Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Bowling Green, KY: $31.83 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Bowling Green, KY runs $31.83 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $66,195 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Bowling Green's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.3, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.64 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $39,721 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Bowling Green, Kentucky, can expect a median hourly pay of $31.83, which is below the national median of $35.96. This difference reflects the local cost of living index of 89.3, suggesting that while the pay might be lower, expenses are also reduced in the area. Part-time court reporters working three days a week typically earn based on this hourly rate, translating to approximately $2,548.80 for a month of work, providing a flexible schedule for those balancing other commitments. On the other hand, per-diem court reporters might find more lucrative opportunities in freelance settings, such as deposition conference rooms or CART services, where rates can vary significantly. In Bowling Green, hourly rates range from $18.45 for entry-level positions to as high as $49.33 for experienced professionals, allowing for diverse earning potentials across various employment environments.
About the Bowling Green Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.45 | $147.63 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.47 | $195.80 |
| Median (P50) | $31.83 | $254.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $40.74 | $325.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49.33 | $394.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bowling Green
Based on $31.83/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.83/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bowling Green, KY can expect to earn approximately $66,202 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $38,193. With a cost-of-living index of 89.30 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bowling Green.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bowling Green
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,273.11 | $5,517 | $66,202 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $763.87 | $3,310 | $39,721 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $509.25 | $2,207 | $26,481 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Bowling Green) | $31.83 |
| 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 Bowling Green, KY earn a median of $66,195 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.49% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.90% below the Kentucky state average of $66,796.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.83/hr = $39,721/year (purchasing power: $44,481).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $66,202/year (purchasing power: $74,134).
CoL index: 89.3 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.59/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.82/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.83/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Bowling Green (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.59/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.24/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $25.70/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.05/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.21/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $21.28/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.82/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.83/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.87/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Bowling Green grew 20.4% from $25.59/hr (2019) to $30.82/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.87/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 Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green
Looking at the earning landscape, those taking on part-time roles may venture home with a notable annual income even if they don’t work full-time hours. A court reporter who works on a per diem basis can command impressive fees, often ranging from $150 to $300 per hour for CART live captioning services or up to $800 per half-day deposition, with additional earnings from per-page transcript fees that are commonly added. Employment types significantly affect what court reporters earn, as independent reporters working freelance typically earn more than those employed by state court systems. The trade-off for stability, such as health insurance benefits with full-time roles, often leads to lower hourly wages but provides more job security. Bartering for higher rates can be an effective strategy in Bowling Green, especially for those who possess advanced certifications like the RPR or are specialists in real-time reporting to maximize their income potential.
More salary data for Bowling Green, KY:
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 Bowling Green. 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 Bowling Green 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