Court Reporter Salary

Milwaukee vs South Milwaukee: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Milwaukee, WI and South Milwaukee, WI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Milwaukee, WI
$67,382
$32.40/hr
South Milwaukee, WI
$58,277
$28.02/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMilwaukee, WISouth Milwaukee, WI
Median Salary$67,382$58,277
Hourly Rate$32.40$28.02
Entry Level (P10)$39,081$34,872
25th Percentile$48,515$43,302
75th Percentile$86,248$74,595
Top Earner (P90)$104,441$90,330
Total Employed1136
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Milwaukee ($67,382) and South Milwaukee ($58,277) court reporter salaries.MilwaukeeSouth MilwaukeeMedian Salary$67,382$58,277Entry Level (P10)$39,081$34,872Top Earner (P90)$104,441$90,330US Median $74,788

Verdict

Milwaukee, WI offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to South Milwaukee.

The salary gap between Milwaukee and South Milwaukee is $9,105 (15.62%). Milwaukee's median is -9.90% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Milwaukee spans $65,360,South Milwaukee spans $55,458. Milwaukee has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Milwaukee
P10 (Entry)$39,081
P25$48,515
Median$67,382
P75$86,248
P90 (Top)$104,441
South Milwaukee
P10 (Entry)$34,872
P25$43,302
Median$58,277
P75$74,595
P90 (Top)$90,330

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Milwaukee ($72,143 effective) pays 15.62% more than South Milwaukee ($62,395 effective).

Milwaukee
Nominal: $67,382
CoL Index: 93.4
Adjusted: $72,143
South Milwaukee
Nominal: $58,277
CoL Index: 93.4
Adjusted: $62,395

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Milwaukee if…

  • Higher median salary ($67,382/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($104,441)
  • Larger job market (113 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $72,143)
  • You prefer the Wisconsin area and lifestyle

Choose South Milwaukee if…

  • You prefer the Wisconsin area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Milwaukee grew 9.7% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 9.6% growth in South Milwaukee over the same period.

Milwaukee, WI

+9.7%

$59,505 (2024) → $65,248 (2025)

South Milwaukee, WI

+9.6%

$51,466 (2024) → $56,432 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Milwaukee or South Milwaukee?

Milwaukee has a higher median court reporter salary at $67,382/year, compared to South Milwaukee at $58,277/year — a difference of $9,105 (15.62%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Milwaukee and South Milwaukee?

Milwaukee court reporters earn $32.40/hr while South Milwaukee hygienists earn $28.02/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Milwaukee to South Milwaukee as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Milwaukee and South Milwaukee. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Milwaukee = $72,143, South Milwaukee = $62,395), job availability (113 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Milwaukee vs South Milwaukee?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $39,081 in Milwaukee and $34,872 in South Milwaukee. The Milwaukee 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