Court Reporter Salary

Cleveland vs Dayton: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Cleveland, OH and Dayton, OH. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Cleveland, OH
$68,385
$32.88/hr
Dayton, OH
$66,902
$32.17/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCleveland, OHDayton, OH
Median Salary$68,385$66,902
Hourly Rate$32.88$32.17
Entry Level (P10)$49,900$38,804
25th Percentile$61,239$48,981
75th Percentile$97,415$85,636
Top Earner (P90)$97,724$103,699
Total Employed5033
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cleveland ($68,385) and Dayton ($66,902) court reporter salaries.ClevelandDaytonMedian Salary$68,385$66,902Entry Level (P10)$49,900$38,804Top Earner (P90)$97,724$103,699US Median $74,788

Verdict

Cleveland, OH offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Dayton.

The salary gap between Cleveland and Dayton is $1,483 (2.22%). Cleveland's median is -8.56% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Cleveland spans $47,824,Dayton spans $64,895. Dayton has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Cleveland
P10 (Entry)$49,900
P25$61,239
Median$68,385
P75$97,415
P90 (Top)$97,724
Dayton
P10 (Entry)$38,804
P25$48,981
Median$66,902
P75$85,636
P90 (Top)$103,699

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Dayton ($73,762 effective) pays 1.31% more than Cleveland ($72,810 effective).

Cleveland
Nominal: $68,385
CoL Index: 93.923
Adjusted: $72,810
Dayton
Nominal: $66,902
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $73,762

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Cleveland if…

  • Higher median salary ($68,385/year)
  • Larger job market (50 employed)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Dayton if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($103,699)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $73,762)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Cleveland grew 59.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 18.5% growth in Dayton over the same period.

Cleveland, OH

+59.5%

$41,530 (2019) → $66,220 (2025)

Dayton, OH

+18.5%

$54,680 (2020) → $64,784 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Cleveland or Dayton?

Cleveland has a higher median court reporter salary at $68,385/year, compared to Dayton at $66,902/year — a difference of $1,483 (2.22%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cleveland and Dayton?

Cleveland court reporters earn $32.88/hr while Dayton hygienists earn $32.17/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Cleveland to Dayton as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cleveland and Dayton. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cleveland = $72,810, Dayton = $73,762), job availability (50 vs 33 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Cleveland vs Dayton?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $49,900 in Cleveland and $38,804 in Dayton. The Cleveland 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