Court Reporter Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $32.31 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in St. Joseph, MO runs $32.31 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $67,202 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.6, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $36.06 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,327 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in St. Joseph, Missouri, earn a median hourly rate of $32.31, which falls below the national median of $35.96. This hourly wage can significantly affect those who work part-time or on a per-diem basis. For example, a court reporter working three days a week might expect to earn around $32,000 annually, taking into account that they typically engage in varied settings such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and CART live event venues. The hourly range for court reporters in St. Joseph is quite broad, starting from $18.74 at the entry-level to $50.08 for the most experienced professionals, suggesting opportunities for growth and specialization within the field.
About the St. Joseph 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) | $18.74 | $149.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.37 | $186.96 |
| Median (P50) | $32.31 | $258.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $41.36 | $330.88 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50.08 | $400.60 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $32.31/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.31/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $67,211 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $38,776. With a cost-of-living index of 89.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,292.53 | $5,601 | $67,211 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $775.52 | $3,361 | $40,327 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $517.01 | $2,240 | $26,885 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (St. Joseph) | $32.31 |
| 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. Joseph, MO earn a median of $67,202 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.14% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.30% above the Missouri state average of $67,001.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.31/hr = $40,327/year (purchasing power: $45,008).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $67,211/year (purchasing power: $75,013).
CoL index: 89.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$25.98/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.31/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $25.98/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.64/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.09/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.46/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.63/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.33/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.31/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $33.37/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in St. Joseph grew 20.4% from $25.98/hr (2019) to $31.29/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $33.37/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. Joseph 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. Joseph
Regarding the earnings for part-time court reporters, when working 24 hours a week, they may only receive approximately 70% of full-time reporter income, which can lead to a lower overall yearly take-home pay. Freelance deposition reporters, for instance, can command significant fees, with some earning between $400 and $800 for half-day assignments, plus additional per-page transcript fees. Meanwhile, realtime CART services can range from $150 to $300 per hour, presenting a lucrative option for those specializing in that area. In St. Joseph, hourly rates vary across different employment types, with freelance opportunities often providing higher pay at the cost of benefits, while official court reporters may receive health insurance but at a lower rate. Court reporters should not overlook the negotiation of rates, especially when dealing with agencies, as many organizations are open to discussions about hourly pay, especially considering the ongoing shortage of court reporters as identified by the NCRA's report on the profession's workforce gap.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in St. Joseph in 2026?
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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. Joseph. 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. Joseph 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