Court Reporter Salary in Radford, VA: $73,818 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Radford, VA earns a median $73,818/year (≈ $35.49/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Radford's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.2), that paycheck buys what $71,529 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.4% below the Virginia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Radford, Virginia, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $73,818, slightly below the national median of $74,788. The compensation range for this occupation reflects significant variability, with salaries from $44,705 at the lowest decile to as much as $114,419 at the top decile. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, adjusted for local economic conditions. The relatively modest pay level in Radford speaks to the local market dynamics, where the volume of work often dictates earnings, particularly through deposition contracts that favor more prolific reporters. Those who excel in obtaining higher per-page rates or are adept at realtime reporting can find financial opportunities beyond the standard pay scales.
About the Radford Market
Salary estimated from Virginia average ($64,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,705 | $21.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,372 | $28.07 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $73,818 | $35.49 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $94,488 | $45.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $114,419 | $55.01 |
Median Salary Position
1.3% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Radford
In Radford, VA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,714 (2026 est.). At $73,818, the local median is 1.3% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Radford: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Radford Court Reporter Pay Compares
Radford median: $73,818/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Radford Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $77,216 | -4.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -1.30% less |
Court Reporters in Radford, VA earn a median of $73,818 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.30% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 4.40% below the Virginia state average of $77,216.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Radford has a cost of living 3.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Radford, VA has a cost-of-living index of 103.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $73,818 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $71,529 — a 3.1% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,350
2025 BLS Actual
$71,481
2026 Current Est.
$73,818
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Radford (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,350 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,861 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,597 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,736 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,111 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,170 | Actual |
| 2025 | $71,481 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,818 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,232 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Radford metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $59,350 (2019) to $71,481 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,232 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,882 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Radford 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) | $44,705 – $58,372 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,372 – $73,818 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $73,818 – $94,488 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $94,488 – $114,419 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Radford
While Radford has only six court reporters employed, the local job market illustrates both opportunity and challenge. The cost-of-living index at 103.2 indicates that living expenses are slightly above the national average, impacting take-home pay after accounting for daily costs. Employers vary in their pay structure; freelance reporters typically earn more per project, especially when booked through agencies like Veritext and Esquire. In contrast, official court reporters within the state system often have fixed salary scales that may not keep pace with freelance opportunities. The significant disparity in earnings can be attributed to various factors, including the rush fees for expedited transcripts and the specialized skills associated with realtime captioning. For those looking to maximize their income in Radford, actively pursuing certifications like RPR or CRR and expanding into CART or broadcast captioning can enhance market appeal and open higher-paying avenues.
More salary data for Radford, VA:
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 $71,481 for court reportersin the Radford 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 Radford 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