Court Reporter Salary in Billings, MT: $57,076 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Billings, MT earns a median $57,076/year (≈ $27.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Billings's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.2), that paycheck buys what $59,331 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.1% above the Montana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Billings, Montana, the projected median court reporter salary for 2026 is $57,076, reflecting a significant gap of approximately 23.68% compared to the national median salary of $74,788. The local salary range for court reporters spans from $33,104 at the 10th percentile to $88,468 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse spectrum of earning potential within the profession. These figures, derived from state-level estimates and adjusted for regional pricing, underscore the influence of deposition volume on compensation in this field. In a city where court reporters play a vital role in the judicial system, understanding this compensation structure is essential for both aspirants and current professionals navigating opportunities in Billings.
About the Billings Market
Salary estimated from Montana average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,104 | $15.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41,407 | $19.91 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,076 | $27.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $73,057 | $35.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $88,468 | $42.54 |
Median Salary Position
23.68% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Billings
In Billings, MT, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $55,364 (2026 est.). At $57,076, the local median is 23.68% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Billings: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Billings Court Reporter Pay Compares
Billings median: $57,076/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Billings Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $55,360 | +3.10% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | -23.68% less |
Court Reporters in Billings, MT earn a median of $57,076 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.68% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.10% above the Montana state average of $55,360.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Billings has a cost of living 3.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Billings, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.2 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $57,076 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $59,331 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.95% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$45,890
2025 BLS Actual
$55,269
2026 Current Est.
$57,076
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Billings (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45,890 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,057 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,080 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,507 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,797 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,581 | Actual |
| 2025 | $55,269 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,076 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,943 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Billings metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $45,890 (2019) to $55,269 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,943 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,053 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Billings 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) | $33,104 – $41,407 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $41,407 – $57,076 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,076 – $73,057 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $73,057 – $88,468 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Billings
The job market for court reporters in Billings consists of about 26 professionals, highlighting a localized workforce that is experiencing growth at an annual rate of 3.27%. With a cost of living index of 96.2, the purchasing power of court reporters can be more favorable than in many high-cost areas, though overall salaries tend to be lower. Employers in Billings range from freelance firms, often paying per-page rates that can fluctuate based on urgency and complexity, to official court positions within the state system, which usually follow a structured salary scale. Freelancers often achieve the highest earnings by maximizing deposition volume and focusing on realtime reporting or CART captioning, where premiums can reach $150 to $300 per hour. For those looking to enhance their court reporter pay in Billings, specializing in high-demand areas like realtime or CART services can lead to significant financial rewards.
More salary data for Billings, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Billings, MT in 2026?
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Can court reporters make $100K in Billings?
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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 $55,269 for court reportersin the Billings 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 Billings 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