Court Reporter Salary in Wilkes-Barre, PA: $65,011 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Wilkes-Barre, PA earns a median $65,011/year (≈ $31.26/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Wilkes-Barre's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.4), that paycheck buys what $66,746 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, can expect a median annual salary of approximately $65,011. This figure reflects local market dynamics influenced by deposition volume and the per-page economics of generating transcripts. The salary range varies significantly, with earnings from $37,835 at the 10th percentile to $100,767 at the 90th percentile, indicating diverse compensation opportunities contingent upon experience and specialization. These estimates are derived from 2025 BLS data adjusted for regional price adjustments, highlighting the lower competitive positioning of Wilkes-Barre's court reporter pay when compared to the national median of $74,788. Given the economic context and demand for stenographic services, the job market for court reporters in Wilkes-Barre appears stable, albeit competitive.
About the Wilkes-Barre Market
Salary estimated from Pennsylvania average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,835 | $18.19 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,856 | $23.01 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,011 | $31.26 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $83,214 | $40.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $100,767 | $48.44 |
Median Salary Position
13.07% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wilkes-Barre
In Wilkes-Barre, PA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,932 (2026 est.). At $65,011, the local median is 13.07% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wilkes-Barre: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wilkes-Barre Court Reporter Pay Compares
Wilkes-Barre median: $65,011/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wilkes-Barre Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $66,068 | -1.60% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -13.07% less |
Court Reporters in Wilkes-Barre, PA earn a median of $65,011 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.07% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.60% below the Pennsylvania state average of $66,068.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wilkes-Barre has a cost of living 2.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wilkes-Barre, PA has a cost-of-living index of 97.4 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $65,011 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $66,746 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.67% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,269
2025 BLS Actual
$62,952
2026 Current Est.
$65,011
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Wilkes-Barre (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,269 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,599 | Actual |
| 2021 | $52,486 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,250 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,581 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,427 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,952 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,011 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,136 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $52,269 (2019) to $62,952 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,136 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,867 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wilkes-Barre 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) | $37,835 – $47,856 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,856 – $65,011 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,011 – $83,214 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $83,214 – $100,767 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Wilkes-Barre
The court reporting sector in Wilkes-Barre consists of a modest workforce of 11 employed practitioners, reflecting both a niche market and the ongoing national shortage of qualified reporters, which NCRA estimates at about 5,500. The cost-of-living index of 97.4 indicates that the area has a lower purchasing power compared to the national average, emphasizing the importance of maximizing income through strategic career choices. For those looking to optimize their court reporter pay in Wilkes-Barre, freelance positions often yield higher earnings, with rates fluctuating based on turnaround time and page volume. Official court reporters for the state or federal courts typically earn a stable salary, while realtime captioners command premium rates due to their specialized skills. Understanding how varying employers and the intricacies of per-page rates can affect overall compensation will be critical for court reporters seeking to enhance their earnings in this particular market.
More salary data for Wilkes-Barre, PA:
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 $62,952 for court reportersin the Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre 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