Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Garden Grove, CA: $62.57 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Garden Grove, CA runs $62.57 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $130,142 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Garden Grove's regional price level (BEA RPP 113.1, 13% above national), each hour of work buys what $55.32 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $78,089 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Garden Grove, California, court reporters are projected to earn an impressive median hourly rate of $62.57 in 2026, significantly higher than the national median of $35.96. This premium reflects the demand for skilled reporting in various settings, including deposition conference rooms, federal and state courtrooms, and even broadcast captioning and CART services in educational contexts. For part-time or per-diem court reporters, who might work just three days a week, this hourly rate translates into a substantial income, with earnings readily varying from $36.29 for entry-level positions to $96.98 for more experienced professionals. The hourly figures presented here are derived from annual salary estimates, indicating a robust job market for court reporters in Garden Grove.
About the Garden Grove Market
Salary estimated from California average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36.29 | $290.31 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45.05 | $360.37 |
| Median (P50) | $62.57 | $500.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80.09 | $640.69 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96.98 | $775.85 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Garden Grove
Based on $62.57/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $62.57/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Garden Grove, CA can expect to earn approximately $130,148 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $75,086. With a cost-of-living index of 113.10 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Garden Grove.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Garden Grove
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,502.85 | $10,846 | $130,148 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,501.71 | $6,507 | $78,089 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,001.14 | $4,338 | $52,059 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Garden Grove) | $62.57 |
| 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 Garden Grove, CA earn a median of $130,142 per year (2026 est.), which is 74.01% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 2.30% above the California state average of $127,216.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $62.57/hr = $78,089/year (purchasing power: $69,044).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $130,148/year (purchasing power: $115,074).
CoL index: 113.1 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$50.31/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$60.59/hr
2026 Current Est.
$62.57/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Garden Grove (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50.31/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $51.59/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $50.52/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $53.18/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $53.50/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $51.16/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $60.59/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62.57/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Garden Grove grew 20.4% from $50.31/hr (2019) to $60.59/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $64.62/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 Garden Grove 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 Garden Grove
Shifting the focus to part-time earnings, a court reporter working 24 hours a week could take home nearly $78,939 annually, which still allows for a comfortable lifestyle even outside of a full-time commitment. For per-diem opportunities, freelance deposition reporters often command fees anywhere from $400 to $800 for a half-day assignment, along with additional transcript fees that can greatly enhance their income. Those specializing in realtime or CART captioning earn between $150 and $300 per hour, with urgent transcripts often incurring a premium. The court reporting landscape in Garden Grove features varied types of employment, from independent reporting through agencies like Veritext and US Legal Support to official court and federal court reporter roles, as well as captioning opportunities in media. While freelance positions might pay on the higher end per hour, many court reporters weigh the benefits of salaried roles, such as health insurance, against potentially higher freelance rates that come without benefits. For court reporters seeking to negotiate pay in this local market, understanding the intricacies of each employment type compared to the typical per diem court reporter pay in Garden Grove can provide a far better foundation for compensation discussions.
More salary data for Garden Grove, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Garden Grove in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Garden Grove?
Are court reporters in Garden Grove paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time court reporter make per year in Garden Grove?
Do court reporters earn more per hour working part-time in Garden Grove?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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 Garden Grove. 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 Garden Grove 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