Court Reporter Salary

Houston vs Little Elm: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

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

Houston, TX
$133,611
$64.23/hr
Little Elm, TX
$125,195
$60.19/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricHouston, TXLittle Elm, TX
Median Salary$133,611$125,195
Hourly Rate$64.23$60.19
Entry Level (P10)$59,267$72,613
25th Percentile$83,174$97,627
75th Percentile$141,903$160,250
Top Earner (P90)$141,903$194,053
Total Employed26012
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Houston ($133,611) and Little Elm ($125,195) court reporter salaries.HoustonLittle ElmMedian Salary$133,611$125,195Entry Level (P10)$59,267$72,613Top Earner (P90)$141,903$194,053US Median $74,788

Verdict

Houston, TX offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Little Elm.

The salary gap between Houston and Little Elm is $8,416 (6.72%). 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 Houston spans $82,636,Little Elm spans $121,440. Little Elm has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced court reporters.

Houston
P10 (Entry)$59,267
P25$83,174
Median$133,611
P75$141,903
P90 (Top)$141,903
Little Elm
P10 (Entry)$72,613
P25$97,627
Median$125,195
P75$160,250
P90 (Top)$194,053

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Houston ($135,468 effective) pays 3.88% more than Little Elm ($130,411 effective).

Houston
Nominal: $133,611
CoL Index: 98.629
Adjusted: $135,468
Little Elm
Nominal: $125,195
CoL Index: 96
Adjusted: $130,411

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Houston if…

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

Choose Little Elm if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($194,053)
  • You prefer the Texas area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Houston grew 119.8% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 91.4% growth in Little Elm over the same period.

Houston, TX

+119.8%

$58,870 (2019) → $129,380 (2025)

Little Elm, TX

+91.4%

$63,344 (2024) → $121,231 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Houston or Little Elm?

Houston has a higher median court reporter salary at $133,611/year, compared to Little Elm at $125,195/year — a difference of $8,416 (6.72%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Houston and Little Elm?

Houston court reporters earn $64.23/hr while Little Elm hygienists earn $60.19/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Houston to Little Elm as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Houston and Little Elm. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Houston = $135,468, Little Elm = $130,411), job availability (260 vs 12 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Houston vs Little Elm?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $59,267 in Houston and $72,613 in Little Elm. The Little Elm 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