Court Reporter Salary

Birmingham vs Daphne: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

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

Birmingham, AL
$79,064
$38.01/hr
Daphne, AL
$64,290
$30.91/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBirmingham, ALDaphne, AL
Median Salary$79,064$64,290
Hourly Rate$38.01$30.91
Entry Level (P10)$60,000$37,288
25th Percentile$71,132$46,831
75th Percentile$87,026$82,291
Top Earner (P90)$89,070$99,649
Total Employed606
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Birmingham ($79,064) and Daphne ($64,290) court reporter salaries.BirminghamDaphneMedian Salary$79,064$64,290Entry Level (P10)$60,000$37,288Top Earner (P90)$89,070$99,649US Median $74,788

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Birmingham and Daphne is $14,774 (22.98%). 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 Birmingham spans $29,070,Daphne spans $62,361. Daphne has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Birmingham
P10 (Entry)$60,000
P25$71,132
Median$79,064
P75$87,026
P90 (Top)$89,070
Daphne
P10 (Entry)$37,288
P25$46,831
Median$64,290
P75$82,291
P90 (Top)$99,649

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Birmingham ($86,273 effective) pays 17.96% more than Daphne ($73,140 effective).

Birmingham
Nominal: $79,064
CoL Index: 91.644
Adjusted: $86,273
Daphne
Nominal: $64,290
CoL Index: 87.9
Adjusted: $73,140

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

Which City Is Right for You?

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

Choose Daphne if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($99,649)
  • You prefer the Alabama area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Birmingham grew 83.8% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 50.9% growth in Daphne over the same period.

Birmingham, AL

+83.8%

$41,660 (2019) → $76,560 (2025)

Daphne, AL

+50.9%

$41,262 (2024) → $62,254 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Birmingham or Daphne?

Birmingham has a higher median court reporter salary at $79,064/year, compared to Daphne at $64,290/year — a difference of $14,774 (22.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Birmingham and Daphne?

Birmingham court reporters earn $38.01/hr while Daphne hygienists earn $30.91/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Birmingham and Daphne. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Birmingham = $86,273, Daphne = $73,140), job availability (60 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $60,000 in Birmingham and $37,288 in Daphne. 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