Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Daphne, AL: $30.91 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Daphne, AL runs $30.91 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,290 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Daphne's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.9, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.16 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,574 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Daphne, Alabama, court reporter hourly pay is projected to be around $30.91 in 2026, which is notably lower than the national median of $35.96. This discrepancy suggests that local court reporters may find more limited financial flexibility compared to their counterparts elsewhere. For part-time professionals working three days a week, effectively gathering 24 hours of work, this hourly rate translates into a significant income that can supplement other pursuits. Freelance and per-diem workers in various venues, like deposition conference rooms, state courts, and university classrooms, can earn anywhere from $17.93 at the entry level to $47.91 at the top end of the pay scale, according to the projected figures for 2026. This range reflects the varying demands and settings in which court reporting takes place, highlighting the potential for diverse earning opportunities across different types of employers in the industry.
About the Daphne Market
Salary estimated from Alabama average ($48,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17.93 | $143.42 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.51 | $180.10 |
| Median (P50) | $30.91 | $247.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.56 | $316.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $47.91 | $383.26 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Daphne
Based on $30.91/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.91/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Daphne, AL can expect to earn approximately $64,290 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,090. With a cost-of-living index of 87.90 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Daphne.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Daphne
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,236.35 | $5,358 | $64,290 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $741.81 | $3,215 | $38,574 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $494.54 | $2,143 | $25,716 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Daphne) | $30.91 |
| Paralegal (National Avg) | $29.95 |
| Medical Transcriptionist (National Avg) | $19.96 |
| Legal Secretary (National Avg) | $26.86 |
| Interpreter / Translator (National Avg) | $28.15 |
Court Reporters in Daphne, AL earn a median of $64,290 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.04% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.20% below the Alabama state average of $65,736.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.91/hr = $38,574/year (purchasing power: $43,884).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,290/year (purchasing power: $73,140).
CoL index: 87.9 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.85/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.93/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.91/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Daphne (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.85/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.48/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.95/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.27/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.43/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.84/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.93/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.91/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.92/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Daphne grew 20.4% from $24.85/hr (2019) to $29.93/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.92/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem court reporters can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Daphne 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.
Working as an Hourly Court Reporter in Daphne
Evaluating the earning potential for court reporters in Daphne also unveils a varied landscape depending on employment type. A part-time worker making $30.91 per hour across a three-day workweek would bring home about $38,600 annually, compared to full-time peers earning roughly $64,290. Freelance court reporters often benefit from per diem pay rates that vary by assignment; they can command between $400 and $800 for half-day depositions plus a fee for transcript pages. Realtime and CART captioning can yield even higher hourly rates, sometimes reaching between $150 and $300, while rush transcripts can attract premiums of 50% to 100%. Those in official and federal or court settings might earn less than freelancers due to pay structures and benefits. For court reporters in Daphne, negotiating for better rates, especially in freelance arrangements, can provide a significant advantage, given the ongoing shortage of reporters as noted by the NCRA. It's a trade-off between hourly rates and benefits that professionals often must weigh as they chart their career paths.
More salary data for Daphne, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Daphne in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Daphne?
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for court reporters in Daphne. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Daphne 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