Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Waukegan, IL: $34.97 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Waukegan, IL runs $34.97 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $72,725 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Waukegan's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.1, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $36.01 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,639 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Waukegan's court reporter hourly pay stands at a median of $34.97, slightly lower than the national hourly median of $35.96. This pay structure offers competitive compensation for both full-time professionals and those seeking part-time or per-diem opportunities, such as working three days a week in various settings like deposition conference rooms, federal courtrooms, or even home studios for broadcast captioning. With a range of earning potential from $20.28 for entry-level positions to $54.20 for top earners, court reporting in Waukegan can be lucrative, particularly for seasoned professionals. Many court reporters derive their hourly rates from estimates based on annual salary projections, which reflect the evolving demand for their skills in a climate where technology and traditional stenography coalesce.
About the Waukegan 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) | $20.28 | $162.26 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.23 | $201.83 |
| Median (P50) | $34.97 | $279.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.76 | $358.06 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $54.20 | $433.57 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Waukegan
Based on $34.97/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.97/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Waukegan, IL can expect to earn approximately $72,732 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,961. With a cost-of-living index of 97.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Waukegan.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Waukegan
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,398.69 | $6,061 | $72,732 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $839.21 | $3,637 | $43,639 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $559.48 | $2,424 | $29,093 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Waukegan) | $34.97 |
| 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 Waukegan, IL earn a median of $72,725 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.76% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.10% above the Illinois state average of $72,652.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.97/hr = $43,639/year (purchasing power: $44,942).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $72,732/year (purchasing power: $74,904).
CoL index: 97.1 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.11/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.86/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.97/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Waukegan (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.11/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.83/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.23/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.72/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.90/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $33.66/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.86/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.97/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $36.11/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Waukegan grew 20.4% from $28.11/hr (2019) to $33.86/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $36.11/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 Waukegan 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 Waukegan
Considering the earning dynamics for part-time court reporters in Waukegan, those working 24 hours a week would take home a significantly different annual income compared to full-time counterparts. Freelance deposition reporters are particularly well-compensated, typically earning between $400 and $800 for a half-day session, with additional per-page transcript fees amplifying their income. Rates can be even higher for realtime or CART captioning work, at around $150 to $300 per hour, emphasizing the financial advantages of specializing. Court reporter pay varies widely between employers, such as independent firms, state and federal court systems, and broadcast captioning agencies, making it crucial for reporters to navigate this terrain effectively. Some may opt for positions with lower hourly rates that offer health benefits, while others pursue higher pay with less job security. Negotiation skills prove essential in this context, particularly for hourly workers in Waukegan looking to maximize their compensation in a competitive market influenced by both demand for services and the push of digital recording technologies.
More salary data for Waukegan, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Waukegan in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Waukegan?
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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 Waukegan. 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 Waukegan 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