Court Reporter Salary in Jacksonville, NC: $70,346 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Jacksonville, NC earns a median $70,346/year (≈ $33.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Jacksonville's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $75,156 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% above the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Jacksonville, the projected median annual salary for court reporters in 2026 stands at $70,346, reflecting a modest 5.94% decrease compared to the national median of $74,788. The local salary range varies significantly, with starting pay at $40,801 for the lowest earners (P10) and potential earnings up to $109,037 for top-paid court reporters (P90). These salary estimates are based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, and take into account regional price adjustments. In Jacksonville, where the job market includes a blend of freelance and official court reporters, disparities in pay are influenced by the nature of employment; those working independently might see different compensation structures compared to state employees, reflecting a need for adaptability in this evolving market.
About the Jacksonville Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,801 | $19.61 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,049 | $24.55 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,346 | $33.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $90,043 | $43.29 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $109,037 | $52.42 |
Median Salary Position
5.94% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, NC, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,236 (2026 est.). At $70,346, the local median is 5.94% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Jacksonville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Jacksonville Court Reporter Pay Compares
Jacksonville median: $70,346/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Jacksonville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $69,997 | +0.50% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | -5.94% less |
Court Reporters in Jacksonville, NC earn a median of $70,346 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.94% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.50% above the North Carolina state average of $69,997.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Jacksonville 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.
Jacksonville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $70,346 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $75,156 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,559
2025 BLS Actual
$68,119
2026 Current Est.
$70,346
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Jacksonville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,559 | Actual |
| 2020 | $57,998 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,794 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,785 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,143 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,734 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,119 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,346 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,647 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Jacksonville metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $56,559 (2019) to $68,119 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,647 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,088 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Jacksonville 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) | $40,801 – $51,049 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,049 – $70,346 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,346 – $90,043 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $90,043 – $109,037 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Jacksonville
Currently, Jacksonville employs approximately 17 court reporters, indicative of a niche profession in the area. Despite a slightly lower cost of living index at 93.6, which suggests greater purchasing power compared to the national average, financial growth for local court reporters could be impacted by industry dynamics. Freelance roles, which dominate the Jacksonville market, often pay on a per-page basis, ranging from $3 to $8, with opportunities for premium earnings in realtime services that can command between $150 and $300 per hour. Meanwhile, official court reporters within the state court system generally adhere to a salary scale typical of public employees. Success in the Jacksonville court reporter pay landscape hinges on strategic positioning; professionals should focus on obtaining certifications such as RPR, exploring realtime reporting opportunities, and diversifying their service offerings to maximize their earnings in this competitive environment.
More salary data for Jacksonville, 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 $68,119 for court reportersin the Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville 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