Court Reporter Hourly Pay in St. Cloud, MN: $35.15 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in St. Cloud, MN runs $35.15 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $73,125 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against St. Cloud's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.5, 1% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.69 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,871 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, court reporters enjoy a median hourly pay of $35.15, which is slightly below the national median of $35.96. This hourly rate provides a solid foundation for various work scenarios, including part-time positions where reporters may work just three days a week or as per-diem freelancers covering depositions, court proceedings, or CART events. Those working in freelance settings, such as deposition conference rooms or university classrooms, can expect their earnings to fluctuate, with hourly rates ranging from $20.40 to $54.50 depending on their experience and the complexity of the work. The broad range allows both entry-level reporters to find a foothold in the industry and seasoned professionals to maximize their earning potential in St. Cloud's diverse legal environment.
About the St. Cloud Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($65,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.40 | $163.17 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $27.10 | $216.78 |
| Median (P50) | $35.15 | $281.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $45.01 | $360.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $54.50 | $435.96 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Cloud
Based on $35.15/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $35.15/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Cloud, MN can expect to earn approximately $73,118 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $42,184. With a cost-of-living index of 98.50 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Cloud.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Cloud
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,406.12 | $6,093 | $73,118 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $843.67 | $3,656 | $43,871 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $562.45 | $2,437 | $29,247 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (St. Cloud) | $35.15 |
| 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 St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $73,125 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.22% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.70% below the Minnesota state average of $73,641.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $35.15/hr = $43,871/year (purchasing power: $44,539).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $73,118/year (purchasing power: $74,232).
CoL index: 98.5 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.26/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$34.04/hr
2026 Current Est.
$35.15/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.26/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.98/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.38/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.88/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $30.05/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.56/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $34.04/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $35.15/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $36.30/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in St. Cloud grew 20.4% from $28.26/hr (2019) to $34.04/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $36.30/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 St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud
When considering part-time opportunities, a court reporter working three days a week, roughly totaling 24 hours, can take home around $43,000 annually depending on their hourly engagements. In the realm of freelance work, per-diem court reporter pay in St. Cloud can be particularly lucrative; many reporters charge between $400 and $800 for half-day depositions, not counting additional fees for transcript pages or rush jobs, which can fetch 50-100% premiums. Employers in St. Cloud vary from independent reporting firms to official state and federal court systems, each offering different pay scales that reflect job security and benefits versus higher freelance rates without healthcare packages. Therefore, court reporters must evaluate their priorities—whether they prefer higher hourly wages without benefits or the stability of a traditional employment model. For those interested in building a client base, effective negotiation tactics can play a significant role in securing favorable hourly rates, especially in a competitive market where skilled reporters can command premium rates for realtime services.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
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 St. Cloud. 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 St. Cloud 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