Court Reporter Salary

Dallas vs Sugar Land: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Dallas, TX and Sugar Land, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Dallas, TX
$130,089
$62.54/hr
Sugar Land, TX
$128,648
$61.85/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricDallas, TXSugar Land, TX
Median Salary$130,089$128,648
Hourly Rate$62.54$61.85
Entry Level (P10)$61,198$76,303
25th Percentile$68,530$95,824
75th Percentile$149,989$164,669
Top Earner (P90)$158,685$199,404
Total Employed22021
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Dallas ($130,089) and Sugar Land ($128,648) court reporter salaries.DallasSugar LandMedian Salary$130,089$128,648Entry Level (P10)$61,198$76,303Top Earner (P90)$158,685$199,404US Median $74,788

Verdict

Dallas, TX offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Sugar Land.

The salary gap between Dallas and Sugar Land is $1,441 (1.12%). Dallas's median is +73.94% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Dallas spans $97,487,Sugar Land spans $123,101. Sugar Land has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Dallas
P10 (Entry)$61,198
P25$68,530
Median$130,089
P75$149,989
P90 (Top)$158,685
Sugar Land
P10 (Entry)$76,303
P25$95,824
Median$128,648
P75$164,669
P90 (Top)$199,404

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Sugar Land ($134,008 effective) pays 6.20% more than Dallas ($126,190 effective).

Dallas
Nominal: $130,089
CoL Index: 103.09
Adjusted: $126,190
Sugar Land
Nominal: $128,648
CoL Index: 96
Adjusted: $134,008

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Dallas if…

  • Higher median salary ($130,089/year)
  • Larger job market (220 employed)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose Sugar Land if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($199,404)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $134,008)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Dallas grew 33.7% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 91.4% growth in Sugar Land over the same period.

Dallas, TX

+33.7%

$94,190 (2019) → $125,970 (2025)

Sugar Land, TX

+91.4%

$65,091 (2024) → $124,574 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Dallas or Sugar Land?

Dallas has a higher median court reporter salary at $130,089/year, compared to Sugar Land at $128,648/year — a difference of $1,441 (1.12%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Dallas and Sugar Land?

Dallas court reporters earn $62.54/hr while Sugar Land hygienists earn $61.85/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Dallas to Sugar Land as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Dallas and Sugar Land. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Dallas = $126,190, Sugar Land = $134,008), job availability (220 vs 21 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Dallas vs Sugar Land?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $61,198 in Dallas and $76,303 in Sugar Land. The Sugar Land 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