Court Reporter Salary

El Paso vs Houston: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between El Paso, TX and Houston, TX. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

El Paso, TX
$109,477
$52.64/hr
Houston, TX
$133,611
$64.23/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricEl Paso, TXHouston, TX
Median Salary$109,477$133,611
Hourly Rate$52.64$64.23
Entry Level (P10)$88,131$59,267
25th Percentile$109,477$83,174
75th Percentile$114,289$141,903
Top Earner (P90)$130,213$141,903
Total Employed50260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing El Paso ($109,477) and Houston ($133,611) court reporter salaries.El PasoHoustonMedian Salary$109,477$133,611Entry Level (P10)$88,131$59,267Top Earner (P90)$130,213$141,903US Median $74,788

Verdict

Houston, TX offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to El Paso.

The salary gap between El Paso and Houston is $24,134 (22.04%). Houston's median is +78.65% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in El Paso spans $42,082,Houston spans $82,636. Houston has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

El Paso
P10 (Entry)$88,131
P25$109,477
Median$109,477
P75$114,289
P90 (Top)$130,213
Houston
P10 (Entry)$59,267
P25$83,174
Median$133,611
P75$141,903
P90 (Top)$141,903

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Houston ($135,468 effective) pays 11.26% more than El Paso ($121,760 effective).

El Paso
Nominal: $109,477
CoL Index: 89.912
Adjusted: $121,760
Houston
Nominal: $133,611
CoL Index: 98.629
Adjusted: $135,468

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose El Paso if…

  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Choose Houston if…

  • Higher median salary ($133,611/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($141,903)
  • Larger job market (260 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $135,468)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in El Paso grew 20.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 119.8% growth in Houston over the same period.

El Paso, TX

+20.9%

$87,680 (2019) → $106,010 (2025)

Houston, TX

+119.8%

$58,870 (2019) → $129,380 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: El Paso or Houston?

Houston has a higher median court reporter salary at $133,611/year, compared to El Paso at $109,477/year — a difference of $24,134 (22.04%).

What is the hourly rate difference between El Paso and Houston?

El Paso court reporters earn $52.64/hr while Houston hygienists earn $64.23/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from El Paso to Houston as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing El Paso and Houston. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: El Paso = $121,760, Houston = $135,468), job availability (50 vs 260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in El Paso vs Houston?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $88,131 in El Paso and $59,267 in Houston. The El Paso 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