Court Reporter Salary

Kansas City vs Lee's Summit: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Kansas City, MO and Lee's Summit, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Kansas City, MO
$71,059
$34.16/hr
Lee's Summit, MO
$66,421
$31.93/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKansas City, MOLee's Summit, MO
Median Salary$71,059$66,421
Hourly Rate$34.16$31.93
Entry Level (P10)$41,214$38,787
25th Percentile$51,722$49,014
75th Percentile$90,956$85,019
Top Earner (P90)$110,142$102,953
Total Employed8920
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kansas City ($71,059) and Lee's Summit ($66,421) court reporter salaries.Kansas CityLee's SummitMedian Salary$71,059$66,421Entry Level (P10)$41,214$38,787Top Earner (P90)$110,142$102,953US Median $74,788

Verdict

Kansas City, MO offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Lee's Summit.

The salary gap between Kansas City and Lee's Summit is $4,638 (6.98%). Kansas City's median is -4.99% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Kansas City spans $68,928,Lee's Summit spans $64,166. Kansas City has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Kansas City
P10 (Entry)$41,214
P25$51,722
Median$71,059
P75$90,956
P90 (Top)$110,142
Lee's Summit
P10 (Entry)$38,787
P25$49,014
Median$66,421
P75$85,019
P90 (Top)$102,953

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Kansas City ($79,307 effective) pays 6.98% more than Lee's Summit ($74,131 effective).

Kansas City
Nominal: $71,059
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $79,307
Lee's Summit
Nominal: $66,421
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $74,131

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Kansas City if…

  • Higher median salary ($71,059/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($110,142)
  • Larger job market (89 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $79,307)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose Lee's Summit if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Kansas City grew 30.1% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 34.1% growth in Lee's Summit over the same period.

Kansas City, MO

+30.1%

$52,900 (2019) → $68,809 (2025)

Lee's Summit, MO

+34.1%

$47,959 (2024) → $64,318 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Kansas City or Lee's Summit?

Kansas City has a higher median court reporter salary at $71,059/year, compared to Lee's Summit at $66,421/year — a difference of $4,638 (6.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Kansas City and Lee's Summit?

Kansas City court reporters earn $34.16/hr while Lee's Summit hygienists earn $31.93/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kansas City to Lee's Summit as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kansas City and Lee's Summit. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kansas City = $79,307, Lee's Summit = $74,131), job availability (89 vs 20 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Kansas City vs Lee's Summit?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $41,214 in Kansas City and $38,787 in Lee's Summit. The Kansas City 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