Court Reporter Salary in Wake Forest, NC: $69,016 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Wake Forest, NC earns a median $69,016/year (≈ $33.18/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Wake Forest's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $73,735 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wake Forest, NC, those pursuing a career in court reporting can anticipate a median annual salary of $69,016 as of 2026, representing a modest variance from the national median of $74,788. Salaries in the area indicate a range that starts at $42,707 at the lower end and can reach as high as $106,975 for experienced professionals. These figures stem from estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost factors, highlighting the influence of deposition volume and per-page transcript economics. Given that deposition rates typically range from $3 to $8 per page, those at the higher end of the pay scale likely have a robust volume of cases, reflecting the competitive nature of the market in Wake Forest.
About the Wake Forest Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,707 | $20.53 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,124 | $24.58 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $69,016 | $33.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $88,341 | $42.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $106,975 | $51.43 |
Median Salary Position
7.72% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wake Forest
In Wake Forest, NC, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $64,268 (2026 est.). At $69,016, the local median is 7.72% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wake Forest: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wake Forest Court Reporter Pay Compares
Wake Forest median: $69,016/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wake Forest Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $69,996 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -7.72% less |
Court Reporters in Wake Forest, NC earn a median of $69,016 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.72% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.40% below the North Carolina state average of $69,996.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wake Forest 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.
Wake Forest, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $69,016 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,735 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$55,489
2025 BLS Actual
$66,831
2026 Current Est.
$69,016
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Wake Forest (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,489 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,901 | Actual |
| 2021 | $55,720 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,655 | Actual |
| 2023 | $59,005 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,755 | Actual |
| 2025 | $66,831 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,016 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,273 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wake Forest metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $55,489 (2019) to $66,831 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,273 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,784 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wake Forest 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) | $42,707 – $51,124 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,124 – $69,016 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $69,016 – $88,341 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $88,341 – $106,975 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Wake Forest
With only nine court reporters employed in the area, competition for top pay can vary widely. The cost-of-living index in Wake Forest stands at 93.6, meaning that take-home purchasing power is significantly impacted by local living costs. Freelance court reporters generally have the highest earning potential, particularly those who engage with agencies like Veritext and US Legal Support. Furthermore, specialists in realtime reporting and CART services can command premium rates, ranging from $150 to $300 an hour, further widening the pay gap based on specific competencies. To maximize earnings, court reporters should consider enhancing skills in realtime captioning or CART provision while also developing strong networks within the local legal and freelance writing communities to secure a consistent volume of work.
More salary data for Wake Forest, 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 $66,831 for court reportersin the Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest 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