work. Ability to interpret federal and state regulations as they relate to coding and compliance.
Job Details
Legal Employer: NCHEALTH
Entity: Shared Services
Organization Unit: HIM Hospital Coding
Work Type: Full Time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
Salary Range: $23.24 - $33.41 per hour (Hiring Range)
Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity
Work Assignment Type: Remote
Work Schedule: Day Job
Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill
Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No
This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Health Care System, in a department that provides shared services to operations across UNC Health Care; except that, if you are currently a UNCHCS State employee already working in a designated shared services department, you may remain a UNCHCS State employee if selected for this job.
Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.
UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.
Description
Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.
Summary
Performs technical and administrative work reviewing, abstracting and assigning accepted medical CPT, HCPCS, and ICD-10 codes for professional services. Duties are performed in compliance with third party, state and federal regulations according to standardized procedures. Employees report to an administrative superior but independently handle assigned tasks.
Responsibilities
- Assigns International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes in an accurate and productive manner.
- Assigns all diagnosis codes to chronic conditions documented that may impact Hierarchal Condition Categories (HCCs) or expected mortality.
- Assigns Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes in an accurate and productive manner.
- Groups codes and completed product into payment groups. Analyzes information for optimal and proper reimbursement.
- Reviews National Coverage Determination (NCD), Local Coverage Determination (LCD), and Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits and any other coding edits and applies changes to code assignments appropriately, and/or adds modifiers appropriately.
- Recognizes and has knowledge of Medical Necessity requirements and resolves edits during code assignments.
- Ensures compliance with all appropriate coding, billing and data collection regulations and procedures.
- Provides information to physicians and other health care staff regarding current coding practices and changes in 3rd party, state and federal regulations and guidelines.
- Reviews, analyzes and abstracts physician/other documentation for diagnoses, procedures, and other services provided.
- Obtains missing information and/or clarifies existing information.
- Accepts feedback from Auditor as needed to avoid future errors.
- Researches appropriate databases for validation of information.
- Utilizes a variety of software (e.g. Epic, Optum CAC, MS Office, etc.) to compile and validate medical information.
Education Requirements
- High school diploma or GED required; higher-level degree may satisfy this requirement. Successful completion of the UNC HCS Hospital Outpatient Coder Proficiency Test.
Licensure/Certification Requirements
- Must have one of the following:
- AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) certification and credential
- AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) certification and credential
Professional Experience Requirements
- Twelve (12) months of experience in hospital coding.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements
- Strong knowledge of ICD-10-CM and HCPCS/CPT coding with strong analytical and data mining skills. Ability to effectively manage projects. Ability to work effectively with various levels of staff (including on-site and remote). Must possess strong communication skills, both written and verbal and have extensive attention to detail. Exhibits effective organizational skills, time management, and management of multiple priorities. Ability to interpret moderately complex medical conditions and work with complex coding applications. Ability to have an excellent balance of being highly productive and yet produce high quality work. Ability to interpret federal and state regulations as they relate to coding and compliance.
Job Details
Legal Employer: NCHEALTH
Entity: Shared Services
Organization Unit: HIM Hospital Coding
Work Type: Full Time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
Salary Range: $23.24 - $33.41 per hour (Hiring Range)
Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity
Work Assignment Type: Remote
Work Schedule: Day Job
Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill
Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No
This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Health Care System, in a department that provides shared services to operations across UNC Health Care; except that, if you are currently a UNCHCS State employee already working in a designated shared services department, you may remain a UNCHCS State employee if selected for this job.
Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.
UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.
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Entry Level Medical Coder Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level medical coder job?
Entry level medical coder roles typically look for a recognized coding credential such as a CPC or CCA, familiarity with ICD-10 and CPT code sets, and hands-on practice through an internship, externship, or practicum. Candidates who can demonstrate accuracy on a coding assessment and show real-world claim examples, even from coursework, stand out at this stage.
Which companies hire entry level medical coders?
Companies hiring entry level medical coders right now include Optum, Inova Health, and University of Mississippi Medical Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a broad mix of health systems, physician group practices, medical billing services, and remote coding firms that actively develop junior talent.
Are there remote entry level medical coder jobs?
Yes, remote opportunities are real at this level, though some employers prefer on-site or hybrid arrangements for new coders who benefit from closer supervision. About 73% of entry level medical coder openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, so filtering by work setting when you search can help you quickly find roles that match your situation.
Are these new grad medical coder jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior medical coder roles. A new grad friendly posting typically welcomes zero to two years of experience and accepts internship work, externship hours, or a portfolio of practice cases in place of direct employment history. Look for language like "will train," "recent grads encouraged," or "externship accepted" in the job description.
Which industries hire the most entry level medical coders?
Entry Level medical coder roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Insurance, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. These sectors generate the highest claim volumes and rely on a steady pipeline of junior coders to handle routine coding work while developing the accuracy and specialty knowledge that supports career growth.