Court Reporter Salary

Garner vs Raleigh: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

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

Garner, NC
$67,154
$32.28/hr
Raleigh, NC
$73,858
$35.50/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricGarner, NCRaleigh, NC
Median Salary$67,154$73,858
Hourly Rate$32.28$35.50
Entry Level (P10)$41,794$42,837
25th Percentile$51,438$53,178
75th Percentile$85,958$94,537
Top Earner (P90)$104,089$114,479
Total Employed4104
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Garner ($67,154) and Raleigh ($73,858) court reporter salaries.GarnerRaleighMedian Salary$67,154$73,858Entry Level (P10)$41,794$42,837Top Earner (P90)$104,089$114,479US Median $74,788

Verdict

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

The salary gap between Garner and Raleigh is $6,704 (9.98%). 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 Garner spans $62,295,Raleigh spans $71,642. Raleigh has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Garner
P10 (Entry)$41,794
P25$51,438
Median$67,154
P75$85,958
P90 (Top)$104,089
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 9.98% more than Garner ($71,746 effective).

Garner
Nominal: $67,154
CoL Index: 93.6
Adjusted: $71,746
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 Garner 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 Garner grew 31.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 16.0% growth in Raleigh over the same period.

Garner, NC

+31.7%

$49,386 (2024) → $65,028 (2025)

Raleigh, NC

+16.0%

$61,640 (2019) → $71,519 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Garner or Raleigh?

Raleigh has a higher median court reporter salary at $73,858/year, compared to Garner at $67,154/year — a difference of $6,704 (9.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Garner and Raleigh?

Garner court reporters earn $32.28/hr while Raleigh hygienists earn $35.50/hr (2026 est.).

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

Consider more than just salary when comparing Garner and Raleigh. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Garner = $71,746, Raleigh = $78,908), job availability (4 vs 104 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

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

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $41,794 in Garner 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