Court Reporter Salary in Asheville, NC: $68,284 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Asheville, NC earns a median $68,284/year (≈ $32.83/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Asheville's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $72,953 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.5% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the projected court reporter salary in Asheville, North Carolina, reaches a median of $68,284, reflecting a local market that, while competitive, does lag behind the national median of $74,788 by approximately 8.70%. Court reporters in this area can expect to earn between $41,100 at the lower end and $105,840 at the high end of the salary spectrum. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, adjusted for regional price parities, indicating the nuanced economic environment in Asheville. The presence of a specialty premium for realtime reporting and CART services infuses additional earning potential for experienced professionals, making this a promising avenue for those with relevant credentials like the CRR.
About the Asheville Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,100 | $19.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,716 | $23.91 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $68,284 | $32.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $87,404 | $42.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $105,840 | $50.88 |
Median Salary Position
8.7% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Asheville
In Asheville, NC, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $64,740 (2026 est.). At $68,284, the local median is 8.7% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Asheville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Asheville Court Reporter Pay Compares
Asheville median: $68,284/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Asheville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $70,035 | -2.50% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -8.70% less |
Court Reporters in Asheville, NC earn a median of $68,284 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.70% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.50% below the North Carolina state average of $70,035.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Asheville has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Asheville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $68,284 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,953 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,901
2025 BLS Actual
$66,122
2026 Current Est.
$68,284
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Asheville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,901 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,298 | Actual |
| 2021 | $55,129 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,033 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,379 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,217 | Actual |
| 2025 | $66,122 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $68,284 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $70,517 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Asheville metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $54,901 (2019) to $66,122 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $70,517 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,616 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Asheville 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) | $41,100 – $49,716 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,716 – $68,284 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $68,284 – $87,404 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $87,404 – $105,840 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Asheville
Asheville's job market currently accommodates 14 court reporters, providing a limited yet specialized workforce amidst a backdrop of a growing demand for steno skills. The lower cost of living index in the city, at 93.6, means that court reporter pay in Asheville NC may go further than in other higher-cost areas. Among employers, independent reporting firms generally offer the highest pay, often leveraging per-page rates in the range of $3-$8, depending on turnaround demands. Official court reporters for the state system are subject to structured pay scales, which can limit maximum earnings compared to freelance opportunities. The disparity in pay exists mainly due to the premium associated with realtime and CART services, where skilled professionals can command hourly rates of $150-$300. Maximizing compensation in this market requires not only developing technical skills but also strategically seeking freelance opportunities as a way to enhance income and leverage the growing need for court reporting services in the region.
More salary data for Asheville, NC:
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 $66,122 for court reportersin the Asheville 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 Asheville 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