Court Reporter Salary in Fort Dodge, IA: $62,060 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Fort Dodge, IA earns a median $62,060/year (≈ $29.83/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Fort Dodge's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $68,650 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.2% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Fort Dodge, Iowa, the projected median annual court reporter salary in 2026 is $62,060, reflecting a significant variance compared to the national median of $74,788. Local salaries range from $38,742 at the lower tenth percentile to $96,193 at the ninetieth percentile, highlighting the diverse opportunities within the market. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS estimates and adjusted for regional price levels, indicate that while pay may be lower than the national average, the potential for skilled professionals, particularly those specializing in realtime or CART services, remains robust. Given the chronic shortage of court reporters, with an estimated gap of 5,500 nationwide, Fort Dodge presents promising prospects for those entering the field.
About the Fort Dodge Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38,742 | $18.63 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,330 | $22.75 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,060 | $29.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79,437 | $38.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96,193 | $46.24 |
Median Salary Position
17.02% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Dodge
In Fort Dodge, IA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $57,451 (2026 est.). At $62,060, the local median is 17.02% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fort Dodge: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fort Dodge Court Reporter Pay Compares
Fort Dodge median: $62,060/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fort Dodge Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $67,604 | -8.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -17.02% less |
Court Reporters in Fort Dodge, IA earn a median of $62,060 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.02% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 8.20% below the Iowa state average of $67,604.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Dodge has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fort Dodge, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $62,060 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $68,650 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$49,897
2025 BLS Actual
$60,095
2026 Current Est.
$62,060
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Fort Dodge (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,897 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,166 | Actual |
| 2021 | $50,104 | Actual |
| 2022 | $52,743 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,058 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,129 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,095 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,060 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,089 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fort Dodge metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $49,897 (2019) to $60,095 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,089 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,192 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Dodge 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) | $38,742 – $47,330 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,330 – $62,060 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,060 – $79,437 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $79,437 – $96,193 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Fort Dodge
With only four court reporters currently employed in the Fort Dodge area, job competition is relatively modest, yet the cost of living index sits at 90.4, offering a unique context for evaluating take-home pay. This lower living cost means that salaries may stretch further than they would in more expensive regions. Freelance and independent reporting often appears to provide the highest earnings, primarily due to per-page rates that range from $3 to $8, contingent on turnaround urgency. Moreover, the realtime and CART specialties command premium rates between $150 and $300 per hour for live captioning, significantly impacting wage potential. Understanding these dynamics, court reporters in Fort Dodge can maximize their income by pursuing lucrative freelance opportunities, obtaining advanced certifications like the RPR or CRR, and leveraging the increasing demand for accessible communication services.
More salary data for Fort Dodge, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $60,095 for court reportersin the Fort Dodge 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
Salary data for Fort Dodge 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