Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Clinton, IA: $30.51 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Clinton, IA runs $30.51 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $63,443 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Clinton's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.4, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.75 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,071 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporter hourly pay in Clinton, IA, averages around $30.51, significantly lower than the national median of $35.96 per hour. For part-time professionals working an average of three days a week, this hourly rate translates to a reliable income while allowing flexibility. In the context of per-diem work, court reporters can find themselves in diverse settings such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and broadcasting environments. The hourly earnings vary widely, with entry-level reporters starting at approximately $19.26, while experienced professionals can earn up to $47.28 per hour. This range reflects the competitive nature of court reporting in Clinton, with many reporters choosing freelance paths that provide varied earnings based on their level of expertise and workload.
About the Clinton Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.26 | $154.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.39 | $187.13 |
| Median (P50) | $30.51 | $244.05 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.05 | $312.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $47.28 | $378.22 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Clinton
Based on $30.51/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.51/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Clinton, IA can expect to earn approximately $63,452 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,607. With a cost-of-living index of 90.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Clinton.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Clinton
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,220.24 | $5,288 | $63,452 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $732.14 | $3,173 | $38,071 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $488.10 | $2,115 | $25,381 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Clinton) | $30.51 |
| 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 Clinton, IA earn a median of $63,443 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.17% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 6.20% below the Iowa state average of $67,636.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.51/hr = $38,071/year (purchasing power: $42,114).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $63,452/year (purchasing power: $70,191).
CoL index: 90.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.53/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.54/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.51/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Clinton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.53/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.15/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.63/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $25.93/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.08/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.65/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.54/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.51/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.50/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Clinton grew 20.4% from $24.53/hr (2019) to $29.54/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.50/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 Clinton 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 Clinton
Examining the economic landscape for court reporters reveals intriguing earning potentials. A part-time court reporter committing 24 hours a week could take home around $38,000 annually, which offers a steady stream of income compared to a full-time position. Additionally, per-diem court reporter pay in Clinton can be quite lucrative, with freelancers charging between $400 to $800 for half-day depositions, plus per-page fees for transcripts, and up to $300 per hour for real-time captioning services. Employer types influence earnings significantly; independent reporters often enjoy better pay rates than those employed by state or federal courts, yet they may miss out on benefits like health insurance. Negotiating better hourly rates is essential, especially for those moving between freelance work and agency contracts, where one must weigh the benefits of consistent pay against potential freelance flexibility and higher pay rates offered for specialized services, such as CART captioning.
More salary data for Clinton, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 Clinton. 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 Clinton 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