Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Hobbs, NM: $26.84 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Hobbs, NM runs $26.84 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $55,832 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Hobbs's regional price level (BEA RPP 94.4, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $28.43 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $33,496 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Hobbs, New Mexico, earn a median hourly rate of $26.84, which is considerably lower than the national median of $35.96. This difference is significant for those working part-time or seeking per-diem opportunities, as many court reporters may only operate three days a week in various settings such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and remote CART live event venues. For these professionals, the hourly pay ranges from $15.57 at the entry-level (P10) to $41.61 for top earners (P90), showing a broad spectrum in the compensation based on experience and specific job roles. These figures provide valuable insight into what court reporter hourly pay in Hobbs can look like and highlight the financial viability of pursuing this profession in the local marketplace.
About the Hobbs Market
Salary estimated from New Mexico average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $15.57 | $124.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $20.99 | $167.96 |
| Median (P50) | $26.84 | $214.72 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $34.36 | $274.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $41.61 | $332.86 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Hobbs
Based on $26.84/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $26.84/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Hobbs, NM can expect to earn approximately $55,827 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $32,208. With a cost-of-living index of 94.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Hobbs.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Hobbs
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,073.59 | $4,652 | $55,827 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $644.16 | $2,791 | $33,496 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $429.44 | $1,861 | $22,331 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Hobbs) | $26.84 |
| 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 Hobbs, NM earn a median of $55,832 per year (2026 est.), which is 25.35% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.80% below the New Mexico state average of $57,440.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $26.84/hr = $33,496/year (purchasing power: $35,483).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $55,827/year (purchasing power: $59,139).
CoL index: 94.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$21.58/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$25.99/hr
2026 Current Est.
$26.84/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Hobbs (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.58/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $22.13/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $21.67/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.81/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.95/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.83/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $25.99/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $26.84/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $27.72/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Hobbs grew 20.4% from $21.58/hr (2019) to $25.99/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $27.72/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 Hobbs 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 Hobbs
Taking a closer look at earning potential, part-time court reporters working 24 hours a week can expect to take home around $33,292 annually, which falls significantly short of the annual earnings of those working full-time. Freelance court reporters, particularly those who serve as per diem workers in Hobbs, typically earn between $400 and $800 for a half-day deposition, plus additional fees for transcripts. In contrast, realtime and CART captioners can command hourly rates between $150 and $300, with rush transcript requests warranting a 50-100% premium on the per-page cost. Different employer types influence pay as freelance reporters generally earn differently than official court reporters or federal court employees. While some may choose lower hourly pay with the stability of health benefits, others might opt for higher rates without benefits. For those working in Hobbs, understanding these dynamics and honing negotiation skills can prove crucial for maximizing income within this specialized field.
More salary data for Hobbs, NM:
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 Hobbs. 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 Hobbs 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