Court Reporter Salary in Montgomery, AL: $43,508 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Montgomery, AL earns a median $43,508/year (≈ $20.92/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Montgomery's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.7), that paycheck buys what $48,514 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 33.8% below the Alabama state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Montgomery, Alabama, court reporters can expect a median annual salary of $43,508, a figure significantly lower than the national median of $74,788. This disparity is reflected in a salary range that spans from $31,539 at the 10th percentile to $85,859 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, indicate that while the earning potential varies widely, there is room for growth in the field. The job market for court reporters in Montgomery is competitive, with opportunities often tied to specialties such as realtime reporting and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), which can command higher pay rates.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,539 | $15.16 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43,508 | $20.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $43,508 | $20.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74,860 | $35.99 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,859 | $41.28 |
Median Salary Position
41.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Montgomery
In Montgomery, AL, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $54,320 (2026 est.). At $43,508, the local median is 41.82% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Montgomery: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Montgomery Court Reporter Pay Compares
Montgomery median: $43,508/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Montgomery Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $65,722 | -33.80% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -41.82% less |
Court Reporters in Montgomery, AL earn a median of $43,508 per year (2026 est.), which is 41.82% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 33.80% below the Alabama state average of $65,722.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Montgomery has a cost of living 10.32% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Montgomery, AL has a cost-of-living index of 89.682 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $43,508 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $48,514 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.51% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$27,520
2025 BLS Actual
$42,130
2026 Current Est.
$43,508
2019–2027 Growth
+63.3%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Montgomery (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27,520 | Actual |
| 2020 | $41,770 | Actual |
| 2021 | $31,250 | Actual |
| 2022 | $33,490 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,197 | Actual |
| 2024 | $43,473 | Actual |
| 2025 | $42,130 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $43,508 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,930 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Montgomery metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 53.1% from $27,520 (2019) to $42,130 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,930 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,410 (63.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Montgomery 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $31,539 – $43,508 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $43,508 – $43,508 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $43,508 – $74,860 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $74,860 – $85,859 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Montgomery
Montgomery's court reporting scene employs approximately 30 professionals, reflecting a targeted niche in the local job market. With a cost-of-living index of 89.682, the expenses faced by court reporters in this area are lower than the national average, providing relatively better purchasing power despite the lower salary figures. The highest paying positions are typically found with freelance services that utilize independent court reporters, who earn per-page rates that range from $3 to $8 depending on urgency and volume. Additionally, realtime reporting and CART services can yield significantly higher hourly wages, often ranging from $150 to $300. Court reporters aiming for the best compensation in Montgomery should focus on enhancing their skills, pursuing additional certifications like the RPR or CRR, and networking with local firms to leverage opportunities in a market characterized by both competition and a growing demand for skilled stenographers.
More salary data for Montgomery, AL:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $42,130 for court reportersin the Montgomery metropolitan area. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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