Court Reporter Salary in Durham, NC: $72,133 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Durham, NC earns a median $72,133/year (≈ $34.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Durham's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $77,065 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.0% above the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Durham, North Carolina, can expect a median annual salary of $72,133, reflecting a slight decline compared to the national median of $74,788. The salary range for court reporters in this area extends significantly, from $41,837 at the lower end to $111,806 at the upper end, indicating a diverse employment structure influenced by freelance work versus official court reporting positions. These figures, derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local cost of living, illustrate the financial landscape faced by reporters in Durham. With the ongoing demand for skilled court reporters, especially in light of the workforce shortage highlighted by the NCRA, those entering this field have compelling opportunities ahead.
About the Durham Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,837 | $20.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,071 | $25.99 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $72,133 | $34.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $92,331 | $44.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,806 | $53.75 |
Median Salary Position
3.55% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,969 (2026 est.). At $72,133, the local median is 3.55% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Durham Court Reporter Pay Compares
Durham median: $72,133/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $70,032 | +3.00% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | -3.55% less |
Court Reporters in Durham, NC earn a median of $72,133 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.55% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.00% above the North Carolina state average of $70,032.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham 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.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $72,133 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $77,065 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$57,995
2025 BLS Actual
$69,849
2026 Current Est.
$72,133
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,995 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,471 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,236 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,304 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,670 | Actual |
| 2024 | $53,048 | Actual |
| 2025 | $69,849 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72,133 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,492 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $57,995 (2019) to $69,849 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,492 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,497 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durham 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) | $41,837 – $54,071 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,071 – $72,133 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $72,133 – $92,331 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $92,331 – $111,806 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Durham
In Durham, the job market features approximately 67 court reporters, presenting a unique blend of opportunities influenced by the area's cost of living index of 93.6, which is below the national average. This means that despite a competitive salary, the actual purchasing power of court reporters can be more favorable compared to other regions. Freelance court reporters, often found working with agencies like Veritext and US Legal Support, may earn varying rates based on per-page transcript fees, while official state court reporters generally follow a fixed salary scale. Notably, those specializing in realtime and CART services are poised to command the highest hourly rates due to their specialized skill sets. To maximize their court reporter pay in Durham, professionals can focus on enhancing their credentials, particularly those related to realtime reporting, and actively seek diverse job opportunities that leverage their unique skills.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Durham, NC in 2026?
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a court reporter?
Can court reporters make $100K in Durham?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Durham?
How much does a court reporter make per hour in Durham?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $69,849 for court reportersin the Durham 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 Durham 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