Court Reporter Salary

Houma vs New Orleans: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Houma, LA and New Orleans, LA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Houma, LA
$65,342
$31.41/hr
New Orleans, LA
$78,465
$37.72/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHouma, LANew Orleans, LA
Median Salary$65,342$78,465
Hourly Rate$31.41$37.72
Entry Level (P10)$41,581$41,577
25th Percentile$50,724$61,931
75th Percentile$83,637$86,644
Top Earner (P90)$101,280$111,232
Total Employed690
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Houma ($65,342) and New Orleans ($78,465) court reporter salaries.HoumaNew OrleansMedian Salary$65,342$78,465Entry Level (P10)$41,581$41,577Top Earner (P90)$101,280$111,232US Median $74,788

Verdict

New Orleans, LA offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Houma.

The salary gap between Houma and New Orleans is $13,123 (20.08%). New Orleans's median is +4.92% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Houma spans $59,699,New Orleans spans $69,655. New Orleans has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Houma
P10 (Entry)$41,581
P25$50,724
Median$65,342
P75$83,637
P90 (Top)$101,280
New Orleans
P10 (Entry)$41,577
P25$61,931
Median$78,465
P75$86,644
P90 (Top)$111,232

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, New Orleans ($84,738 effective) pays 17.10% more than Houma ($72,361 effective).

Houma
Nominal: $65,342
CoL Index: 90.3
Adjusted: $72,361
New Orleans
Nominal: $78,465
CoL Index: 92.597
Adjusted: $84,738

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Houma if…

  • You prefer the Louisiana area and lifestyle

Choose New Orleans if…

  • Higher median salary ($78,465/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($111,232)
  • Larger job market (90 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $84,738)
  • You prefer the Louisiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Houma grew 39.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 32.8% growth in New Orleans over the same period.

Houma, LA

+39.3%

$45,433 (2024) → $63,273 (2025)

New Orleans, LA

+32.8%

$57,230 (2019) → $75,980 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Houma or New Orleans?

New Orleans has a higher median court reporter salary at $78,465/year, compared to Houma at $65,342/year — a difference of $13,123 (20.08%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Houma and New Orleans?

Houma court reporters earn $31.41/hr while New Orleans hygienists earn $37.72/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Houma to New Orleans as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Houma and New Orleans. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Houma = $72,361, New Orleans = $84,738), job availability (6 vs 90 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Houma vs New Orleans?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $41,581 in Houma and $41,577 in New Orleans. The Houma area offers higher starting salaries.
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