Court Reporter Hourly Pay in St. Charles, MO: $32.58 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in St. Charles, MO runs $32.58 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $67,760 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against St. Charles's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.6, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $36.36 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,662 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In St. Charles, Missouri, a court reporter earns a median hourly rate of $32.58, which is slightly lower than the national median of $35.96. This rate reflects the opportunities available for part-time and per-diem work in varied settings such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and CART services at universities. For those working part-time, such as three days a week, their earnings can be substantial, but they may not match the full-time potential of their counterparts. The hourly pay range spans from $18.90 at the low end to $50.50 for top earners, showing that a significant disparity exists between entry-level positions and experienced professionals in this specialized field. Given the average cost of living index in St. Charles stands at 89.6, court reporters benefit from relatively competitive pay while enjoying the local lifestyle.
About the St. Charles Market
Salary estimated from Missouri average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.90 | $151.19 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.89 | $191.09 |
| Median (P50) | $32.58 | $260.65 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $41.70 | $333.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50.50 | $403.99 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Charles
Based on $32.58/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.58/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Charles, MO can expect to earn approximately $67,770 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,098. With a cost-of-living index of 89.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Charles.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Charles
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,303.27 | $5,647 | $67,770 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $781.96 | $3,388 | $40,662 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $521.31 | $2,259 | $27,108 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (St. Charles) | $32.58 |
| 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. Charles, MO earn a median of $67,760 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.40% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.10% above the Missouri state average of $67,022.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.58/hr = $40,662/year (purchasing power: $45,382).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $67,770/year (purchasing power: $75,636).
CoL index: 89.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.20/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.55/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.58/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in St. Charles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.20/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.86/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.30/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.69/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.86/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.52/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.55/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.58/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $33.65/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in St. Charles grew 20.4% from $26.20/hr (2019) to $31.55/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $33.65/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. Charles 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. Charles
Looking at the practical earning potential for those in court reporter roles, a part-time professional working 24 hours a week can take home roughly $40,000 annually, significantly less than a full-time reporter's earnings. Freelance deposition reporters in St. Charles typically command payments of $400 to $800 per half-day deposition, along with additional per-page fees for transcripts. The scope for realtime and CART captioning allows for even higher hourly earnings, ranging from $150 to $300, with urgent transcript turnarounds often incurring a premium. Different employment types impact hourly pay; independent court reporters often earn more than state or federal court employees but may sacrifice benefits like health insurance for higher pay rates. Negotiating the best pay package is crucial, especially for those navigating the freelance market; understanding the typical pay scales for various roles can enhance a court reporter's ability to secure a favorable hourly rate in an evolving labor market in St. Charles, MO.
More salary data for St. Charles, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in St. Charles in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in St. Charles?
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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. Charles. 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. Charles 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