Court Reporter Salary

Cleveland vs Lorain: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

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

Cleveland, OH
$68,385
$32.88/hr
Lorain, OH
$68,565
$32.96/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCleveland, OHLorain, OH
Median Salary$68,385$68,565
Hourly Rate$32.88$32.96
Entry Level (P10)$49,900$39,768
25th Percentile$61,239$52,857
75th Percentile$97,415$87,763
Top Earner (P90)$97,724$106,276
Total Employed5012
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Cleveland ($68,385) and Lorain ($68,565) court reporter salaries.ClevelandLorainMedian Salary$68,385$68,565Entry Level (P10)$49,900$39,768Top Earner (P90)$97,724$106,276US Median $74,788

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Cleveland and Lorain is $180 (0.26%). Lorain's median is -8.32% 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,Lorain spans $66,508. Lorain 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
Lorain
P10 (Entry)$39,768
P25$52,857
Median$68,565
P75$87,763
P90 (Top)$106,276

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Lorain ($75,595 effective) pays 3.83% more than Cleveland ($72,810 effective).

Cleveland
Nominal: $68,385
CoL Index: 93.923
Adjusted: $72,810
Lorain
Nominal: $68,565
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $75,595

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Cleveland if…

  • Larger job market (50 employed)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Lorain if…

  • Higher median salary ($68,565/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($106,276)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $75,595)
  • 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 20.7% growth in Lorain over the same period.

Cleveland, OH

+59.5%

$41,530 (2019) → $66,220 (2025)

Lorain, OH

+20.7%

$55,007 (2024) → $66,394 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Cleveland or Lorain?

Lorain has a higher median court reporter salary at $68,565/year, compared to Cleveland at $68,385/year — a difference of $180 (0.26%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Cleveland and Lorain?

Cleveland court reporters earn $32.88/hr while Lorain hygienists earn $32.96/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Cleveland and Lorain. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Cleveland = $72,810, Lorain = $75,595), job availability (50 vs 12 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $49,900 in Cleveland and $39,768 in Lorain. 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