SOC 27-3092 · May 2025
Court Reporter Salary
Court Reporters in the US earn a median of $72,420 a year ($37.86 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $130,560 or more, 3.1 times the $42,130 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$72,420
Half of all Court Reporters in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Hourly
$37.86
Job growth 2025-35
-0.1%
US workers
12,870
BLS series
Annual median wage for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Court Reporters is $42,130 – $130,560.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$42,130
25th
$53,760
Median
$72,420
75th
$100,780
90th
$130,560
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Court Reporters. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $42,130 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $53,760 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $72,420 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $100,780 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $130,560 |
Geography
Court Reporter pay by state
Court Reporters earn the most in California ($116,020, +60% against the national median) and the least in Delaware ($44,760). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 38 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$72,420
Highest-paying states for court reporters
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $116,020 | +60% | 1,400 |
| Texas | $110,080 | +52% | 1,270 |
| Washington | $107,670 | +49% | 80 |
| New York | $101,990 | +41% | 1,400 |
| Iowa | $93,810 | +30% | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $92,250 | +27% | 60 |
| Minnesota | $83,680 | +16% | 320 |
| Colorado | $83,010 | +15% | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $79,940 | +10% | 50 |
| Arizona | $77,770 | +7% | 70 |
All 38 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $116,020 | 1,400 |
| Texas | $110,080 | 1,270 |
| Washington | $107,670 | 80 |
| New York | $101,990 | 1,400 |
| Iowa | $93,810 | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $92,250 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $83,680 | 320 |
| Colorado | $83,010 | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $79,940 | 50 |
| Arizona | $77,770 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $76,480 | 60 |
| Illinois | $75,890 | 770 |
| South Dakota | $75,210 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $73,510 | 110 |
| Missouri | $72,500 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $70,540 | 60 |
| Idaho | $69,330 | 40 |
| Alabama | $67,340 | 350 |
| Ohio | $67,330 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $67,300 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $65,640 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,100 | 670 |
| Louisiana | $63,380 | 270 |
| Montana | $62,730 | 50 |
| Nevada | $62,030 | 70 |
| Michigan | $61,600 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $61,100 | 140 |
| Oklahoma | $60,800 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $59,390 | 210 |
| Maryland | $59,300 | – |
| Arkansas | $59,180 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $56,790 | 90 |
| Virginia | $55,210 | 320 |
| Indiana | $54,740 | 890 |
| Kentucky | $50,350 | 80 |
| Florida | $49,240 | 1,110 |
| Maine | $49,110 | 30 |
| Delaware | $44,760 | 40 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Court Reporters
Court reporters create verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings, depositions, and meetings using stenography machines or voice-writing technology. The role requires completion of a 2-3 year court reporting program and state certification (RPR, CSR, or state-specific). Federal court reporters and freelance deposition specialists typically earn above the OEWS median. The role is increasingly competitive with digital recording in some jurisdictions but remains required in others by state statute.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $42,130 – $130,560. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Texas and Washington. Pay in California runs 2.6 times the level in Delaware, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 1,800 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to shrink 0.1% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Court Reporter salary in the US?
How much does a Court Reporter make an hour?
How much do Court Reporters make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Court Reporters the most?
Is the average Court Reporter salary higher than the median?
Is Court Reporter a growing career?
Open positions
Open Court Reporter roles hiring now
Browse current Court Reporter listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 27-3092. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.