Court Reporter Salary in Salem, NH: $64,296 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Salem, NH earns a median $64,296/year (≈ $30.91/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Salem's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.3), that paycheck buys what $59,922 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.4% below the New Hampshire state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Salem, New Hampshire, the compensation for court reporting positions reflects the dual nature of the profession, where freelance and official court reporters present different financial landscapes. Projected for 2026, the median annual salary is estimated at $64,296, which is notably lower than the national median of $74,788, indicating a localized pay structure influenced by regional market factors. The salary range for court reporters in Salem spans from $37,292 at the 10th percentile to $99,659 at the 90th percentile, demonstrating a wide variation in earnings depending on professional experience, employer type, and workload. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local cost factors, underline the competitive dynamics within the court reporting sector in this New England town.
About the Salem Market
Salary estimated from New Hampshire average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,292 | $17.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,679 | $22.44 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,296 | $30.91 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $82,299 | $39.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99,659 | $47.92 |
Median Salary Position
14.03% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salem
In Salem, NH, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,367 (2026 est.). At $64,296, the local median is 14.03% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Salem: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Salem Court Reporter Pay Compares
Salem median: $64,296/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salem Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire Average | $65,877 | -2.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -14.03% less |
Court Reporters in Salem, NH earn a median of $64,296 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.03% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.40% below the New Hampshire state average of $65,877.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salem has a cost of living 7.30% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Salem, NH has a cost-of-living index of 107.3 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $64,296 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $59,922 — a 6.8% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,694
2025 BLS Actual
$62,260
2026 Current Est.
$64,296
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Salem (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,694 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,010 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,909 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,643 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,970 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,920 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,260 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,296 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,398 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salem metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $51,694 (2019) to $62,260 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $66,398 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,704 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salem 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) | $37,292 – $46,679 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,679 – $64,296 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,296 – $82,299 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $82,299 – $99,659 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Salem
Several factors influence the job market for court reporters in Salem, where just eight reporters are currently employed. The cost of living index sits at 107.3, which could affect real purchasing power for those earning court reporter pay in Salem, NH. Freelance court reporters typically garner higher income through per-page rates, ranging from $3 to $8 per page for transcripts, while realtime captioners and CART providers command significant premiums of $150 to $300 per hour for live services. Official state and federal court reporters have salaries that align more closely with civil service pay scales, generally resulting in lower earnings compared to freelance work. Given the chronic shortage of court reporters reported by the NCRA, those skilled in realtime reporting or CART might find greater opportunities and premium pay. To maximize earnings within Salem’s market, aspiring reporters should focus on building freelance clientele, enhancing networking through firms, and pursuing specialized certification credentials like RPR and CRR, which can provide access to higher-paying positions.
More salary data for Salem, NH:
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 $62,260 for court reportersin the Salem 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 Salem 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