Medical Coding....or LPN

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I need someone's advice. I have two small children, I live in Cumberland MD--a little over an hour from Hagerstown MD....2 1/2 to Baltimore. Right now I am in college full time, I'll have my medical coding certificate in May. After this semester I will have 72 college credits.

My problem is this:

I've been told med coders can make around 18-20/hr starting out in Winchester VA, which is about an hour from here. Also that the pay is well for coders in other areas, or so I hear.

I love the medical field in general and no it is not all about the money but on the other hand I have bills--like everyone else--- to pay and do not expect someone else to do it for me. ( I would never pick a job solely based on income anyway, because I would go NUTS) I just want to clarify that before I get a bunch of posts saying about money. I used to work in Hagerstown with a gov agency, I was working with the developmentally disabled. This man couldnt do anything by himself, period, I had to give him medications, etc. and I loved my job. Part of the job I also had to become certified to administer medication to him.

My friends/family said well then maybe you should consider nursing.

Anyway----I have looked and looked and can't find anything on what LPN's in MD make that live around Hagerstown...........and also medical coders.

If anyone has anything to say about these two fields, the pay, please I am begging for advice. I am not getting any younger and I just hate to waste next semester in college for a job that pays little more than min wage.

THANKS for reading

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Specializes in 12 years exp in corporate healthcare.

Hi There!

Go for Nursing...you won't regret it...I work in a hospitals and they are tired of paperwork and sitting down...I did coding as well for a year..the pay was great but I'm soooo sick of the office!...hope this helps!

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i've been an lpn for 5yrs. i really enjoy assisted living. jobs arent plentiful in this area because once a nurse comes on they get comfortable. they will typically start around $22-$24 an hr. but i seen jobs paying from $17-$32 an hr. chemical dependency facilities tend to pay a little more because they work fewer hrs. hope this will help you

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