Court Reporter Salary

Fayetteville vs Raleigh: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Fayetteville, NC and Raleigh, NC. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Fayetteville, NC
$71,234
$34.24/hr
Raleigh, NC
$73,858
$35.50/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricFayetteville, NCRaleigh, NC
Median Salary$71,234$73,858
Hourly Rate$34.24$35.50
Entry Level (P10)$41,315$42,837
25th Percentile$52,356$53,178
75th Percentile$91,179$94,537
Top Earner (P90)$110,412$114,479
Total Employed37104
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Fayetteville ($71,234) and Raleigh ($73,858) court reporter salaries.FayettevilleRaleighMedian Salary$71,234$73,858Entry Level (P10)$41,315$42,837Top Earner (P90)$110,412$114,479US Median $74,788

Verdict

Raleigh, NC offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Fayetteville.

The salary gap between Fayetteville and Raleigh is $2,624 (3.68%). Raleigh's median is -1.24% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Fayetteville spans $69,097,Raleigh spans $71,642. Raleigh has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Fayetteville
P10 (Entry)$41,315
P25$52,356
Median$71,234
P75$91,179
P90 (Top)$110,412
Raleigh
P10 (Entry)$42,837
P25$53,178
Median$73,858
P75$94,537
P90 (Top)$114,479

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Raleigh ($78,908 effective) pays 3.68% more than Fayetteville ($76,105 effective).

Fayetteville
Nominal: $71,234
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $76,105
Raleigh
Nominal: $73,858
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $78,908

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Fayetteville if…

  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Choose Raleigh if…

  • Higher median salary ($73,858/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($114,479)
  • Larger job market (104 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $78,908)
  • You prefer the North Carolina area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Fayetteville grew 31.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 16.0% growth in Raleigh over the same period.

Fayetteville, NC

+31.7%

$52,386 (2024) → $68,978 (2025)

Raleigh, NC

+16.0%

$61,640 (2019) → $71,519 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Fayetteville or Raleigh?

Raleigh has a higher median court reporter salary at $73,858/year, compared to Fayetteville at $71,234/year — a difference of $2,624 (3.68%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Fayetteville and Raleigh?

Fayetteville court reporters earn $34.24/hr while Raleigh hygienists earn $35.50/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Fayetteville to Raleigh as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Fayetteville and Raleigh. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Fayetteville = $76,105, Raleigh = $78,908), job availability (37 vs 104 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Fayetteville vs Raleigh?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $41,315 in Fayetteville and $42,837 in Raleigh. The Raleigh 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