Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Shawnee, KS: $31.86 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Shawnee, KS runs $31.86 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $66,271 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Shawnee's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.9, 9% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.05 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $39,760 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Shawnee, Kansas, the court reporter hourly pay stands at a median rate of $31.86, which is notably lower than the national median of $35.96. This figure reflects the income potential for part-time court reporters working three days a week in various environments, such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and live captioning venues. With entry-level positions beginning at approximately $19.15 and experienced professionals earning up to $49.38, many court reporters in Shawnee find their hourly rates indicative of the demand for stenographic services in a market facing a reported shortage of professionals. These estimates stem from annual salary data, reinforcing the need for court reporting professionals, particularly those holding specialized credentials like RPR or CRR.
About the Shawnee 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) | $19.15 | $153.17 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.87 | $190.93 |
| Median (P50) | $31.86 | $254.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $40.78 | $326.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49.38 | $395.07 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Shawnee
Based on $31.86/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.86/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Shawnee, KS can expect to earn approximately $66,266 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $38,231. With a cost-of-living index of 90.90 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Shawnee.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Shawnee
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,274.35 | $5,522 | $66,266 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $764.61 | $3,313 | $39,760 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $509.74 | $2,209 | $26,507 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Shawnee) | $31.86 |
| 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 Shawnee, KS earn a median of $66,271 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.39% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.50% below the Kansas state average of $67,971.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.86/hr = $39,760/year (purchasing power: $43,740).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $66,266/year (purchasing power: $72,900).
CoL index: 90.9 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.61/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.85/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.86/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Shawnee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.61/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.27/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $25.72/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.08/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.24/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.15/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.85/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.86/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.90/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Shawnee grew 20.4% from $25.61/hr (2019) to $30.85/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.90/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 Shawnee 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 Shawnee
Freelance court reporters, a common choice in Shawnee, typically command per diem pay ranging from $400 to $800 for half-day depositions, supplemented by per-page transcript fees. A part-time court reporter working an average of 24 hours a week could anticipate a significantly lower yearly income compared to full-time peers, making contract work appealing for those focused on flexibility. Rates for realtime and CART captioning can go as high as $150 to $300 per hour, showcasing the lucrative opportunities available for specialized skills. The environment can vary considerably between independent court reporting agencies and official court positions, with the latter often providing benefits that can offset lower hourly rates. When negotiating, understanding the market value in Shawnee and the trade-offs between higher hourly rates without benefits versus lower rates with health insurance coverage is crucial. Building a reputation for expertise or niche services can greatly influence compensation potential in this evolving field.
More salary data for Shawnee, 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 Shawnee. 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 Shawnee 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