Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Little Rock, AR: $24.31 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Little Rock, AR runs $24.31 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $50,563 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Little Rock's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.9, 13% below national), each hour of work buys what $27.97 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,339 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Little Rock, Arkansas, earn a median hourly rate of $24.31, a figure that falls significantly below the national median of $35.96. For those working part-time, typically three days a week, this translates to a take-home pay of approximately $1,475 monthly before taxes, which highlights how per diem court reporter pay in Little Rock may not fully offset the lower local rates. With the hourly pay range spanning from $14.10 for entry-level positions to $37.68 for the most experienced professionals, opportunities across various settings—such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and live captioning venues—remain a critical consideration. These figures are estimates derived from annual salary data, indicating that while local court reporter hourly pay is more modest, there remains potential for decent income, particularly for those engaging in freelance work.
About the Little Rock Market
Salary estimated from Arkansas average ($45,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $14.10 | $112.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $17.50 | $140.03 |
| Median (P50) | $24.31 | $194.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.12 | $248.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $37.68 | $301.47 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Little Rock
Based on $24.31/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.31/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Little Rock, AR can expect to earn approximately $50,564 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,172. With a cost-of-living index of 86.90 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Little Rock.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Little Rock
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $972.39 | $4,214 | $50,564 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $583.43 | $2,528 | $30,339 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $388.96 | $1,685 | $20,226 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Little Rock) | $24.31 |
| 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 Little Rock, AR earn a median of $50,563 per year (2026 est.), which is 32.39% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 4.60% above the Arkansas state average of $48,339.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.31/hr = $30,339/year (purchasing power: $34,912).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $50,564/year (purchasing power: $58,187).
CoL index: 86.9 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$19.55/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.54/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.31/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Little Rock (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $19.55/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $20.04/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $19.63/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $20.66/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $20.78/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.67/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.54/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.31/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $25.10/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Little Rock grew 20.4% from $19.55/hr (2019) to $23.54/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $25.10/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 Little Rock 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 Little Rock
Part-time court reporters in Little Rock can expect to earn comparatively less annually than their full-time counterparts, with three days a week (24 hours) yielding an income that may not suffice for many expenses. Freelance deposition reporters often have the opportunity to enhance their earnings significantly, earning between $400 and $800 for half-day depositions, in addition to possible per-page transcript fees. For those specializing in realtime and CART live captioning, hourly earnings can range from $150 to $300, reflecting the premium associated with these skills. Variations in hourly rates may arise based on employment type; freelance court reporting is common and mainly accessed through agencies like Veritext or US Legal Support, while official court reporters may find themselves on stable payrolls but at lower hourly rates. Reporters sometimes weigh the trade-offs of accepting lower hourly pay for the benefits of health insurance, making it vital for workers to negotiate effectively based on their priorities. Those in the profession should keep abreast of the workforce dynamics as well since, with a reported shortfall of 5,500 court reporters in the market, the demand for skilled stenographic talent—especially against advancing digital recording technology—remains robust in the region.
More salary data for Little Rock, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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 Little Rock. 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 Little Rock 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