Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Kansas City, KS: $33.22 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Kansas City, KS runs $33.22 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $69,099 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Kansas City's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.9, 9% below national), each hour of work buys what $36.55 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $41,461 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Kansas City, the court reporter hourly pay stands at a median rate of $33.22, which is slightly below the national hourly median of $35.96. This figure offers insight into what court reporters can expect while working in various environments, such as freelance deposition settings, courtrooms at the state and federal levels, or through CART live event venues. For part-time workers who may typically work three days a week, this rate can translate into a reasonable income, especially when considering flexible work engagements. The hourly rate ranges from $19.27 for entry-level reporters to $51.49 for those at the top percentile, indicating a broad spectrum of earning potential within the local market based on expertise and experience. These hourly figures are estimates derived from annual compensation data, providing a realistic perspective on financial prospects for court reporters in the area.
About the Kansas City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.27 | $154.16 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.92 | $191.34 |
| Median (P50) | $33.22 | $265.78 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $42.53 | $340.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $51.49 | $411.92 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kansas City
Based on $33.22/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.22/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kansas City, KS can expect to earn approximately $69,102 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,866. With a cost-of-living index of 90.90 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Kansas City.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kansas City
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,328.88 | $5,758 | $69,102 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $797.33 | $3,455 | $41,461 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $531.55 | $2,303 | $27,641 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Kansas City) | $33.22 |
| 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 Kansas City, KS earn a median of $69,099 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.61% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.60% above the Kansas state average of $68,011.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.22/hr = $41,461/year (purchasing power: $45,612).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $69,102/year (purchasing power: $76,019).
CoL index: 90.9 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.71/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$32.17/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.22/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kansas City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.71/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.39/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.82/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.23/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.40/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.10/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $32.17/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.22/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.31/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Kansas City grew 20.4% from $26.71/hr (2019) to $32.17/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.31/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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City
Establishing a part-time career in court reporting, such as working a 24-hour weekly schedule, can yield significant earnings. When calculating potential income, a court reporter might expect to take home considerably less than their full-time counterparts, especially given the hourly pay range typical in this profession. Freelance deposition reporters often charge between $400 and $800 per half-day, plus fees for transcript pages, while real-time CART services can command up to $300 per hour. This indicates that while some may opt for stable positions with official court system employers for the sake of benefits, others may pursue agency work for higher hourly compensation without added perks. In the Kansas City market, hourly rates fluctuate by employer type and assignment, making negotiation skills crucial for those involved in freelance and per diem work. As competition from digital recording increases, understanding this dynamic can help reporters maximize their earning potential in a landscape that continues to evolve.
More salary data for Kansas City, KS:
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 Kansas City. 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 Kansas City 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