Court Reporter Salary

Ontario vs San Francisco: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Ontario, CA and San Francisco, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Ontario, CA
$140,143
$67.37/hr
San Francisco, CA
$133,497
$64.18/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOntario, CASan Francisco, CA
Median Salary$140,143$133,497
Hourly Rate$67.37$64.18
Entry Level (P10)$81,283$64,916
25th Percentile$100,903$108,547
75th Percentile$179,382$142,430
Top Earner (P90)$217,221$146,602
Total Employed42260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Ontario ($140,143) and San Francisco ($133,497) court reporter salaries.OntarioSan FranciscoMedian Salary$140,143$133,497Entry Level (P10)$81,283$64,916Top Earner (P90)$217,221$146,602US Median $74,788

Verdict

Ontario, CA offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to San Francisco.

The salary gap between Ontario and San Francisco is $6,646 (4.98%). Ontario's median is +87.39% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Ontario spans $135,938,San Francisco spans $81,686. Ontario has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Ontario
P10 (Entry)$81,283
P25$100,903
Median$140,143
P75$179,382
P90 (Top)$217,221
San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$64,916
P25$108,547
Median$133,497
P75$142,430
P90 (Top)$146,602

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Ontario ($123,911 effective) pays 7.31% more than San Francisco ($115,469 effective).

Ontario
Nominal: $140,143
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $123,911
San Francisco
Nominal: $133,497
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $115,469

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Ontario if…

  • Higher median salary ($140,143/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($217,221)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $123,911)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose San Francisco if…

  • Larger job market (260 employed)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Ontario grew 27.4% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 8.6% growth in San Francisco over the same period.

Ontario, CA

+27.4%

$106,509 (2024) → $135,705 (2025)

San Francisco, CA

+8.6%

$118,980 (2019) → $129,270 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Ontario or San Francisco?

Ontario has a higher median court reporter salary at $140,143/year, compared to San Francisco at $133,497/year — a difference of $6,646 (4.98%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Ontario and San Francisco?

Ontario court reporters earn $67.37/hr while San Francisco hygienists earn $64.18/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Ontario to San Francisco as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Ontario and San Francisco. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Francisco = $115,469), job availability (42 vs 260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Ontario vs San Francisco?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $81,283 in Ontario and $64,916 in San Francisco. The Ontario 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