Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Merrimack, NH: $30.87 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Merrimack, NH runs $30.87 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,214 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Merrimack's regional price level (BEA RPP 107.3, 7% above national), each hour of work buys what $28.77 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,523 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Merrimack, New Hampshire, court reporters can anticipate a median hourly pay of $30.87, which falls below the national hourly median of $35.96. This level of compensation is significant for professionals working part-time or in freelance capacities, such as deposition conference rooms or courtroom settings. For part-time reporters working three days a week, this translates to a flexible work schedule while still earning a good hourly wage. Entry-level court reporters in Merrimack may find themselves earning around $17.91 per hour, while more experienced professionals can achieve up to $47.86 per hour, reflecting a diverse range of opportunities based on skill, experience, and sector of employment. As such, the projected hourly rates illustrate the potential for varied earnings within this vital role in the legal system.
About the Merrimack Market
Salary estimated from New Hampshire average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17.91 | $143.26 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.36 | $178.86 |
| Median (P50) | $30.87 | $246.94 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.52 | $316.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $47.86 | $382.84 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Merrimack
Based on $30.87/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.87/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Merrimack, NH can expect to earn approximately $64,204 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,041. With a cost-of-living index of 107.30 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Merrimack.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Merrimack
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,234.70 | $5,350 | $64,204 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $740.82 | $3,210 | $38,523 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $493.88 | $2,140 | $25,682 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Merrimack) | $30.87 |
| 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 Merrimack, NH earn a median of $64,214 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.14% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.50% below the New Hampshire state average of $65,861.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.87/hr = $38,523/year (purchasing power: $35,902).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,204/year (purchasing power: $59,836).
CoL index: 107.3 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$24.82/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.89/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.87/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Merrimack (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.82/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.45/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.23/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.39/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $31.17/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.89/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.87/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.88/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Merrimack grew 20.4% from $24.82/hr (2019) to $29.89/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.88/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 Merrimack 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 Merrimack
When considering the earnings potential for those engaged in part-time positions, a court reporter working 24 hours per week would bring home roughly $38,177 annually, which highlights a notable income disparity compared to full-time counterparts. Many freelance deposition reporters in Merrimack enjoy lucrative pay rates of $400 to $800 for half-day depositions, plus transcript fees, while those specializing in realtime and CART captioning can command as much as $300 per hour. Variations in hourly rates further depend on the type of employer; independent court reporters typically earn more than state or federal court employees. Moreover, court reporters may face a trade-off between lower hourly rates with health benefits or higher rates without any. For those negotiating pay in Merrimack's market, emphasizing specialized skills like CART or realtime services can bolster arguments for higher compensation, making it critical to stay informed about local pay trends as well as individual qualifications.
More salary data for Merrimack, NH:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Merrimack in 2026?
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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 Merrimack. 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 Merrimack 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