Court Reporter Salary in New Orleans, LA: $78,465 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in New Orleans, LA earns a median $78,465/year (≈ $37.72/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in New Orleans's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.6), that paycheck buys what $84,738 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.2% above the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
For professionals in court reporting, the median annual salary in New Orleans, Louisiana, is projected at $78,465 for 2026, giving local reporters a competitive edge over the national median salary of $74,788. The salary range for court reporters in the city varies significantly, from $41,577 at the lower end (P10) to $111,232 at the high end (P90). This data, drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected into 2026, highlights the potential for growth and the specialty premiums available for those with advanced certifications, especially in realtime and CART capabilities. Given the evolving landscape with increasing reliance on technology, New Orleans presents a viable market for those looking to advance their careers in court reporting.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,577 | $19.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,931 | $29.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $78,465 | $37.72 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $86,644 | $41.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,232 | $53.48 |
Median Salary Position
4.92% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in New Orleans
In New Orleans, LA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,655 (2026 est.). At $78,465, the local median is 4.92% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in New Orleans: You'd be above the median
How New Orleans Court Reporter Pay Compares
New Orleans median: $78,465/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | New Orleans Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $67,525 | +16.20% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +4.92% more |
Court Reporters in New Orleans, LA earn a median of $78,465 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.92% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 16.20% above the Louisiana state average of $67,525.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
New Orleans has a cost of living 7.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
New Orleans, LA has a cost-of-living index of 92.597 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $78,465 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $84,738 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,230
2025 BLS Actual
$75,980
2026 Current Est.
$78,465
2019–2027 Growth
+41.6%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in New Orleans (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,230 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,440 | Actual |
| 2021 | $39,620 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,740 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,920 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,180 | Actual |
| 2025 | $75,980 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,465 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,030 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Orleans metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 32.8% from $57,230 (2019) to $75,980 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,030 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,800 (41.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Orleans 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) | $41,577 – $61,931 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,931 – $78,465 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $78,465 – $86,644 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $86,644 – $111,232 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in New Orleans
Analyzing the local job market further reveals that there are currently 90 court reporters employed in New Orleans, which offers a unique dynamic of competition and opportunities. With a cost-of-living index of 92.597, court reporters may find their take-home pay stretching further compared to more expensive metropolitan areas. Freelancers often find lucrative opportunities with firms like Veritext and Esquire, while state and federal court positions provide a structured salary scale. High earners in the field often excel in realtime and CART captioning, which commands rates between $150 and $300 per hour, as well as per-page rates for transcripts ranging from $3 to $8 depending on urgency. To maximize income in New Orleans, reporters should focus on obtaining additional credentials, like the CRR, to enhance their marketability, especially as the demand for realtime services continues to rise amidst a diminishing supply of qualified professionals.
More salary data for New Orleans, LA:
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 $75,980 for court reportersin the New Orleans 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