Court Reporter Salary

Buffalo vs Oswego: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

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

Buffalo, NY
$102,878
$49.47/hr
Oswego, NY
$81,293
$39.09/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBuffalo, NYOswego, NY
Median Salary$102,878$81,293
Hourly Rate$49.47$39.09
Entry Level (P10)$53,659$53,415
25th Percentile$76,213$62,296
75th Percentile$123,335$104,055
Top Earner (P90)$136,760$126,004
Total Employed605
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Buffalo ($102,878) and Oswego ($81,293) court reporter salaries.BuffaloOswegoMedian Salary$102,878$81,293Entry Level (P10)$53,659$53,415Top Earner (P90)$136,760$126,004US Median $74,788

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Buffalo and Oswego is $21,585 (26.55%). Buffalo's median is +37.56% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Buffalo spans $83,101,Oswego spans $72,589. Buffalo has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Buffalo
P10 (Entry)$53,659
P25$76,213
Median$102,878
P75$123,335
P90 (Top)$136,760
Oswego
P10 (Entry)$53,415
P25$62,296
Median$81,293
P75$104,055
P90 (Top)$126,004

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Buffalo ($107,339 effective) pays 53.03% more than Oswego ($70,141 effective).

Buffalo
Nominal: $102,878
CoL Index: 95.844
Adjusted: $107,339
Oswego
Nominal: $81,293
CoL Index: 115.9
Adjusted: $70,141

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Buffalo if…

  • Higher median salary ($102,878/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($136,760)
  • Larger job market (60 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $107,339)
  • You prefer the New York area and lifestyle

Choose Oswego if…

  • You prefer the New York area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Buffalo grew 21.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to -11.7% growth in Oswego over the same period.

Buffalo, NY

+21.4%

$82,030 (2019) → $99,620 (2025)

Oswego, NY

+-11.7%

$89,132 (2024) → $78,719 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Buffalo or Oswego?

Buffalo has a higher median court reporter salary at $102,878/year, compared to Oswego at $81,293/year — a difference of $21,585 (26.55%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Buffalo and Oswego?

Buffalo court reporters earn $49.47/hr while Oswego hygienists earn $39.09/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Buffalo and Oswego. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Buffalo = $107,339, Oswego = $70,141), job availability (60 vs 5 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $53,659 in Buffalo and $53,415 in Oswego. The Buffalo 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