Court Reporter Salary

Baton Rouge vs Houma: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Baton Rouge, LA and Houma, LA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Baton Rouge, LA
$77,070
$37.05/hr
Houma, LA
$65,342
$31.41/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBaton Rouge, LAHouma, LA
Median Salary$77,070$65,342
Hourly Rate$37.05$31.41
Entry Level (P10)$30,196$41,581
25th Percentile$47,215$50,724
75th Percentile$81,780$83,637
Top Earner (P90)$100,544$101,280
Total Employed506
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Baton Rouge ($77,070) and Houma ($65,342) court reporter salaries.Baton RougeHoumaMedian Salary$77,070$65,342Entry Level (P10)$30,196$41,581Top Earner (P90)$100,544$101,280US Median $74,788

Verdict

Baton Rouge, LA offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Houma.

The salary gap between Baton Rouge and Houma is $11,728 (17.95%). Baton Rouge's median is +3.05% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Baton Rouge spans $70,348,Houma spans $59,699. Baton Rouge has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Baton Rouge
P10 (Entry)$30,196
P25$47,215
Median$77,070
P75$81,780
P90 (Top)$100,544
Houma
P10 (Entry)$41,581
P25$50,724
Median$65,342
P75$83,637
P90 (Top)$101,280

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Baton Rouge ($84,898 effective) pays 17.32% more than Houma ($72,361 effective).

Baton Rouge
Nominal: $77,070
CoL Index: 90.78
Adjusted: $84,898
Houma
Nominal: $65,342
CoL Index: 90.3
Adjusted: $72,361

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Baton Rouge if…

  • Higher median salary ($77,070/year)
  • Larger job market (50 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $84,898)
  • You prefer the Louisiana area and lifestyle

Choose Houma if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($101,280)
  • You prefer the Louisiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Baton Rouge grew 48.6% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 39.3% growth in Houma over the same period.

Baton Rouge, LA

+48.6%

$50,230 (2019) → $74,630 (2025)

Houma, LA

+39.3%

$45,433 (2024) → $63,273 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Baton Rouge or Houma?

Baton Rouge has a higher median court reporter salary at $77,070/year, compared to Houma at $65,342/year — a difference of $11,728 (17.95%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Baton Rouge and Houma?

Baton Rouge court reporters earn $37.05/hr while Houma hygienists earn $31.41/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Baton Rouge to Houma as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Baton Rouge and Houma. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Baton Rouge = $84,898, Houma = $72,361), job availability (50 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Baton Rouge vs Houma?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $30,196 in Baton Rouge and $41,581 in Houma. The Houma area offers higher starting salaries.
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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.

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