Court Reporter Salary

St. Louis vs Wildwood: Court Reporter Salary (2026)

Compare court reporter salaries between St. Louis, MO and Wildwood, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Louis, MO
$78,805
$37.89/hr
Wildwood, MO
$66,478
$31.96/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Louis, MOWildwood, MO
Median Salary$78,805$66,478
Hourly Rate$37.89$31.96
Entry Level (P10)$33,170$39,803
25th Percentile$65,236$49,606
75th Percentile$92,561$85,091
Top Earner (P90)$106,564$103,041
Total Employed1305
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Louis ($78,805) and Wildwood ($66,478) court reporter salaries.St. LouisWildwoodMedian Salary$78,805$66,478Entry Level (P10)$33,170$39,803Top Earner (P90)$106,564$103,041US Median $74,788

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for court reporters, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Wildwood.

The salary gap between St. Louis and Wildwood is $12,327 (18.54%). St. Louis's median is +5.37% compared to the US national median of $74,788.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Louis spans $73,394,Wildwood spans $63,238. St. Louis has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$33,170
P25$65,236
Median$78,805
P75$92,561
P90 (Top)$106,564
Wildwood
P10 (Entry)$39,803
P25$49,606
Median$66,478
P75$85,091
P90 (Top)$103,041

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($82,876 effective) pays 11.70% more than Wildwood ($74,194 effective).

St. Louis
Nominal: $78,805
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $82,876
Wildwood
Nominal: $66,478
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $74,194

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($78,805/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($106,564)
  • Larger job market (130 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $82,876)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose Wildwood if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, court reporter salaries in St. Louis grew 32.0% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 34.1% growth in Wildwood over the same period.

St. Louis, MO

+32.0%

$57,830 (2019) → $76,310 (2025)

Wildwood, MO

+34.1%

$48,000 (2024) → $64,373 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays court reporters more: St. Louis or Wildwood?

St. Louis has a higher median court reporter salary at $78,805/year, compared to Wildwood at $66,478/year — a difference of $12,327 (18.54%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Louis and Wildwood?

St. Louis court reporters earn $37.89/hr while Wildwood hygienists earn $31.96/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Louis to Wildwood as a court reporter?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Louis and Wildwood. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Louis = $82,876, Wildwood = $74,194), job availability (130 vs 5 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level court reporters earn in St. Louis vs Wildwood?

Entry-level (10th percentile) court reporters earn $33,170 in St. Louis and $39,803 in Wildwood. The Wildwood 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