Court Reporter Salary

Orland Park vs Rockford: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between Orland Park, IL and Rockford, IL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Orland Park, IL
$73,634
$35.40/hr
Rockford, IL
$72,029
$34.63/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricOrland Park, ILRockford, IL
Median Salary$73,634$72,029
Hourly Rate$35.40$34.63
Entry Level (P10)$43,010$42,062
25th Percentile$54,241$53,207
75th Percentile$94,251$92,196
Top Earner (P90)$114,132$111,644
Total Employed934
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Orland Park ($73,634) and Rockford ($72,029) court reporter salaries.Orland ParkRockfordMedian Salary$73,634$72,029Entry Level (P10)$43,010$42,062Top Earner (P90)$114,132$111,644US Median $74,788

Verdict

Orland Park, IL offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Rockford.

The salary gap between Orland Park and Rockford is $1,605 (2.23%). Orland Park's median is -1.54% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Orland Park spans $71,122,Rockford spans $69,582. Orland Park has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Orland Park
P10 (Entry)$43,010
P25$54,241
Median$73,634
P75$94,251
P90 (Top)$114,132
Rockford
P10 (Entry)$42,062
P25$53,207
Median$72,029
P75$92,196
P90 (Top)$111,644

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Orland Park ($75,833 effective) pays 2.23% more than Rockford ($74,180 effective).

Orland Park
Nominal: $73,634
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $75,833
Rockford
Nominal: $72,029
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $74,180

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Orland Park if…

  • Higher median salary ($73,634/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($114,132)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $75,833)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Rockford if…

  • Larger job market (34 employed)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in Orland Park grew 0.6% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 0.6% growth in Rockford over the same period.

Orland Park, IL

+0.6%

$70,888 (2024) → $71,302 (2025)

Rockford, IL

+0.6%

$69,343 (2024) → $69,748 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: Orland Park or Rockford?

Orland Park has a higher median court reporter salary at $73,634/year, compared to Rockford at $72,029/year — a difference of $1,605 (2.23%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Orland Park and Rockford?

Orland Park court reporters earn $35.40/hr while Rockford hygienists earn $34.63/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Orland Park to Rockford as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Orland Park and Rockford. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Orland Park = $75,833, Rockford = $74,180), job availability (9 vs 34 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in Orland Park vs Rockford?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $43,010 in Orland Park and $42,062 in Rockford. The Orland Park 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