Court Reporter Salary in South Dakota: $52,022 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across South Dakota's 11 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $52,022/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because South Dakota sits at BEA RPP 92.8 (7% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $56,058 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Rapid City ($51,995), Sioux Falls ($51,974), Watertown ($49,423).
In 2026, the average median salary for court reporters in South Dakota is projected to be $52,022, which is significantly below the national median of $74,788, resulting in a salary difference of 30.4%. Rapid City offers the highest wage at $53,695, while Huron presents the lowest at $48,952, indicating a gap of $4,743. This disparity can largely be attributed to varying demand for court reporting services and local economic factors, with larger metro areas typically offering higher salaries due to increased court activity. To practice in South Dakota, court reporters must adhere to state licensing requirements and are expected to keep up with continuing education to maintain their credentials. The legal landscape and the growth of technology in legal proceedings are driving demand in this field. Employment data shows that there are currently 97 court reporters in the state, with a projected annual growth rate of 3.27% from 2025. The top cities for employment are Rapid City, Sioux Falls at $53,674, Watertown at $51,039, Yankton at $51,024, and Spearfish at $50,896. This indicates a positive job market outlook for court reporters in South Dakota as the need for their skills continues to expand.
South Dakota Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in South Dakota: $28,925 (lowest entry-level) to $83,227 (highest top earner)
South Dakota vs National Average
South Dakota court reporters earn 30.44% less than the national median ($-22,766/year difference).
South Dakota Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in South Dakota range from $31,001 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $80,634 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $52,022. The South Dakota median is $22,766 below the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $25.01/hr. Approximately 97 court reporters are employed across 11 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$41,826
2025 BLS Actual
$50,375
2026 Current Est.
$52,022
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in South Dakota (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $41,826 | Actual |
| 2020 | $42,890 | Actual |
| 2021 | $42,000 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,212 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,476 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,474 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,375 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $52,022 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,723 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the South Dakota metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $41,826 (2019) to $50,375 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,723 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,897 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the South Dakota 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in South Dakota
Lowest Paying Cities in South Dakota
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Huron | $48,952 |
| Vermillion | $49,027 |
| Brookings | $49,040 |
| Pierre | $49,870 |
| Aberdeen | $50,444 |
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in South Dakota
When adjusted for local cost of living, these South Dakota cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $53,695 | 92.8 | $57,861 |
| Sioux Falls | $53,674 | 92.8 | $57,838 |
| Watertown | $51,039 | 92.8 | $54,999 |
| Yankton | $51,024 | 92.8 | $54,983 |
| Spearfish | $50,896 | 92.8 | $54,845 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in South Dakota
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $31,001 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $52,022 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $80,634 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across South Dakota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 11 Cities in South Dakota
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | $53,695 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | $53,674 |
| 3 | Watertown | $51,039 |
| 4 | Yankton | $51,024 |
| 5 | Spearfish | $50,896 |
| 6 | Mitchell | $50,529 |
| 7 | Aberdeen | $50,444 |
| 8 | Pierre | $49,870 |
| 9 | Brookings | $49,040 |
| 10 | Vermillion | $49,027 |
| 11 | Huron | $48,952 |
More South Dakota Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore court reporter hourly pay in South Dakota cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in South Dakota in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for court reporters in South Dakota?
How does South Dakota court reporter pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level court reporter salary in South Dakota?
How many court reporters are employed in South Dakota?
Which South Dakota city offers the best value for court reporters?
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
Statewide 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. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 court reporter compensation across South Dakota. State averages are employment-weighted across 11 metro areas — larger metro areas with more court reporterscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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