Court Reporter Salary

Meridian vs Mountain Home: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Meridian, ID and Mountain Home, ID. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Meridian, ID
$71,539
$34.39/hr
Mountain Home, ID
$67,203
$32.31/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMeridian, IDMountain Home, ID
Median Salary$71,539$67,203
Hourly Rate$34.39$32.31
Entry Level (P10)$43,096$39,051
25th Percentile$53,844$53,461
75th Percentile$91,571$86,020
Top Earner (P90)$110,886$104,164
Total Employed304
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Meridian ($71,539) and Mountain Home ($67,203) court reporter salaries.MeridianMountain HomeMedian Salary$71,539$67,203Entry Level (P10)$43,096$39,051Top Earner (P90)$110,886$104,164US Median $74,788

Verdict

Meridian, ID offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Mountain Home.

The salary gap between Meridian and Mountain Home is $4,336 (6.45%). Meridian's median is -4.34% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Meridian spans $67,790,Mountain Home spans $65,113. Meridian has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Meridian
P10 (Entry)$43,096
P25$53,844
Median$71,539
P75$91,571
P90 (Top)$110,886
Mountain Home
P10 (Entry)$39,051
P25$53,461
Median$67,203
P75$86,020
P90 (Top)$104,164

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Meridian ($75,067 effective) pays 6.45% more than Mountain Home ($70,517 effective).

Meridian
Nominal: $71,539
CoL Index: 95.3
Adjusted: $75,067
Mountain Home
Nominal: $67,203
CoL Index: 95.3
Adjusted: $70,517

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Meridian if…

  • Higher median salary ($71,539/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($110,886)
  • Larger job market (30 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $75,067)
  • You prefer the Idaho area and lifestyle

Choose Mountain Home if…

  • You prefer the Idaho area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Meridian grew 39.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 39.3% growth in Mountain Home over the same period.

Meridian, ID

+39.3%

$49,741 (2024) → $69,274 (2025)

Mountain Home, ID

+39.3%

$46,726 (2024) → $65,075 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Meridian or Mountain Home?

Meridian has a higher median court reporter salary at $71,539/year, compared to Mountain Home at $67,203/year — a difference of $4,336 (6.45%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Meridian and Mountain Home?

Meridian court reporters earn $34.39/hr while Mountain Home hygienists earn $32.31/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Meridian to Mountain Home as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Meridian and Mountain Home. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Meridian = $75,067, Mountain Home = $70,517), job availability (30 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Meridian vs Mountain Home?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $43,096 in Meridian and $39,051 in Mountain Home. The Meridian 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