Court Reporter Salary in Los Angeles, CA: $89,339 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Los Angeles, CA earns a median $89,339/year (≈ $42.95/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Los Angeles's price level (14% above national, BEA RPP 113.6), that paycheck buys what $78,667 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 29.8% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Los Angeles, California, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $89,339, which reflects a significant 19.46% increase over the national median of $74,788. The salary range for this profession in the region is quite broad, spanning from $42,785 at the 10th percentile to $127,187 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from official BLS OEWS data, highlight how deposition volume drives effective compensation in a market characterized by a chronic shortage of reporters. With both a competitive local wage structure and a growing demand for services, the job market for court reporters in Los Angeles is robust, presenting varied opportunities based on individual skills and specialization.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,785 | $20.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,088 | $27.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $89,339 | $42.95 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $111,645 | $53.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $127,187 | $61.15 |
Median Salary Position
19.46% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, CA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $84,402 (2026 est.). At $89,339, the local median is 19.46% above the national median of $74,788.
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At 40 hours/week in Los Angeles: You'd be above the median
How Los Angeles Court Reporter Pay Compares
Los Angeles median: $89,339/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Los Angeles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $127,263 | -29.80% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +19.46% more |
Court Reporters in Los Angeles, CA earn a median of $89,339 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.46% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 29.80% below the California state average of $127,263.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Los Angeles has a cost of living 13.57% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Los Angeles, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.566 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $89,339 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $78,667 — a 11.95% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$88,100
2025 BLS Actual
$86,510
2026 Current Est.
$89,339
2019–2027 Growth
+4.7%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Los Angeles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,100 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,950 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,490 | Actual |
| 2022 | $92,060 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,400 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,270 | Actual |
| 2025 | $86,510 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $89,339 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $92,260 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew -1.8% from $88,100 (2019) to $86,510 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $92,260 by 2027 — a total increase of $4,160 (4.72%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Los Angeles 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) | $42,785 – $57,088 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,088 – $89,339 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $89,339 – $111,645 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $111,645 – $127,187 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Los Angeles
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As of 2026, there are approximately 290 court reporters employed in Los Angeles. Given the city's cost of living index of 113.566, which exceeds the national average, understanding take-home pay becomes crucial for financial planning. While many court reporters find employment through firms like Veritext, US Legal Support, and Esquire, those pursuing official positions within state or federal court systems can expect a different pay structure, often aligned with civil service scales. Freelance court reporters, who thrive on a per-page basis, can charge between $3 to $8 for each transcript page, with realtime and CART specialists commanding hefty premiums that range from $150 to $300 per hour for live captioning. The stark pay differences stem from the per-page deposition volume and the urgency of client requests, highlighting the necessity for proactive networking and skill development to maximize earnings in this competitive environment.
More salary data for Los Angeles, CA:
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 $86,510 for court reportersin the Los Angeles 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, 7-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