Court Reporter Salary in Richmond, VA: $79,175 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Richmond, VA earns a median $79,175/year (≈ $38.07/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Richmond's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.2), that paycheck buys what $76,720 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% above the Virginia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Richmond, Virginia, can anticipate a median annual salary of $79,175 in 2026, a figure that represents a notable 5.87% increase compared to the national median of $74,788. The salary spectrum for this profession in the city ranges from $46,361 at the entry-level (P10) to $122,721 for those in top positions (P90), allowing for a significant variance based on expertise and specific roles. These estimates, derived from BLS state-level data supplemented by regional price parity considerations, reflect Richmond's unique economic position. As the demand for skilled court reporters continues to grow, professionals with realtime and CART certification may find themselves commanding even higher rates within the local job market, especially with the increasing need for communication access services in various sectors.
About the Richmond Market
Salary estimated from Virginia average ($64,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,361 | $22.29 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,934 | $28.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,175 | $38.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $101,344 | $48.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $122,721 | $59.00 |
Median Salary Position
5.87% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Richmond
In Richmond, VA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $76,360 (2026 est.). At $79,175, the local median is 5.87% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Richmond: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Richmond Court Reporter Pay Compares
Richmond median: $79,175/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Richmond Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $77,169 | +2.60% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +5.87% more |
Court Reporters in Richmond, VA earn a median of $79,175 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.87% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 2.60% above the Virginia state average of $77,169.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Richmond has a cost of living 3.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Richmond, VA has a cost-of-living index of 103.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $79,175 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $76,720 — a 3.1% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,657
2025 BLS Actual
$76,668
2026 Current Est.
$79,175
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Richmond (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,657 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,277 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,922 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,288 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,691 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,755 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,668 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,175 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,764 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Richmond metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $63,657 (2019) to $76,668 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,764 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,107 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Richmond 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) | $46,361 – $58,934 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,934 – $79,175 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,175 – $101,344 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $101,344 – $122,721 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Richmond
Richmond's court reporter job market currently employs 33 individuals, underscoring its relatively stable demand amid a national shortage of reporters, with NCRA estimating a gap of about 5,500 reporters nationwide. The local cost of living index stands at 103.2, which suggests that while salaries are competitive, take-home pay may be impacted by living expenses that are slightly above the national average. Freelance court reporting remains predominant, with pay varying widely based on the nature of the work; for instance, realtime captioning often commands rates between $150 and $300 per hour, while deposition services may pay $3 to $8 per page, depending on urgency. Those seeking to maximize their pay in Richmond should focus on obtaining specialized certifications like CRR or RMR, leveraging the realtime and CART specialties that are in high demand, and exploring opportunities across different sectors such as state, federal, and independent reporting firms.
More salary data for Richmond, 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 $76,668 for court reportersin the Richmond 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 Richmond 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