Court Reporter Salary in Elizabethtown, KY: $65,267 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Elizabethtown, KY earns a median $65,267/year (≈ $31.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Elizabethtown's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $73,087 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.3% below the Kentucky state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Elizabethtown, KY, the earning potential for court reporters contrasts significantly based on their employment structure. Freelance court reporters, who make up a substantial portion of the workforce, can witness pay that fluctuates widely, while official court reporters often receive a more stable salary. The 2026 median annual salary for court reporters in the area is projected at $65,267, which is about 12.73% lower than the national median of $74,788. Salary projections range from as low as $37,855 at the 10th percentile to $101,163 at the 90th percentile. These estimates are derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional cost considerations, providing a clearer picture of what court reporters can expect to earn in this specific job market distinct from larger urban centers.
About the Elizabethtown Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,855 | $18.20 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,486 | $22.83 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,267 | $31.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $83,541 | $40.16 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101,163 | $48.64 |
Median Salary Position
12.73% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elizabethtown
In Elizabethtown, KY, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,308 (2026 est.). At $65,267, the local median is 12.73% below the national median of $74,788.
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At 40 hours/week in Elizabethtown: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Elizabethtown Court Reporter Pay Compares
Elizabethtown median: $65,267/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elizabethtown Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $66,803 | -2.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -12.73% less |
Court Reporters in Elizabethtown, KY earn a median of $65,267 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.73% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.30% below the Kentucky state average of $66,803.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elizabethtown has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elizabethtown, KY has a cost-of-living index of 89.3 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $65,267 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,087 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.98% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,475
2025 BLS Actual
$63,200
2026 Current Est.
$65,267
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Elizabethtown (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,475 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,810 | Actual |
| 2021 | $52,693 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,468 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,800 | Actual |
| 2024 | $43,634 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,200 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,267 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,401 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elizabethtown metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $52,475 (2019) to $63,200 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,401 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,926 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elizabethtown 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) | $37,855 – $47,486 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,486 – $65,267 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,267 – $83,541 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $83,541 – $101,163 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Elizabethtown
Currently, there are five court reporters employed within Elizabethtown, indicating a niche but stable local job market. The cost-of-living index in this area is notably below the national average, sitting at 89.3, which affects the purchasing power of salaries earned. Among various employers, freelance positions typically generate the highest earnings, particularly for court reporters involved in realtime transcription or CART services, which can command significantly higher hourly rates compared to traditional roles. The variability in compensation stems from factors such as the number of deposition pages completed, with common freelance rates ranging from $3 to $8 per page and realtime services paying $150 to $300 per hour. To maximize income potential in Elizabethtown, reporters may consider enhancing their credentials with NCRA certifications like RPR or CRR, as demanding roles such as CART and broadcast captioning offer premium pay and can help offset competition from digital recording.
More salary data for Elizabethtown, KY:
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 $63,200 for court reportersin the Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown 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