Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Metairie, LA: $37.86 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Metairie, LA runs $37.86 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $78,751 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Metairie's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.3, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $41.93 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $47,248 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Metairie, Louisiana, court reporter hourly pay is projected to reach a median of $37.86 in 2026, which is higher than the national median of $35.96. This competitive rate allows for a substantial income for both full-time and part-time professionals. For those working three days a week, they can expect to earn around $1,159 per week, translating to about $60,193 annually based on a standard schedule. Per-diem court reporters, who may operate in various environments such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and CART live event venues, find flexible earning opportunities, often commanding hourly rates ranging from $21.96 for entry-level reporters to as high as $58.69 for experienced professionals. These hourly figures are derived from annual salary estimates and reflect the diverse landscapes of court reporting in Metairie.
About the Metairie Market
Salary estimated from Louisiana average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $21.96 | $175.64 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.94 | $231.49 |
| Median (P50) | $37.86 | $302.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48.46 | $387.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $58.69 | $469.51 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Metairie
Based on $37.86/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $37.86/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Metairie, LA can expect to earn approximately $78,746 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $45,431. With a cost-of-living index of 90.30 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Metairie.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Metairie
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,514.35 | $6,562 | $78,746 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $908.61 | $3,937 | $47,248 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $605.74 | $2,625 | $31,499 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Metairie) | $37.86 |
| Paralegal (National Avg) | $29.95 |
| Medical Transcriptionist (National Avg) | $19.96 |
| Legal Secretary (National Avg) | $26.86 |
| Interpreter / Translator (National Avg) | $28.15 |
Court Reporters in Metairie, LA earn a median of $78,751 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.30% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 16.60% above the Louisiana state average of $67,539.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $37.86/hr = $47,248/year (purchasing power: $52,323).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $78,746/year (purchasing power: $87,205).
CoL index: 90.3 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$30.44/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$36.66/hr
2026 Current Est.
$37.86/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Metairie (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30.44/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $31.21/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $30.57/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $32.17/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $32.37/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.88/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $36.66/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37.86/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39.10/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Metairie grew 20.4% from $30.44/hr (2019) to $36.66/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $39.10/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem court reporters can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Metairie metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.27% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Court Reporter in Metairie
For part-time court reporters, consistently working 24 hours a week can yield an attractive income, but it may still be less than what full-time employees can achieve. Freelance reporters, particularly those working per-diem assignments, have access to lucrative pay rates that can significantly surpass the typical hourly wage. For example, half-day depositions might pay between $400 and $800, and realtime or CART captioning work can command rates between $150 and $300 per hour. Moreover, while official court reporters and federal court reporters generally receive stable salaries with benefits, the trade-off often involves a lower hourly pay compared to their freelance counterparts. Independent reporters may negotiate better rates when booked through agencies like Veritext or US Legal Support, though they may sacrifice benefits like health insurance. Court reporters in Metairie should consider these factors carefully when determining their paths, as each employment type offers its own advantages and challenges.
More salary data for Metairie, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gomez, RPR
Career Analyst
Maria Gomez has 10 years of experience in court reporting. She specializes in transcription for civil litigation cases. She works in various courtrooms across the state.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for court reporters in Metairie. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Metairie is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.27%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for court reporters (SOC 27-3092).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gomez, RPR, a licensed court reporter with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov