Clinical coder
Also known as: clinical coding expert, diagnostic coder, medical coder, clinical records technician, clinical coding officer, medical coding officer
About this occupation
Clinical coders read patients' medical records. They analyse and interpret medical statements about diseases, injuries and procedures. Clinical coders convert this information into health classification codes in order to calculate treatment reimbursements, to produce statistics and to monitor health care performance.
A specialisation of medical records clerk.
Essential skills and knowledge
- document management
- clinical coding
- professional documentation in health care
- communicate effectively in healthcare
- use electronic health records management system
- follow clinical guidelines
- review patient's medical data
- maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
- perform clinical coding procedures
- manage healthcare users' data
- medical terminology
- adhere to organisational guidelines
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Health Informatics Specialists (O*NET 15-1211.01). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers, using object-oriented models or other techniques.
- Use informatics science to design or implement health information technology applications for resolution of clinical or health care administrative problems.
- Develop or implement policies or practices to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, or security of patient information.
- Analyze and interpret patient, nursing, or information systems data to improve nursing services.
- Identify, collect, record, or analyze data relevant to the nursing care of patients.
- Apply knowledge of computer science, information science, nursing, and informatics theory to nursing practice, education, administration, or research, in collaboration with other health informatics specialists.
- Typical education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Investigative, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$105,850 a year (2025), 519,530 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (4.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.2)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.2)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyImportant (3.1)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.1)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Clinical Data Managers
- Health Education Specialists
- Nurse Practitioners
- Medical Records Specialists
- Patient Representatives
- Clinical Research Coordinators
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Computer Systems Analysts
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.