PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Clinical Documentation Specialist
San Antonio Regional Hospital · Upland, CA
$47.90–$71.84/ hour
New this week
CDI Specialist jobs in Santa Barbara, CA
Pay for CDI Specialists in the Santa Barbara area centers on $40.36 per hour, or about $83,940 a year. The lower quarter earns under $26.75 and the upper quarter over $65.72. That ranks 17th of 133 U.S. metro areas for CDI Specialist pay, and 35th of 129 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara. The free report below lists employers near Santa Barbara and what they pay.
- $40.36median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $27–$66typical range per hour
- 50CDI Specialists employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
CDI Specialist pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is 12% below the California statewide median of $45.84 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.36 per hour. BLS counts about 50 health information technologists and medical registrars employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.95).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $26.75 | $55,640 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $26.75 | $55,640 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $40.36 | $83,940 | 25% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $65.72 | $136,700 | 103% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $70.62 | $146,890 | 118% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 17th of 133 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 35th of 129 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 10 California metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for CDI Specialist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars (SOC 29-9021), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Santa Barbara
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $40.36 median hour buys what $37.10 buys at the national price level, 15% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Santa Barbara CDI Specialist pay report
Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Barbara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,453
- Per year: $72,648
- Per month: $6,054
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open CDI Specialist roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Barbara as they open.
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist - Full Time (On-Site) - Days - 8hr QVH
Emanate Health · West Covina, CA
$49.55–$76.80/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more CDI Specialist roles for you in California
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist
Montage Health · Monterey, CA
$72.42–$96.87/ hour
Top 25% pay
Hospitals in Santa Barbara
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Barbara, CA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
CDI Specialist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $46.72/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $46.72/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $46.72/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $46.72/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $40.36/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $46.72/hr | 125,778 |
CDI Specialist jobs in California · CDI Specialist jobs nationwide
What employers ask for, and tax basics in California
Clinical documentation integrity specialists review charts and query clinicians so records reflect patient severity accurately.
- CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one
- Clinical background such as RN, or coding experience
- Knowledge of DRGs and quality reporting
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do CDI Specialists make in Santa Barbara, CA?
CDI Specialists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $40.36 per hour, about $83,940 a year. The middle half earn between $26.75 and $65.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for CDI Specialists once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 35th of 129 metro areas for CDI Specialist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 17th of 133 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do CDI Specialists work in Santa Barbara?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, led by Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Barbara as a CDI Specialist?
CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Does Valorem Health place CDI Specialists in Santa Barbara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.
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What do employers near Santa Barbara pay CDI Specialists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ CDI Specialist roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CDI pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your California list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Boston Medical CenterRemote, MA · 1 posting$56.69/ hr$38–$75
- CommonSpirit HealthCHICAGO, IL · 1 posting$51.17/ hr$41–$61
- Adventist HealthGaithersburg, MD · 1 posting$46.47/ hr$37–$56
- Capital Health SystemPennington, NJ · 1 posting$45.44/ hr$39–$51
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your California list
2What they are offering now
Low$48Median$63.17High$97
3 CDI postings with published pay in California, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 3 CDI roles
- Clinical Documentation SpecialistPermanent$47.90–$71.84/ hour
- Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist - Full Time (On-Site) - Days - 8hr QVHPermanent$49.55–$76.80/ hour
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.