Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Louisville, KY: $35.01 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Louisville, KY runs $35.01 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $72,813 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Louisville's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.3, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $39.20 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,691 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the court reporter hourly pay in Louisville, Kentucky, is projected to be $35.01, which is slightly lower than the national median hourly rate of $35.96. This competitive rate allows court reporters to enjoy a solid income, whether they work part-time, freelance, or as per diem court reporters. For instance, a court reporter working three days a week can structure their schedule around various settings, including deposition conference rooms, federal and state courtrooms, or even as CART providers in educational contexts. Entry-level court reporters may start at around $20.30 per hour, while those with extensive experience and specializations, such as realtime and CART captioning, can earn as much as $54.26 hourly in Louisville.
About the Louisville 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) | $20.30 | $162.42 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.21 | $201.67 |
| Median (P50) | $35.01 | $280.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.81 | $358.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $54.26 | $434.06 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Louisville
Based on $35.01/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $35.01/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Louisville, KY can expect to earn approximately $72,818 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $42,010. With a cost-of-living index of 89.30 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Louisville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Louisville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,400.34 | $6,068 | $72,818 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $840.20 | $3,641 | $43,691 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $560.14 | $2,427 | $29,127 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Louisville) | $35.01 |
| 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 Louisville, KY earn a median of $72,813 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.64% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 9.00% above the Kentucky state average of $66,801.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $35.01/hr = $43,691/year (purchasing power: $48,926).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $72,818/year (purchasing power: $81,543).
CoL index: 89.3 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.15/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.90/hr
2026 Current Est.
$35.01/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Louisville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.15/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.86/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.26/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.75/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.40/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.90/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $35.01/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $36.15/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Louisville grew 20.4% from $28.15/hr (2019) to $33.90/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $36.15/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 Louisville 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 Louisville
For part-time court reporters, working just three days a week typically means earning significantly more than the average wage. For instance, at 24 hours per week, a court reporter can expect an annual take-home pay in the range of $43,000 to $49,000, depending on their specific hourly rate. Per diem court reporters frequently see higher earnings, especially in freelance deposition work, where fees can range from $400 to $800 for a half-day assignment, along with extra per-page transcript charges. Hourly pay may also differ among various employer types; freelance reporters affiliated with agencies like Veritext or Esquire often have the most flexibility, while official court reporters may have set salaries but receive consistent benefits. The ongoing court reporting shortage may motivate some professionals to accept lower rates in return for job security and health benefits, while others opt for freelance routes that provide larger paychecks but lack insurance. Negotiation skills are essential in maximizing hourly earnings, particularly when considering the balance of higher pay against the assurance of steady work.
More salary data for Louisville, 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 Louisville. 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 Louisville 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