Court Reporter Salary

Aurora vs Lakewood: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Aurora, CO and Lakewood, CO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Aurora, CO
$83,831
$40.31/hr
Lakewood, CO
$78,586
$37.79/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAurora, COLakewood, CO
Median Salary$83,831$78,586
Hourly Rate$40.31$37.79
Entry Level (P10)$48,623$47,055
25th Percentile$60,641$58,872
75th Percentile$107,305$100,590
Top Earner (P90)$129,938$121,809
Total Employed5427
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Aurora ($83,831) and Lakewood ($78,586) court reporter salaries.AuroraLakewoodMedian Salary$83,831$78,586Entry Level (P10)$48,623$47,055Top Earner (P90)$129,938$121,809US Median $74,788

Verdict

Aurora, CO offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Lakewood.

The salary gap between Aurora and Lakewood is $5,245 (6.67%). Aurora's median is +12.09% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Aurora spans $81,315,Lakewood spans $74,754. Aurora has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Aurora
P10 (Entry)$48,623
P25$60,641
Median$83,831
P75$107,305
P90 (Top)$129,938
Lakewood
P10 (Entry)$47,055
P25$58,872
Median$78,586
P75$100,590
P90 (Top)$121,809

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Aurora ($79,839 effective) pays 6.67% more than Lakewood ($74,844 effective).

Aurora
Nominal: $83,831
CoL Index: 105
Adjusted: $79,839
Lakewood
Nominal: $78,586
CoL Index: 105
Adjusted: $74,844

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Aurora if…

  • Higher median salary ($83,831/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($129,938)
  • Larger job market (54 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $79,839)
  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Choose Lakewood if…

  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Aurora grew 10.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 6.5% growth in Lakewood over the same period.

Aurora, CO

+10.7%

$73,324 (2024) → $81,177 (2025)

Lakewood, CO

+6.5%

$71,453 (2024) → $76,098 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Aurora or Lakewood?

Aurora has a higher median court reporter salary at $83,831/year, compared to Lakewood at $78,586/year — a difference of $5,245 (6.67%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Aurora and Lakewood?

Aurora court reporters earn $40.31/hr while Lakewood hygienists earn $37.79/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Aurora to Lakewood as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Aurora and Lakewood. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Aurora = $79,839, Lakewood = $74,844), job availability (54 vs 27 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Aurora vs Lakewood?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $48,623 in Aurora and $47,055 in Lakewood. The Aurora area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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