Court Reporter Salary in Des Moines, IA: $84,723 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Des Moines, IA earns a median $84,723/year (≈ $40.73/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Des Moines's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.7), that paycheck buys what $92,390 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 25.3% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Des Moines, Iowa, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $84,723, significantly higher than the national median of $74,788. The salary range for this profession varies, starting at $64,379 for the lowest 10% and reaching up to $122,850 for the top 90%. This data, derived from the 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, illustrates the divergence in earnings based on employment type. While freelance and independent court reporting typically offers the opportunity for higher pay through per-page rates, official court reporters employed by the state might have less variable income but generally benefit from stability and benefits. With a workforce of only 50 court reporters in the area, the job market remains competitive, reflecting both the demand for skilled professionals and the potential for lucrative opportunities.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $64,379 | $30.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $69,769 | $33.54 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,723 | $40.73 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,965 | $48.06 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $122,850 | $59.06 |
Median Salary Position
13.28% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Des Moines
In Des Moines, IA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $58,471 (2026 est.). At $84,723, the local median is 13.28% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Des Moines: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Des Moines Court Reporter Pay Compares
Des Moines median: $84,723/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Des Moines Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $67,616 | +25.30% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +13.28% more |
Court Reporters in Des Moines, IA earn a median of $84,723 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.28% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 25.30% above the Iowa state average of $67,616.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Des Moines has a cost of living 8.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Des Moines, IA has a cost-of-living index of 91.701 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $84,723 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,390 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.05% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$77,920
2025 BLS Actual
$82,040
2026 Current Est.
$84,723
2019–2027 Growth
+12.3%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Des Moines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,920 | Actual |
| 2020 | $70,750 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,430 | Actual |
| 2022 | $82,020 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,000 | Actual |
| 2024 | $89,290 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,040 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,723 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,493 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Des Moines metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 5.3% from $77,920 (2019) to $82,040 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,493 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,573 (12.29%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Des Moines 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) | $64,379 – $69,769 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $69,769 – $84,723 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,723 – $99,965 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,965 – $122,850 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Des Moines
The cost of living in Des Moines has a direct impact on court reporter pay, with a cost of living index of 91.701 indicating that living expenses are below the national average. This scenario can enhance the purchasing power of court reporters’ salaries in the area. Major employers include freelance firms such as Veritext, US Legal Support, and Esquire, which tend to offer some of the highest pay along with state court positions that provide a solid salary following an official pay scale. Moreover, avenues like realtime captioning and CART services command premium rates, sometimes between $150 and $300 per hour. The wide salary range stems from various factors, including the shift toward digital recording in some courts and how freelance court reporters must navigate the market's variability in per-page rates, impacting overall take-home pay. To maximize earnings in Des Moines, court reporters should focus on developing realtime and CART skills, as these specialties are in high demand and can significantly boost their income.
More salary data for Des Moines, IA:
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 $82,040 for court reportersin the Des Moines 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