Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Carol Stream, IL: $33.85 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Carol Stream, IL runs $33.85 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $70,409 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Carol Stream's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.1, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $34.86 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $42,247 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Carol Stream, Illinois, the court reporter hourly pay stands at a median rate of $33.85, which is slightly lower than the national median of $35.96. This wage offers robust earning potential for those in flexible roles, like part-time court reporters working just three days a week. To put that into perspective, working 24 hours per week at this median rate can generate a substantial income, allowing individuals the freedom to juggle multiple roles or freelance opportunities. The hourly pay spans a range from $19.63 at the lower end to $52.47 for top earners in the field, making it an attractive career path for those considering various settings such as state and federal courtrooms, deposition conference rooms, and university classroom CART services.
About the Carol Stream 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) | $19.63 | $157.05 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26.36 | $210.92 |
| Median (P50) | $33.85 | $270.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $43.33 | $346.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $52.47 | $419.77 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Carol Stream
Based on $33.85/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.85/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Carol Stream, IL can expect to earn approximately $70,412 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $40,622. With a cost-of-living index of 97.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Carol Stream.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Carol Stream
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,354.08 | $5,868 | $70,412 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $812.45 | $3,521 | $42,247 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $541.63 | $2,347 | $28,165 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Carol Stream) | $33.85 |
| 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 Carol Stream, IL earn a median of $70,409 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.86% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.00% below the Illinois state average of $72,587.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.85/hr = $42,247/year (purchasing power: $43,509).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $70,412/year (purchasing power: $72,515).
CoL index: 97.1 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.22/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$32.78/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.85/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Carol Stream (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.22/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.91/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $27.33/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.77/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.94/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $32.59/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $32.78/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.85/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.96/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Carol Stream grew 20.4% from $27.22/hr (2019) to $32.78/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.96/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 Carol Stream 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 Carol Stream
Part-time court reporters in Carol Stream can expect to earn significantly less year-round compared to their full-time counterparts, particularly if they are working on a per-diem basis. For instance, freelance deposition reporters generally charge between $400 and $800 for a half-day deposition, alongside potential per-page transcript fees that can add up quickly. The real-time and CART live captioning opportunities can command higher hourly rates, typically ranging from $150 to $300. The type of employment significantly affects pay; independent reporters who work with firms, official state court reporters, and federal court employees each have distinct pay structures. Some court reporters may opt for lower hourly rates with benefits over higher pay without such protections. Those negotiating their pay in Carol Stream should emphasize unique qualifications, like NCRA certifications, or niche services such as realtime transcription, knowing that the demand for court reporters remains high amidst a workforce gap.
More salary data for Carol Stream, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Carol Stream in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Carol Stream?
Are court reporters in Carol Stream paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time court reporter make per year in Carol Stream?
Do court reporters earn more per hour working part-time in Carol Stream?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 Carol Stream. 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 Carol Stream 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