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Entry Level Medical Coding Jobs in Bellingham, WA

Entry Level Medical Coding information

See Bellingham, WA salary details

$5

$31

$48

How much do entry level medical coding jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level medical coding in Bellingham, WA is $31.17, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.72 and $35.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do I become a coder with no experience?

To become an entry-level medical coder with no experience, start by completing a medical coding training program or certification, such as the CPC from the AAPC. Gaining familiarity with coding systems like ICD-10 and CPT, and developing attention to detail, can help you qualify for internships or entry-level positions where on-the-job training is provided.

What is entry level medical coding?

Entry level medical coding refers to the process of assigning standardized codes to medical diagnoses, procedures, and services for billing and record-keeping purposes, usually performed by individuals new to the field. Entry level medical coders work in hospitals, clinics, or physician offices and rely on coding manuals, such as ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS, to accurately document patient information. Training is often required, and many entry level positions expect candidates to have completed a medical coding certificate or associate degree. Accuracy and attention to detail are crucial skills for these roles, as errors can impact billing and patient care.

Can I get a medical coder job with no experience?

Entry level medical coding jobs often do not require prior experience, but candidates typically need a certification such as CPC or CCS and familiarity with coding systems like ICD-10 and CPT. Employers may provide on-the-job training, making it possible to start without previous work experience in the field.

What is the difference between Entry Level Medical Coding vs Medical Billing Specialist?

AspectEntry Level Medical CodingMedical Billing Specialist
CertificationsCPR, CPC (optional for entry)CPR, CPC (optional for entry)
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, physician officesHospitals, clinics, billing companies
Job FocusAssigning codes to diagnoses and proceduresProcessing insurance claims and payments
Common Search IntentEntry Level Medical Coding vs Medical Billing

Entry Level Medical Coding involves assigning standardized codes to medical diagnoses and procedures, focusing on accurate documentation. Medical Billing Specialists handle submitting claims, following up on payments, and managing insurance processes. While both roles often work together and share similar environments, their core responsibilities differ: coding centers on documentation, billing on reimbursement. Certifications like CPC benefit both roles, making them complementary in healthcare revenue cycle management.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level medical coders, and how can they be addressed?

Entry-level medical coders often face challenges such as understanding complex medical terminology, keeping up with frequent coding updates, and ensuring accuracy under tight deadlines. To address these challenges, new coders should regularly review coding guidelines, seek mentorship from experienced colleagues, and utilize ongoing training resources. Staying organized and asking questions when uncertain can also help build confidence and prevent errors, leading to a smoother transition into the role.

What is the easiest medical coding job to get?

Entry-level medical coding jobs, such as outpatient or physician office coding, are generally the easiest to obtain because they often require only a basic understanding of coding systems like ICD-10 and CPT, along with a certification such as CPC. These roles typically have lower experience requirements and may offer on-the-job training, making them accessible for newcomers to the field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Medical Coder, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Medical Coder, you need a basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, and coding systems, often supported by a certificate in medical coding or health information technology. Familiarity with ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS coding systems, and electronic health record (EHR) software is typically required. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for ensuring accuracy and collaborating with healthcare teams. These skills are essential to maintain compliance, ensure proper billing, and support the financial health of medical practices.

Which medical coding is best for beginners?

For entry-level medical coding, starting with ICD-10-CM and CPT coding systems is recommended, as they are widely used and essential for most healthcare settings. Obtaining a certification such as the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) can also improve job prospects for beginners. Familiarity with medical terminology and coding software is beneficial for success in this role.
What are the most commonly searched types of Medical Coding jobs in Bellingham, WA? The most popular types of Medical Coding jobs in Bellingham, WA are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Medical Coding jobs in Bellingham, WA? For Entry Level Medical Coding jobs in Bellingham, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Medical Coding jobs in Bellingham, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Medical Coding jobs in Bellingham, WA are:
What cities near Bellingham, WA are hiring for Entry Level Medical Coding jobs? Cities near Bellingham, WA with the most Entry Level Medical Coding job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Medical Coding job openings in Bellingham, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,835 per year, or $31.2 per hour.

Police Officer (Entry Level)

City of Anacortes, WA

Anacortes, WA โ€ข On-site

$81K - $102K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Salary : $81,891.15 - $102,539.55 Annually
Location : Anacortes, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Police
Opening Date: 06/03/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Commissioned Police Services Guild
Job Description
Prior to applying, all applicants must have:
  • COMPLETED and PASSED the written and physical testing with Public Safety Testing and selected Anacortes, WA Police DepartmentWebsite:
Overview of Hiring Process
  • Complete and pass Written & Physical tests with
  • Complete this online application through City of Anacortes website.
  • Initial review of the Personal History Statement (PHS), application, and other required documents
  • City of Anacortes will contact the candidate directly to schedule an oral board
  • Administrative Interview with Command Staff
  • Conditional Offer of Employment
  • Background Investigation
  • Polygraph Exam
  • Psychological Exam and Medical Exam
  • Final offer letter upon successful completion of background process

Job Description:
Performs fully responsible, professional law enforcement and other police services as necessary to serve the public; maintain public peace and order; protect life and property; prevent crime; make investigations; apprehend violators of the law, and otherwise assure proper enforcement of laws and ordinances in accordance with the mission, vision, and core values of the department and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws. Employees are sworn to act on behalf of the Police Department and the City of Anacortes and carry firearms in the performance of their duties.
Job Responsibilities
  1. Responds to calls, complaints, or reports of the actual, possible, or potential occurrence of specific criminal activity and takes appropriate action. This may include, but is not limited to, mediating civil disputes or interceding in domestic disturbances; maintaining peace; protecting persons; enforcing traffic laws; apprehending, controlling and arresting persons, including those who are violent and/or emotional; assisting disabled persons, motorists, and others; and providing information and direction.
  2. Respond to and conduct investigation of events related to complaints, neighborhood disputes, vehicle collisions, industrial accidents, or alleged crimes, including but not limited to homicide, sexual assault, burglary, robbery, theft, felony assault, fatal traffic collisions, vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, family domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and drug-related or alcohol-related offenses.
  3. As appropriate and necessary, engage in self-defense or use of force.
  4. Engage in motor vehicle enforcement, including arresting DWI (driving while intoxicated) suspects; executing felony motor vehicle stops, and stopping vehicles to investigate, warn, or arrest occupants.
  5. Ability to cope with a wide variety of situations with tact, discretion, courtesy, and respect for citizen's rights.
  6. Maintain a satisfactory level of readiness for duty to include physical conditioning, firearms skills, less than lethal weapons and defensive tactics skills.
  7. Administers immediate assistance to citizens in critical and/or emergency situations where the security of lives and/or property may be endangered. In the course of duty, officers are exposed to a range of physical injuries, accidents, child abuse, mental health concerns, or death where they may be required to administer first aid, CPR or other assistance prior to the arrival of emergency services, and to provide support to victims and families. Use protective gear and follow all protocols for safety and infection control.
  8. Secures and controls crime scenes and administers aid, including photograph physical evidence; collect and secure digital evidence; dust and lift latent prints; sketch the crime scene, including recording location of physical evidence at scene; locate and protect latent evidence, and collect and package all physical evidence following all procedures to document chain of custody of evidence. Prepare evidence as necessary for appropriate crime labs. Prepare proper crime scene documents.
  9. Perform felony and misdemeanor investigations.
  10. Respond courteously to public inquiries within the scope of knowledge and position. Perform community public relations duties as appropriate or as directed.
  11. As directed and assigned, perform duties of special assignments.
  12. Assist Community Service Officers when necessary, with their duties to include animal control, code enforcement, and parking enforcement.
  13. Complete all reports and forms accurately and in a timely manner.
  14. Perform all routine and non-routine duties of community patrol, including radar checks, traffic control, response to calls and complaints, and investigation of any apparent violation of the law.
  15. May perform portions of the work of higher classified positions occasionally, as assigned.
  16. May perform duties of similar complexity in any City department as required or assigned.

Qualifications
As a pre-requisite for consideration for employment, must successfully complete the written, oral examination, and job-related physical agility tests prescribed by the City Civil Service Commission. Must consent to investigation of background and of driving and police record prior to employment and meet Police Department standards in those areas. Following a job offer, must satisfactorily pass psychological and polygraph examinations, and an examination by a licensed medical doctor to ensure that no physical, emotional, sensory, or mental conditions exist which could adversely affect performance of duties, personal safety, or safety of others. Must have an Associates Degree from an accredited college or equivalent technical certification from an accredited college. At the Police Chief's discretion, education may be substituted for college coursework amounting to no less than 90 credits or military experience with honorable discharge. To maintain employment, must successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement School established under the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission and the field training course under the supervision of the department's Field Training Officer as scheduled during the probationary period. Must, as directed, satisfactorily complete other in-service training in methods, procedures, and techniques of police work. Must be able to learn principles and techniques of modern crime prevention, investigation, apprehension, rules of evidence, and all other aspects of law enforcement, and to maintain current knowledge and ability in all these areas. Must acquire and maintain thorough skill in the use and care of firearms and when they should be used.
Licenses and other requirements: Must acquire and maintain CPR and basic first aid certification. Must be able to obtain and maintain certification as an operator of radar and the blood alcohol count (BAC) Verifier. Valid Washington State driver's license.
Ability to:
  • Ability to read, interpret, and properly apply legal materials applicable to law enforcement work.
  • Ability to express self clearly and concisely both orally and in writing to complete required forms and reports. Must keyboard accurately and utilize basic Microsoft products and department records management system and other necessary software.
  • Ability to memorize and recall detail, such as names, faces, addresses, incidents, and identification of objects.
  • Ability to handle high level of personal stress, and to maintain composure and control of self and the situation, under a variety of adverse conditions, including verbal and physical abuse, witnessing death and critical injuries, and experiencing risk of personal harm. Must cope with situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and with respect for all the rights of citizens.
  • Excellent judgment to recognize significant elements at a scene or in a complaint in order to ask the right questions and engage in proper behavior in a situation in progress.
  • Ability to maintain objectivity in an investigation so that all potentially relevant evidence is collected and documented.
  • Ability to perform duties and maintain personal conduct, attitude, and appearance that conform to strict policies, procedures, and discipline, within a "chain of command" management system.
  • Ability to work as a reliable team member and establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and others outside the department.
  • Ability to adjust to a schedule and a lifestyle that requires working rotating shifts and days of the week, working on holidays, and being subject to callback at any time.
  • Ability to maintain a balanced perspective about people in spite of a continuous exposure to lawbreakers.
  • Ability to operate any vehicle assigned under emergency or non-emergency conditions, and all necessary equipment such as radar, police radio, breathalyzer (BAC) verifier, side arm, baton, taser, handcuffs, chemical weapons, camera, and crime scene kit. Must competently utilize the departments Records Management System for report writing.

Miscellaneous Information
LEVEL OF AUTHORITY: Under general supervision, maintains public law and order, protects life and property, prevents crimes, conducts investigations concerning unlawful activity, apprehends violators of the law, and assists citizens in solving problems. Performs assigned responsibilities in accordance with established departmental policies, rules, standard practices, and established precedent, with matters requiring deviation from policy or standard practice normally referred to the next higher command level for decision or direction. Depending on experience and the task performed, works under close to moderate supervision with experienced officers working with independence and infrequent supervision in situations requiring quick and sound decisions where incorrect decision or action could result in serious risk of physical harm to self and co-workers, harm to other individuals and property, legal liability for self or department, or detrimental public view of the department.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: On foot, bicycle, or vehicle patrols a designated area of City to investigate, deter or discover possible violations of criminal and vehicle traffic laws, codes and/or ordinances. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in a variety of environmental conditions and may require: walking, sitting or standing for long periods; running, climbing, jumping, or physical exertion in inclement weather; physical agility in slippery conditions, mountainous or uneven terrain, or in water. Officers work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
PHYSICAL: On patrol, may spend extended periods driving and frequently getting in and out of car. When driving in response to emergency calls, must navigate various road conditions at a steady speed and reacting quickly to other drivers' response to the police vehicle and siren. At sites, hazards potentially encountered include, but are not limited to violent encounters, individuals wielding firearms and other weapons, hazardous substances and chemicals, needle sticks, and exposure to contagious and infectious disease, including hepatitis and HIV, requiring strict adherence to protocols for infection control. Physical strength and ability to take all measures necessary to apprehend, restrain, subdue, and otherwise handle possibly violent individuals. Physical stamina and agility to perform physical activities such as climbing, walking, running, lifting, holding, crouching, getting in and out of a car, or giving CPR for sustained periods or intermittently. Ability to use all senses to a high degree as necessary to assess a situation for significant elements or potential dangers; for example, to smell substances, to hear conversations in a volatile situation, to see in low light situations, or to attend to radio messages in a setting with extreme ambient noise.
OTHER: The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility; but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individual may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is a logical assignment to the position. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.
Following an offer of employment, and prior to starting work, individuals may be required to have a pre-employment physical examination by a physician designated by the City of Anacortes. The City will pay for the examination. Satisfactory clearance to perform essential job functions will be required for employment. As an absolute condition of employment, employees are required upon hire to sign a drug-free workplace agreement and an agreement not to use tobacco products in any form while on the job.
The City of Anacortes is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, creed, sex (including pregnancy), age (over 40), marital status, families with children, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, genetic information, sexual orientation including gender identity, or status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, or any other class protected by federal, state, or local law. Accommodations for people with disabilities are provided on request.
Benefits include choice between medical plans including health savings accounts with high deductible health plans, flexible spending accounts, prescription plans, dental, orthodontia, & vision, dual insurance incentives for spouses & dependents, Department