Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Joliet, IL: $34.69 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Joliet, IL runs $34.69 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $72,152 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Joliet's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.1, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.72 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,291 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Joliet, Illinois, court reporters can expect a median hourly pay of $34.69, which is slightly below the national median of $35.96. This rate facilitates various employment scenarios, such as part-time work, where individuals might take on three days a week in deposition conference rooms or other settings like state and federal courtrooms and CART services. For part-time court reporters, this hourly wage allows for flexible income strategies while balancing other commitments, while the hourly pay range spans from $20.39 for entry-level positions to $53.76 for those at the top of their field. Given the 2026 projections, these figures reflect earnings based on annual salary estimates converted to hourly rates, illustrating the potential earning capabilities within Joliet's legal landscape.
About the Joliet 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) | $20.39 | $163.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.69 | $205.55 |
| Median (P50) | $34.69 | $277.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.41 | $355.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $53.76 | $430.10 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Joliet
Based on $34.69/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.69/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Joliet, IL can expect to earn approximately $72,152 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,626. With a cost-of-living index of 97.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Joliet.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Joliet
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,387.54 | $6,013 | $72,152 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $832.52 | $3,608 | $43,291 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $555.01 | $2,405 | $28,861 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Joliet) | $34.69 |
| 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 Joliet, IL earn a median of $72,152 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.52% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.60% below the Illinois state average of $72,587.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.69/hr = $43,291/year (purchasing power: $44,584).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $72,152/year (purchasing power: $74,307).
CoL index: 97.1 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.89/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.59/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.69/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Joliet (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.89/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.60/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.01/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.48/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.66/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $33.40/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.59/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.69/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35.82/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Joliet grew 20.4% from $27.89/hr (2019) to $33.59/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $35.82/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 Joliet 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 Joliet
For a court reporter working part-time at 24 hours a week, the annual income can be significantly different from that of full-time reporters. With the ability to earn on average between $400 to $800 during half-day depositions and $150 to $300 per hour for realtime or CART services, flexibility also brings varied earnings, especially for those engaged in per-diem work. Freelance reporters often find themselves balancing the benefits of agency representation with potential earnings from independent contracts, which might offer lower hourly rates when health insurance is involved. Understanding how hourly rates fluctuate based on the type of employer—whether freelance, state employees, or independent captioners—can empower Joliet court reporters to negotiate effectively. Many professionals find that higher compensation comes with trade-offs in benefits, emphasizing the importance of evaluating offers within the local market. Negotiating confidently while considering the growing demand for skilled reporters amid the nationwide shortage can also enhance job satisfaction and financial security.
More salary data for Joliet, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 Joliet. 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 Joliet 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