Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Los Alamos, NM: $25.45 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Los Alamos, NM runs $25.45 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $52,922 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Los Alamos's regional price level (BEA RPP 94.4, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $26.96 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $31,756 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Court reporter hourly pay in Los Alamos, NM, stands at a median rate of $25.45. This figure falls significantly below the national median hourly wage of $35.96, highlighting the regional disparities within the profession. For court reporters working part-time, potentially at just three days a week, this hourly pay structure provides a predictable income, allowing for flexible schedules in environments like deposition conference rooms or courtroom settings. Freelancers might operate under varying pay scales, with many earning between $15.98 and $39.44 per hour, depending on their experience and specific roles in the industry, whether it's in state and federal courts, broadcast captioning, or CART services for live events.
About the Los Alamos 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) | $15.98 | $127.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.53 | $156.23 |
| Median (P50) | $25.45 | $203.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $32.57 | $260.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39.44 | $315.51 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Los Alamos
Based on $25.45/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $25.45/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Los Alamos, NM can expect to earn approximately $52,927 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $30,535. With a cost-of-living index of 94.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Los Alamos.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Los Alamos
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,017.83 | $4,411 | $52,927 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $610.70 | $2,646 | $31,756 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $407.13 | $1,764 | $21,171 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Los Alamos) | $25.45 |
| 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 Los Alamos, NM earn a median of $52,922 per year (2026 est.), which is 29.24% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 7.80% below the New Mexico state average of $57,399.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $25.45/hr = $31,756/year (purchasing power: $33,640).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $52,927/year (purchasing power: $56,067).
CoL index: 94.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$20.46/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$24.64/hr
2026 Current Est.
$25.45/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Los Alamos (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20.46/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $20.98/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $20.54/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $21.63/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.75/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.59/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $24.64/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $25.45/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $26.28/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Los Alamos grew 20.4% from $20.46/hr (2019) to $24.64/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $26.28/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 Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos
Examining the earning potential in detail, a part-time court reporter working three days a week could expect an annual income around $19,058 based on the median hourly rate, considerably lower compared to their full-time counterparts. For those choosing the freelance route, per diem court reporter pay in Los Alamos can be lucrative, with rates for half-day depositions typically ranging from $400 to $800, plus additional fees for transcript pages. The variation in hourly pay also stems from the type of employer; independent reporters often rely on firms like Veritext or US Legal Support, whereas official court reporters are salaried state employees. Reporters specializing in realtime services can demand higher rates, particularly when filling CART roles for events or educational institutions. Court reporters in Los Alamos must weigh the trade-offs between higher hourly rates without benefits and lower rates tied to health insurance. Those negotiating their hourly pay should clearly understand their value in the local market, especially in a time when the demand for skilled reporters is growing to address the workforce gap in the industry.
More salary data for Los Alamos, NM:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Los Alamos 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 Los Alamos. 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 Los Alamos 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