Court Reporter Salary in Rocky Mount, NC: $67,990 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Rocky Mount, NC earns a median $67,990/year (≈ $32.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Rocky Mount's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $72,639 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, earn a median annual salary of $67,990, which is slightly below the national median of $74,788. The annual salary range for this profession spans from $40,462 at the 10th percentile to $105,384 at the 90th percentile, offering a diverse landscape for earning potential based on experience, specialization, and the type of employment. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS estimates, adjusted to account for local cost-of-living factors, which significantly impact how much do court reporters make in Rocky Mount. The job market here, while smaller with just eight employed court reporters, reflects a vital industry that is adapting to trends like realtime reporting and CART services, appealing to a growing demand for specialized skills.
About the Rocky Mount Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,462 | $19.46 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,645 | $24.35 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,990 | $32.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $87,027 | $41.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $105,384 | $50.66 |
Median Salary Position
9.09% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rocky Mount
In Rocky Mount, NC, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $64,922 (2026 est.). At $67,990, the local median is 9.09% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rocky Mount: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rocky Mount Court Reporter Pay Compares
Rocky Mount median: $67,990/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rocky Mount Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $70,020 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -9.09% less |
Court Reporters in Rocky Mount, NC earn a median of $67,990 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.09% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.90% below the North Carolina state average of $70,020.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rocky Mount 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.
Rocky Mount, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $67,990 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,639 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,664
2025 BLS Actual
$65,837
2026 Current Est.
$67,990
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Rocky Mount (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,664 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,055 | Actual |
| 2021 | $54,891 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,782 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,128 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,001 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,837 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,990 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $70,213 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rocky Mount metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $54,664 (2019) to $65,837 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $70,213 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,549 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rocky Mount 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) | $40,462 – $50,645 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,645 – $67,990 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,990 – $87,027 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $87,027 – $105,384 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Rocky Mount
Given that the cost of living index in Rocky Mount stands at 93.6, which is lower than the national average, the purchasing power of court reporters is positively affected despite salaries being below the national median. Local employers vary from private firms like Veritext and Esquire to official court positions; freelance court reporters tend to earn more through per-page rates that can fluctuate based on urgency and turnaround time. Additionally, those who provide CART services often command higher rates, typically between $150 to $300 per hour, further widening the gap between the lower and upper ends of the pay spectrum. To optimize earnings in this market, professionals should consider pursuing advanced qualifications, such as obtaining RPR or CRR certifications, and explore networking opportunities with local firms that can offer consistent, high-paying work.
More salary data for Rocky Mount, 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 $65,837 for court reportersin the Rocky Mount 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 Rocky Mount 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