Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Omaha, NE: $38.67 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Omaha, NE runs $38.67 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $80,447 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Omaha's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.9, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $42.08 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $48,266 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Omaha, Nebraska, the court reporter hourly pay stands at a median of $38.67, surpassing the national hourly median of $35.96. This competitive rate is beneficial for part-time workers, particularly those operating three days a week or taking on per-diem work. Freelancers often report in deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, home studios for broadcast captioning, and venues requiring CART services. The hourly salary range extends from $31.91 for entry-level positions to $46.57 for top earners. These figures are derived from the official BLS estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected for 2026, highlighting Omaha's market as robust for this profession.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31.91 | $255.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $35.03 | $280.23 |
| Median (P50) | $38.67 | $309.40 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $43.23 | $345.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $46.57 | $372.60 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Omaha
Based on $38.67/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $38.67/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Omaha, NE can expect to earn approximately $80,443 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $46,410. With a cost-of-living index of 91.91 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Omaha.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Omaha
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,546.98 | $6,704 | $80,443 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $928.19 | $4,022 | $48,266 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $618.79 | $2,681 | $32,177 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Omaha) | $38.67 |
| 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 Omaha, NE earn a median of $80,447 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.57% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 17.60% above the Nebraska state average of $68,408.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $38.67/hr = $48,266/year (purchasing power: $52,514).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $80,443/year (purchasing power: $87,523).
CoL index: 91.911 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$31.09/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$37.45/hr
2026 Current Est.
$38.67/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Omaha (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $31.09/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $31.89/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $31.22/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $31.69/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $34.35/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $35.66/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $37.45/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38.67/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39.94/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Omaha grew 20.4% from $31.09/hr (2019) to $37.45/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $39.94/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 Omaha 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 Omaha
For those contemplating a part-time court reporting career, working 24 hours per week can yield significant annual earnings compared to full-time positions. Per diem court reporters in Omaha frequently command substantial fees, with half-day depositions generating $400-$800, and realtime or CART live captioning earning rates of $150-$300 per hour. Agency professionals can see varied hourly compensation based on the employer type, whether they are freelance reporters, official court reporters, or broadcast captioners. Some court reporters may choose lower hourly pay in exchange for benefits, such as health insurance, while others opt for higher hourly rates that lack these advantages. Negotiation may focus on not only hourly rates but also desired work schedules and benefit packages, allowing professionals to align their compensation with personal needs and market demand.
More salary data for Omaha, NE:
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 Omaha. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 4-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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