Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Aurora, IL: $34.48 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Aurora, IL runs $34.48 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $71,712 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Aurora's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.1, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.51 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,033 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Aurora, Illinois, the court reporter hourly pay stands at a median of $34.48, slightly below the national median of $35.96. This competitive rate allows for a rewarding livelihood for part-time court reporters working three days a week, which could lead to approximately $1,577 in weekly earnings assuming 24 hours of work. Per-diem workers in various environments, including deposition conference rooms and state courtrooms, can experience a wide hourly pay range, from $19.99 for entry-level positions up to $53.44 for seasoned professionals. This income flexibility is critical for court reporters, whose earnings are often contingent upon experience, specialization, and the nature of their work setting, whether they operate in official courtrooms, as freelance reporters, or in roles like CART services and broadcast captioning.
About the Aurora Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.99 | $159.94 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.83 | $198.61 |
| Median (P50) | $34.48 | $275.85 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.13 | $353.02 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $53.44 | $427.54 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Aurora
Based on $34.48/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.48/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Aurora, IL can expect to earn approximately $71,722 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,378. With a cost-of-living index of 97.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Aurora.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Aurora
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,379.27 | $5,977 | $71,722 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $827.56 | $3,586 | $43,033 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $551.71 | $2,391 | $28,689 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Aurora) | $34.48 |
| 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 Aurora, IL earn a median of $71,712 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.11% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.20% below the Illinois state average of $72,583.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.48/hr = $43,033/year (purchasing power: $44,319).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $71,722/year (purchasing power: $73,864).
CoL index: 97.1 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.72/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.39/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.48/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Aurora (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.72/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.43/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $27.84/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.31/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.48/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $33.19/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.39/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.48/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35.61/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Aurora grew 20.4% from $27.72/hr (2019) to $33.39/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $35.61/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 Aurora 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 Aurora
Part-time court reporters can expect to earn significantly less annually compared to their full-time counterparts, with a three-day work week yielding about $82,999 for 24 hours weekly—well below the potential for overtime and increased hours available in full-time positions. Additionally, the per diem court reporter pay in Aurora can range notably, with freelance deposition reporters charging between $400 and $800 for half-day sessions and realtime captioners securing $150 to $300 per hour. For those working in diverse contexts, such as independent reporting firms or the public court system, hourly rates can vary widely based on employment type, with trade-offs between job security, benefits, and pay rates. Understanding the unique dynamics of the court reporting market in Aurora can enhance negotiation outcomes for hourly workers. Court reporters can optimize their compensation by considering employment scenarios that align with their financial goals, balancing the benefits of steady pay against the allure of higher hourly rates in freelance arrangements.
More salary data for Aurora, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Aurora in 2026?
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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 Aurora. 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 Aurora 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