Court Reporter Salary

Auburn vs Birmingham: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Auburn, AL and Birmingham, AL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Auburn, AL
$64,266
$30.90/hr
Birmingham, AL
$79,064
$38.01/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAuburn, ALBirmingham, AL
Median Salary$64,266$79,064
Hourly Rate$30.90$38.01
Entry Level (P10)$38,839$60,000
25th Percentile$48,364$71,132
75th Percentile$82,261$87,026
Top Earner (P90)$99,612$89,070
Total Employed1660
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Auburn ($64,266) and Birmingham ($79,064) court reporter salaries.AuburnBirminghamMedian Salary$64,266$79,064Entry Level (P10)$38,839$60,000Top Earner (P90)$99,612$89,070US Median $74,788

Verdict

Birmingham, AL offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Auburn.

The salary gap between Auburn and Birmingham is $14,798 (23.03%). Birmingham's median is +5.72% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Auburn spans $60,773,Birmingham spans $29,070. Auburn has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Auburn
P10 (Entry)$38,839
P25$48,364
Median$64,266
P75$82,261
P90 (Top)$99,612
Birmingham
P10 (Entry)$60,000
P25$71,132
Median$79,064
P75$87,026
P90 (Top)$89,070

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Birmingham ($86,273 effective) pays 18.00% more than Auburn ($73,113 effective).

Auburn
Nominal: $64,266
CoL Index: 87.9
Adjusted: $73,113
Birmingham
Nominal: $79,064
CoL Index: 91.644
Adjusted: $86,273

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Auburn if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($99,612)
  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Choose Birmingham if…

  • Higher median salary ($79,064/year)
  • Larger job market (60 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $86,273)
  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Auburn grew 50.9% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 83.8% growth in Birmingham over the same period.

Auburn, AL

+50.9%

$41,247 (2024) → $62,231 (2025)

Birmingham, AL

+83.8%

$41,660 (2019) → $76,560 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Auburn or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a higher median court reporter salary at $79,064/year, compared to Auburn at $64,266/year — a difference of $14,798 (23.03%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Auburn and Birmingham?

Auburn court reporters earn $30.90/hr while Birmingham hygienists earn $38.01/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Auburn to Birmingham as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Auburn and Birmingham. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Auburn = $73,113, Birmingham = $86,273), job availability (16 vs 60 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Auburn vs Birmingham?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $38,839 in Auburn and $60,000 in Birmingham. The Birmingham area offers higher starting salaries.
MG

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.

Clinically reviewed by John Patel, CCRData verified by Aisha Ali, RMR

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.27% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gomez, RPR, a licensed court reporter with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov