Court Reporter Salary in Liberal, KS: $63,406 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Liberal, KS earns a median $63,406/year (≈ $30.49/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Liberal's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $69,754 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.7% below the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Liberal, Kansas, can expect a median annual salary of $63,406 in 2026, which reflects a notable gap compared to the national median of $74,788. Local salaries range from $41,066 at the 10th percentile to $98,279 at the 90th percentile, suggesting significant variability based on experience and employment type. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local economic conditions. The job market shows a structural divide between freelance court reporters and those employed in official capacities, impacting overall compensation levels in Liberal.
About the Liberal Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,066 | $19.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,586 | $23.83 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $63,406 | $30.49 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,159 | $39.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $98,279 | $47.25 |
Median Salary Position
15.22% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Liberal
In Liberal, KS, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $57,213 (2026 est.). At $63,406, the local median is 15.22% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Liberal: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Liberal Court Reporter Pay Compares
Liberal median: $63,406/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Liberal Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $67,959 | -6.70% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -15.22% less |
Court Reporters in Liberal, KS earn a median of $63,406 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.22% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 6.70% below the Kansas state average of $67,959.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Liberal has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Liberal, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $63,406 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,754 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$50,978
2025 BLS Actual
$61,398
2026 Current Est.
$63,406
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Liberal (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,978 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,276 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,886 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,209 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,085 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,398 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,406 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,479 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Liberal metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $50,978 (2019) to $61,398 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,479 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,501 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Liberal 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) | $41,066 – $49,586 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,586 – $63,406 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $63,406 – $81,159 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,159 – $98,279 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Liberal
In Liberal, only four court reporters are currently employed, indicating a relatively small job market, yet the cost of living index at 90.9 suggests that salaries might stretch farther than in more expensive regions. Freelance court reporting is common, with income derived from per-page transcript fees typically ranging between $3 and $8, depending on turnaround time. For realtime and CART providers, premium rates can escalate to $150-$300 per hour for live captioning services. These variances in pay are influenced by the nature of assignments as well as individual skill sets, especially among those holding NCRA RPR or other credentials. To maximize court reporter pay in Liberal, it is advisable to target freelance opportunities that offer the best rates while also considering official positions where salary scales are set by civil service standards.
More salary data for Liberal, KS:
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 $61,398 for court reportersin the Liberal 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 Liberal 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