1

Surgery Coder Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

Surgery Coder information

See Tennessee salary details

$15

$17

$20

How much do surgery coder jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for surgery coder in Tennessee is $17.91, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $18.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Surgery Coder vs Medical Coder?

AspectSurgery CoderMedical Coder
CertificationsAHIMA or AAPC certification, specialized in surgical codingAHIMA or AAPC certification, broader in scope
Work EnvironmentHospitals, surgical clinics, outpatient surgery centersHospitals, physician offices, clinics across specialties
Industry UsagePrimarily in surgical and hospital settingsAcross multiple healthcare settings and specialties

While both Surgery Coder and Medical Coder require coding certifications, Surgery Coders specialize in surgical procedures and work mainly in hospitals and surgical centers. Medical Coders have a broader scope, covering various medical specialties. Surgery Coders focus on surgical documentation, whereas Medical Coders handle diverse medical records. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Surgery Coder, and why are they important?

To excel as a Surgery Coder, you need a thorough understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, surgical procedures, and strong knowledge of CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS coding systems, often validated by a CPC or CCS-P certification. Familiarity with coding software, electronic health records (EHR), and billing systems is typically required. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and effective communication are critical soft skills for ensuring coding accuracy and collaborating with healthcare teams. These competencies are essential for maximizing reimbursement, maintaining compliance, and supporting efficient healthcare operations.

What are some common challenges faced by Surgery Coders when assigning procedure codes?

Surgery Coders often encounter challenges such as deciphering complex operative reports, ensuring accurate code selection for multiple concurrent procedures, and staying updated with frequent changes in coding guidelines. They must work closely with surgeons and clinical staff to clarify ambiguous documentation and prevent coding errors that could lead to claim denials or compliance issues. Attention to detail and ongoing education are crucial for navigating these challenges and maintaining coding accuracy.

What are Surgery Coders?

Surgery Coders are specialized medical coding professionals who assign standardized codes to surgical procedures and services documented in patient records. They use classification systems such as CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS to ensure accurate billing and compliance with healthcare regulations. Surgery Coders work closely with surgeons, billing teams, and insurance companies to verify coding accuracy, maximize reimbursement, and minimize claim denials. Their expertise helps healthcare facilities maintain proper documentation and meet legal and financial requirements.
What are popular job titles related to Surgery Coder jobs in Tennessee? For Surgery Coder jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Surgery Coder job openings in Tennessee as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,257 per year, or $17.9 per hour.
Medical Coder 3

$19.50 - $26/hr

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago


Baptist Memorial Health Care rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 110 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

296th of 872 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Job Description
Job Summary
Codes diagnoses and procedures of patient records and abstracting information for reimbursement, research, and to generate statistical data. Perform daily feedback and education to providers, staff and patients of BMG. Assist with education of current coding staff. Performs other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities
  • Codes diagnoses and procedures of records.
  • Completes assigned goals.
  • Serves as a resource to physican office staff, clinical documentation specialist, case managers, etc.
  • Act as lead for the team, assisting in onboarding of new staff and/or education of more specialized workflows.
  • Assist in research of new speciality areas, new treatments in medicine, etc.
  • Work with new acquisitions on documentation improvement and medical necessity, including education.

Specifications
Experience
Minimum Required
  • Over one year of experience in physician /professional, outpatient surgery, and/or emergency department coding. Skill and proficiency in coding physician/professional outpatient (ancillary, emergency department, or outpatient surgery, etc) records utilizing ICD-9-CM and CPT-4 . Two years experience in an acute care facility, professional office or integrated health system. One year of documented successful physician education.

Preferred/Desired
Education
Minimum Required
  • Skill and proficiency in coding physician/professional and outpatient (ancillary, emergency department, oupatient surgery, etc. ) records utilizing ICD-9-CM and CPT -4 through 5 years experience in an acute care facility, professional office or intergrated health system. Skill in communicating clearly and effectively using standard English in written, oral and verbal format to achieve high productivity and efficiency. Skill to write legibly and record information accurately as necessary to perform job duties. CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P, RHIT, RHIA

Preferred/Desired
  • Associates degree

Training
Minimum Required
  • CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CCS, CCS-P, RHIT, RHIA, HCPCS, ICD-10, ICD-9, CPT-4

Preferred/Desired
Special Skills
Minimum Required
Preferred/Desired
  • Physician education, leadership, mentoring, workflow documentation

Licensure
  • One of the following: Certified Coding Specialist (CSS), Certified Coding Specialist Physician (CCSP), Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC/CPCH), Certified Professional Coder Payer (CPCP).

Minimum Required
  • COC/CPCH;CPC-P ;CCS-P;RHIT;RHIA;CPC;CCS

Preferred/Desired

What Baptist Memorial Health Care employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Baptist Memorial logo

About Baptist Memorial

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Baptist Memorial, based in Memphis, TN, US, is a leading health care organization renowned in the healthcare industry. The company's official website is baptistonline.org which provides a comprehensive view of their services and operations. Baptist Memorial operates a myriad of hospitals, health clinics, and medical facilities providing expert and compassionate care. Founded in 1912, it has a rich legacy of over a hundred years of dedication to its community, offering services which include acute care, diagnostic services, and a broad range of speciality health services fulfilling various patient needs.

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Memphis, TN, US