Court Reporter Salary in Denver, CO: $85,714 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Denver, CO earns a median $85,714/year (≈ $41.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Denver's price level (6% above national, BEA RPP 105.8), that paycheck buys what $81,029 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.2% above the Colorado state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Denver, CO are expected to earn a median annual salary of $85,714, demonstrating a notable increase compared to the national average of $74,788, which highlights the demand for skilled reporting in the region. The salary range for court reporters in this city varies from $68,127 at the lower 10th percentile to $114,320 for those at the 90th percentile, reflecting differences in experience, specialization, and deposition volume. This data, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, illustrates the significant potential for earnings in Denver. As the local economy continues to expand, employment opportunities will likely follow suit, further enhancing the appeal of working in this profession.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $68,127 | $32.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $85,714 | $41.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $113,308 | $54.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $114,320 | $54.96 |
Median Salary Position
14.61% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Denver
In Denver, CO, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $46,193 (2026 est.). At $85,714, the local median is 14.61% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Denver: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Denver Court Reporter Pay Compares
Denver median: $85,714/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Denver Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Average | $78,493 | +9.20% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +14.61% more |
Court Reporters in Denver, CO earn a median of $85,714 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.61% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 9.20% above the Colorado state average of $78,493.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Denver has a cost of living 5.78% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Denver, CO has a cost-of-living index of 105.782 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $85,714 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $81,029 — a 5.47% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$67,250
2025 BLS Actual
$83,000
2026 Current Est.
$85,714
2019–2027 Growth
+31.6%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Denver (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $67,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $68,740 | Actual |
| 2021 | $80,250 | Actual |
| 2022 | $72,846 | Actual |
| 2023 | $70,220 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,589 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,714 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,517 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Denver metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 23.4% from $67,250 (2019) to $83,000 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,517 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,267 (31.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Denver 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) | $68,127 – $77,380 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,380 – $85,714 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $85,714 – $113,308 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $113,308 – $114,320 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Denver
With 190 court reporters currently employed in Denver, the local job market presents solid prospects amidst a cost-of-living index of 105.782, indicating that while salaries are competitive, the living expenses are slightly higher than the national average. Freelancers and independent court reporters dominate the market, often securing the highest pay by charging per-page rates that can range from $3 to $8, with the volume of transcripts directly influencing their earnings. Additionally, specialized roles such as realtime CART providers and broadcast captioners command even more lucrative pay, ranging from $150 to $300 per hour. To maximize pay potential in this vibrant market, court reporters should focus on increasing their realtime skills, pursuing additional certifications, and capitalizing on the growing need for accurate and timely reporting services.
More salary data for Denver, CO:
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 $83,000 for court reportersin the Denver 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