Court Reporter Salary

St. Cloud vs Tampa: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between St. Cloud, FL and Tampa, FL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Cloud, FL
$49,961
$24.02/hr
Tampa, FL
$63,480
$30.52/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Cloud, FLTampa, FL
Median Salary$49,961$63,480
Hourly Rate$24.02$30.52
Entry Level (P10)$30,181$46,802
25th Percentile$37,589$47,463
75th Percentile$63,950$78,496
Top Earner (P90)$77,439$92,292
Total Employed11140
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Cloud ($49,961) and Tampa ($63,480) court reporter salaries.St. CloudTampaMedian Salary$49,961$63,480Entry Level (P10)$30,181$46,802Top Earner (P90)$77,439$92,292US Median $74,788

Verdict

Tampa, FL offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Cloud.

The salary gap between St. Cloud and Tampa is $13,519 (27.06%). Tampa's median is -15.12% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Cloud spans $47,258,Tampa spans $45,490. St. Cloud has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Cloud
P10 (Entry)$30,181
P25$37,589
Median$49,961
P75$63,950
P90 (Top)$77,439
Tampa
P10 (Entry)$46,802
P25$47,463
Median$63,480
P75$78,496
P90 (Top)$92,292

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Tampa ($62,920 effective) pays 26.95% more than St. Cloud ($49,564 effective).

St. Cloud
Nominal: $49,961
CoL Index: 100.8
Adjusted: $49,564
Tampa
Nominal: $63,480
CoL Index: 100.89
Adjusted: $62,920

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Cloud if…

  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Choose Tampa if…

  • Higher median salary ($63,480/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($92,292)
  • Larger job market (140 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $62,920)
  • You prefer the Florida area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in St. Cloud grew -12.3% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 91.4% growth in Tampa over the same period.

St. Cloud, FL

+-12.3%

$55,175 (2024) → $48,379 (2025)

Tampa, FL

+91.4%

$32,120 (2019) → $61,470 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: St. Cloud or Tampa?

Tampa has a higher median court reporter salary at $63,480/year, compared to St. Cloud at $49,961/year — a difference of $13,519 (27.06%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Cloud and Tampa?

St. Cloud court reporters earn $24.02/hr while Tampa hygienists earn $30.52/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Cloud to Tampa as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Cloud and Tampa. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Cloud = $49,564, Tampa = $62,920), job availability (11 vs 140 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in St. Cloud vs Tampa?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $30,181 in St. Cloud and $46,802 in Tampa. The Tampa 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