Court Reporter Salary

Elizabethtown vs Lexington: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Elizabethtown, KY and Lexington, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Elizabethtown, KY
$65,267
$31.37/hr
Lexington, KY
$70,116
$33.71/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricElizabethtown, KYLexington, KY
Median Salary$65,267$70,116
Hourly Rate$31.37$33.71
Entry Level (P10)$37,855$41,475
25th Percentile$47,486$52,513
75th Percentile$83,541$89,749
Top Earner (P90)$101,163$108,680
Total Employed582
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Elizabethtown ($65,267) and Lexington ($70,116) court reporter salaries.ElizabethtownLexingtonMedian Salary$65,267$70,116Entry Level (P10)$37,855$41,475Top Earner (P90)$101,163$108,680US Median $74,788

Verdict

Lexington, KY offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Elizabethtown.

The salary gap between Elizabethtown and Lexington is $4,849 (7.43%). Lexington's median is -6.25% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Elizabethtown spans $63,308,Lexington spans $67,205. Lexington has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Elizabethtown
P10 (Entry)$37,855
P25$47,486
Median$65,267
P75$83,541
P90 (Top)$101,163
Lexington
P10 (Entry)$41,475
P25$52,513
Median$70,116
P75$89,749
P90 (Top)$108,680

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Lexington ($78,517 effective) pays 7.43% more than Elizabethtown ($73,087 effective).

Elizabethtown
Nominal: $65,267
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $73,087
Lexington
Nominal: $70,116
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $78,517

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Elizabethtown if…

  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Lexington if…

  • Higher median salary ($70,116/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($108,680)
  • Larger job market (82 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $78,517)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Elizabethtown grew 44.8% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 87.8% growth in Lexington over the same period.

Elizabethtown, KY

+44.8%

$43,634 (2024) → $63,200 (2025)

Lexington, KY

+87.8%

$36,160 (2022) → $67,896 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Elizabethtown or Lexington?

Lexington has a higher median court reporter salary at $70,116/year, compared to Elizabethtown at $65,267/year — a difference of $4,849 (7.43%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Elizabethtown and Lexington?

Elizabethtown court reporters earn $31.37/hr while Lexington hygienists earn $33.71/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Elizabethtown to Lexington as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Elizabethtown and Lexington. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Elizabethtown = $73,087, Lexington = $78,517), job availability (5 vs 82 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Elizabethtown vs Lexington?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $37,855 in Elizabethtown and $41,475 in Lexington. The Lexington 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