Court Reporter Salary in Wisconsin: $61,705 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Wisconsin's 46 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $61,705/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because Wisconsin sits at BEA RPP 93.4 (7% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $66,065 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Milwaukee ($65,248), Green Bay ($60,808), Madison ($60,538).
In 2026, court reporters in Wisconsin are projected to earn an average median salary of $61,705, which is significantly lower than the national median of $74,788, reflecting a 17.5% difference. The highest-paying city in the state is Milwaukee, where the average salary is $67,382, while Wisconsin Rapids offers the lowest at $56,243—an $11,139 gap. This difference can be attributed to the concentration of legal and corporate industries in urban areas like Milwaukee, which typically have a higher demand for court reporting services compared to smaller cities. Wisconsin's licensing requirements and scope of practice laws ensure that court reporters meet certain professional standards, influencing both job security and salary potential. The state is experiencing a projected annual growth rate of 3.27%, indicating a healthy demand for court reporters, driven by an increasing need for legal transcription in various sectors, including government and law firms. The total number of employed court reporters in Wisconsin is currently 536. The top five cities by salary include Green Bay at $62,796, Madison at $62,518, Eau Claire at $61,961, and Waukesha at $61,494. This strategic overview suggests that court reporting remains a viable career choice in Wisconsin, although compensation is lower than the national average.
Wisconsin Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in Wisconsin: $33,778 (lowest entry-level) to $104,441 (highest top earner)
Wisconsin vs National Average
Wisconsin court reporters earn 17.49% less than the national median ($-13,083/year difference).
Wisconsin Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in Wisconsin range from $36,471 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $95,643 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $61,705. The Wisconsin median is $13,083 below the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $29.67/hr. Approximately 536 court reporters are employed across 46 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$49,611
2025 BLS Actual
$59,751
2026 Current Est.
$61,705
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Wisconsin (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49,611 | Actual |
| 2020 | $50,874 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,817 | Actual |
| 2022 | $52,441 | Actual |
| 2023 | $52,755 | Actual |
| 2024 | $54,492 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,751 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,705 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,723 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wisconsin metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $49,611 (2019) to $59,751 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,723 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,112 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
Lowest Paying Cities in Wisconsin
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin Rapids | $56,243 |
| Middleton | $56,714 |
| Platteville | $57,323 |
| Mequon | $57,327 |
| River Falls | $57,802 |
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in Wisconsin
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Wisconsin cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $67,382 | 93.4 | $72,143 |
| Green Bay | $62,796 | 93.4 | $67,233 |
| Madison | $62,518 | 93.4 | $66,936 |
| Eau Claire | $61,961 | 93.4 | $66,339 |
| Waukesha | $61,494 | 93.4 | $65,839 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Wisconsin
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $36,471 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $61,705 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $95,643 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Wisconsin metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 46 Cities in Wisconsin
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee | $67,382 |
| 2 | Green Bay | $62,796 |
| 3 | Madison | $62,518 |
| 4 | Eau Claire | $61,961 |
| 5 | Waukesha | $61,494 |
| 6 | West Allis | $61,392 |
| 7 | Fitchburg | $60,985 |
| 8 | Greenfield | $60,980 |
| 9 | Kenosha | $60,838 |
| 10 | Appleton | $60,630 |
| 11 | Racine | $60,522 |
| 12 | Oshkosh | $60,469 |
| 13 | Menomonee Falls | $60,452 |
| 14 | Brookfield | $60,309 |
| 15 | West Bend | $60,276 |
| 16 | De Pere | $60,228 |
| 17 | New Berlin | $60,113 |
| 18 | Wausau | $59,643 |
| 19 | Beloit | $59,637 |
| 20 | Sun Prairie | $59,604 |
| 21 | Caledonia | $59,442 |
| 22 | Mount Pleasant | $59,414 |
| 23 | Janesville | $59,317 |
| 24 | Muskego | $59,314 |
| 25 | La Crosse | $59,294 |
| 26 | Stevens Point | $59,038 |
| 27 | Franklin | $58,971 |
| 28 | Oak Creek | $58,785 |
| 29 | Superior | $58,696 |
| 30 | Manitowoc | $58,667 |
| 31 | Sheboygan | $58,619 |
| 32 | Fond du Lac | $58,486 |
| 33 | Pewaukee | $58,449 |
| 34 | Onalaska | $58,434 |
| 35 | South Milwaukee | $58,277 |
| 36 | Pleasant Prairie | $58,268 |
| 37 | Menomonie | $58,208 |
| 38 | Whitewater | $58,204 |
| 39 | Wauwatosa | $58,152 |
| 40 | Germantown | $58,112 |
| 41 | Marshfield | $58,088 |
| 42 | River Falls | $57,802 |
| 43 | Mequon | $57,327 |
| 44 | Platteville | $57,323 |
| 45 | Middleton | $56,714 |
| 46 | Wisconsin Rapids | $56,243 |
More Wisconsin Salary Data
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Compare Cities in Wisconsin
View all comparisons →Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Wisconsin in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for court reporters in Wisconsin?
How does Wisconsin court reporter pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level court reporter salary in Wisconsin?
How many court reporters are employed in Wisconsin?
Which Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin. State averages are employment-weighted across 46 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