Court Reporter Salary

Aurora vs Oswego: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

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

Aurora, IL
$71,712
$34.48/hr
Oswego, IL
$69,937
$33.62/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAurora, ILOswego, IL
Median Salary$71,712$69,937
Hourly Rate$34.48$33.62
Entry Level (P10)$41,593$43,969
25th Percentile$51,633$53,896
75th Percentile$91,791$89,519
Top Earner (P90)$111,154$108,401
Total Employed447
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Aurora ($71,712) and Oswego ($69,937) court reporter salaries.AuroraOswegoMedian Salary$71,712$69,937Entry Level (P10)$41,593$43,969Top Earner (P90)$111,154$108,401US Median $74,788

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Aurora and Oswego is $1,775 (2.54%). Aurora's median is -4.11% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Aurora spans $69,561,Oswego spans $64,432. Aurora has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Aurora
P10 (Entry)$41,593
P25$51,633
Median$71,712
P75$91,791
P90 (Top)$111,154
Oswego
P10 (Entry)$43,969
P25$53,896
Median$69,937
P75$89,519
P90 (Top)$108,401

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Aurora ($73,854 effective) pays 2.54% more than Oswego ($72,026 effective).

Aurora
Nominal: $71,712
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $73,854
Oswego
Nominal: $69,937
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $72,026

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 ($71,712/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($111,154)
  • Larger job market (44 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $73,854)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Oswego if…

  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Aurora grew 0.6% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 0.6% growth in Oswego over the same period.

Aurora, IL

+0.6%

$69,038 (2024) → $69,441 (2025)

Oswego, IL

+0.6%

$67,329 (2024) → $67,722 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Aurora or Oswego?

Aurora has a higher median court reporter salary at $71,712/year, compared to Oswego at $69,937/year — a difference of $1,775 (2.54%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Aurora and Oswego?

Aurora court reporters earn $34.48/hr while Oswego hygienists earn $33.62/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Aurora and Oswego. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Aurora = $73,854, Oswego = $72,026), job availability (44 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $41,593 in Aurora and $43,969 in Oswego. The Oswego 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