Court Reporter Salary in Albany, NY: $83,750 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Albany, NY earns a median $83,750/year (≈ $40.26/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Albany's price level (16% above national, BEA RPP 115.9), that paycheck buys what $72,261 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the New York state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Albany, NY, court reporters can expect a competitive median annual salary of $83,750 as of 2026, which is notably 11.98% higher than the national median of $74,788. This salary reflects a local job market that offers a salary range of $48,575 at the lower end (P10) to as much as $129,812 at the high end (P90). Salary estimates are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for the region's cost of living, which is assessed at a notably high index of 115.9. The local demand underscores the importance of specialized skills, particularly in realtime and CART reporting, which not only command a premium but also bridge the gap in a field facing persistent staffing shortages.
About the Albany Market
Salary estimated from New York average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,575 | $23.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,750 | $40.26 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,199 | $51.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $129,812 | $62.41 |
Median Salary Position
11.98% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albany
In Albany, NY, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,237 (2026 est.). At $83,750, the local median is 11.98% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Albany: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Albany Court Reporter Pay Compares
Albany median: $83,750/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Albany Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $86,698 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +11.98% more |
Court Reporters in Albany, NY earn a median of $83,750 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.98% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 3.40% below the New York state average of $86,698.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Albany has a cost of living 15.90% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Albany, NY has a cost-of-living index of 115.9 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $83,750 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $72,261 — a 13.72% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$67,335
2025 BLS Actual
$81,098
2026 Current Est.
$83,750
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Albany (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $67,335 | Actual |
| 2020 | $69,049 | Actual |
| 2021 | $67,615 | Actual |
| 2022 | $71,176 | Actual |
| 2023 | $71,602 | Actual |
| 2024 | $91,826 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,098 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,750 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,489 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albany metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $67,335 (2019) to $81,098 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,489 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,154 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albany 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) | $48,575 – $60,300 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,300 – $83,750 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,750 – $107,199 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,199 – $129,812 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Albany
With only 18 court reporters employed in Albany, the market is tight, presenting opportunities for experienced professionals to negotiate favorable compensation. However, the elevated cost of living can impact the purchasing power of these salaries, making it crucial for reporters to understand local pay structures better. Among the highest-paying positions are those within federal court systems and freelance roles, where pay rates vary significantly based on experience and specialized skills. Freelancers typically earn per-page rates ranging from $3 to $8, while realtime and CART specialists can command hourly rates as high as $300 for live captioning work. To maximize earnings in Albany’s competitive environment, court reporters should focus on obtaining advanced credentials such as CRR and be open to diverse employment settings, whether it’s in courtrooms or through independent firms, to better navigate these opportunities.
More salary data for Albany, NY:
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 $81,098 for court reportersin the Albany 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 Albany 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