Entry-Level Court Reporter Salary in Sioux Falls, SD: $31,256 (2026)
Quick Answer:New court reporters entering the Sioux Falls, SD job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $31,256 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 27-3092, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Sioux Falls's local price level (BEA RPP 92.8 — 7% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $33,681 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($53,674) within a few years of clinical practice.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, new graduates looking to begin their careers as court reporters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, can expect an entry-level salary starting at $31,256. This figure falls significantly below the city’s median annual salary of $53,674, indicating a substantial gap that early-career professionals may need to bridge. However, aspiring court reporters can anticipate a growth trajectory over their first few years, moving from the initial pay level to $39,704 by reaching the 25th percentile, and potentially approaching the median salary as they gain experience. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.27%, Sioux Falls offers a reasonable market for new grads willing to establish themselves in the field, especially given the ongoing demand for court reporters as the workforce faces a significant shortage.
About the Sioux Falls Market
Salary estimated from South Dakota average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Career Earnings Timeline in Sioux Falls
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sioux Falls
Entry-level court reporters in Sioux Falls, SD typically start between $31,256 and $39,704 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $51,938 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $53,674 — 28.23% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average court reporting program cost in South Dakota of $18,000 represents just 57.59% of the starting court reporter pay ($31,256/year) in Sioux Falls. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates cover NCRA-approved court reporting programs at community colleges and vocational schools. Includes tuition and certification exam fees. Many states additionally require a state Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) license.
CR Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Sioux Falls
- 1Research the Sioux Falls market: entry-level court reporter pay ranges from $31,256 to $39,704, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the court reporting field — employers in SD often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Sioux Falls, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Sioux Falls for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Sioux Falls's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Court Reporter Compensation Range
The court reporter wage spread in Sioux Falls is $51,938 ( 166.17%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $31,256, experienced hygienists can earn up to $83,194.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$22,680
2025 BLS Actual
$30,266
2026 Current Est.
$31,256
2019–2027 Growth
+42.3%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Sioux Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22,680 | Actual |
| 2020 | $22,701 | Actual |
| 2021 | $24,670 | Actual |
| 2022 | $23,729 | Actual |
| 2023 | $25,783 | Actual |
| 2024 | $27,282 | Actual |
| 2025 | $30,266 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31,256 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32,278 | Projected |
Entry-level court reporter compensation (10th percentile) in Sioux Falls, SD grew 33.4% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $22,680 in 2019 to $30,266 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $32,278. New graduates entering the Sioux Falls job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sioux Falls metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.27% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your court reporting Career in Sioux Falls
Employment opportunities for entry-level court reporters in Sioux Falls primarily lie with freelance court reporting agencies such as Veritext, US Legal Support, and Esquire, which often provide structured mentorship for recent Colorado graduates. Official positions in state courts are also available through civil service exams, though these may require specific credentials such as the NCRA RPR certification. To enhance their starting pay, new graduates should consider completing a court reporting program designed to develop the skills necessary for realtime and CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) specialties, which regularly command higher wages. The industry context emphasizes a chronic shortage of reporters, with a projected gap of around 5,500, while competition with digital recording technology reshapes traditional pay structures. By strategically pursuing advanced credentials like the RMR or CRR, and focusing on realtime work, new professionals can realistically expect to see a meaningful increase in salary within their first few years in Sioux Falls.
More salary data for Sioux Falls, SD:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new court reporting graduates. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Sioux Falls. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Sioux Falls is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.27%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for court reporters (SOC 27-3092).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gomez, RPR, a licensed court reporter with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov