Court Reporter Salary in Tennessee: $59,120 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Tennessee's 30 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $59,120/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because Tennessee sits at BEA RPP 91.8 (8% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $64,401 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Nashville ($60,643), Memphis ($59,734), Knoxville ($56,301).
In 2026, the average median salary for court reporters in Tennessee is projected to be $59,120, which is significantly lower than the national median of $74,788, resulting in a gap of -20.9%. Among Tennessee cities, Nashville offers the highest salary at $62,626, while Tullahoma presents the lowest at $52,861, creating a salary difference of $9,765. This disparity is influenced by local demand for court reporting services, living costs, and the concentration of legal services in urban areas. Tennessee has specific state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that affect court reporting professionals. Those considering this career should be mindful of the state's regulations to ensure compliance and enhance employability. Demand drivers include the growing legal landscape and the increasing need for accurate transcription services in both courtrooms and various legal settings. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.27%, the job market for court reporters in Tennessee is expected to expand steadily. Major cities like Memphis and Knoxville also offer competitive salaries at $61,687 and $58,142, respectively. The overall outlook suggests that opportunities will continue to arise for qualified court reporters as the demand for their expertise persists across the state’s legal frameworks.
Tennessee Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in Tennessee: $31,505 (lowest entry-level) to $97,071 (highest top earner)
Tennessee vs National Average
Tennessee court reporters earn 20.95% less than the national median ($-15,668/year difference).
Tennessee Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in Tennessee range from $34,581 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $91,636 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $59,120. The Tennessee median is $15,668 below the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $28.42/hr. Approximately 647 court reporters are employed across 30 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$29,660
2025 BLS Actual
$57,248
2026 Current Est.
$59,120
2019–2027 Growth
+105.8%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Tennessee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,660 | Actual |
| 2020 | $28,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,730 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,244 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,545 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,226 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,248 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,120 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $61,053 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tennessee metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 93.0% from $29,660 (2019) to $57,248 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,053 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,393 (105.84%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tennessee 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 Tennessee
Lowest Paying Cities in Tennessee
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Tullahoma | $52,861 |
| Sevierville | $54,013 |
| Maryville | $54,325 |
| Cookeville | $54,361 |
| La Vergne | $54,640 |
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in Tennessee
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Tennessee cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $62,626 | 91.8 | $68,220 |
| Memphis | $61,687 | 91.8 | $67,197 |
| Knoxville | $58,142 | 91.8 | $63,336 |
| Chattanooga | $58,049 | 91.8 | $63,234 |
| Smyrna | $57,829 | 91.8 | $62,995 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Tennessee
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $34,581 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $59,120 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $91,636 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Tennessee metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 30 Cities in Tennessee
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $62,626 |
| 2 | Memphis | $61,687 |
| 3 | Knoxville | $58,142 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $58,049 |
| 5 | Smyrna | $57,829 |
| 6 | Jackson | $57,720 |
| 7 | Johnson City | $57,625 |
| 8 | Bartlett | $57,539 |
| 9 | Collierville | $57,340 |
| 10 | Spring Hill | $56,900 |
| 11 | Kingsport | $56,873 |
| 12 | Murfreesboro | $56,759 |
| 13 | Morristown | $56,652 |
| 14 | Clarksville | $56,580 |
| 15 | Lebanon | $56,137 |
| 16 | Oak Ridge | $56,132 |
| 17 | Franklin | $55,958 |
| 18 | Cleveland | $55,879 |
| 19 | Columbia | $55,754 |
| 20 | Germantown | $55,684 |
| 21 | Hendersonville | $55,573 |
| 22 | Gallatin | $55,476 |
| 23 | Brentwood | $55,186 |
| 24 | Shelbyville | $54,758 |
| 25 | Mount Juliet | $54,756 |
| 26 | La Vergne | $54,640 |
| 27 | Cookeville | $54,361 |
| 28 | Maryville | $54,325 |
| 29 | Sevierville | $54,013 |
| 30 | Tullahoma | $52,861 |
More Tennessee Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Compare Cities in Tennessee
View all comparisons →Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Tennessee in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for court reporters in Tennessee?
How does Tennessee court reporter pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level court reporter salary in Tennessee?
How many court reporters are employed in Tennessee?
Which Tennessee 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 Tennessee. State averages are employment-weighted across 30 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, 4-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