Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Durham, NC: $34.68 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Durham, NC runs $34.68 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $72,133 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Durham's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $37.05 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,278 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Durham, North Carolina, earn a median hourly rate of $34.68, which slightly trails the national median of $35.96. This hourly rate permits flexible employment arrangements, making it viable for those who choose to work part-time, such as three days a week, or opt for per-diem positions. For freelance work in settings like deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and CART live event venues, hourly earnings can vary significantly, with entry-level professionals starting around $20.12, while top earners can make up to $53.75. This breadth of hourly pay reflects the diverse nature of court reporting work, often derived from estimated annual salaries across various settings.
About the Durham Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.12 | $160.94 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.99 | $207.94 |
| Median (P50) | $34.68 | $277.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.39 | $355.08 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $53.75 | $430.02 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Durham
Based on $34.68/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.68/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Durham, NC can expect to earn approximately $72,130 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,614. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Durham.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Durham
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,387.12 | $6,011 | $72,130 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $832.27 | $3,607 | $43,278 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $554.85 | $2,404 | $28,852 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Durham) | $34.68 |
| 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 Durham, NC earn a median of $72,133 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.55% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.00% above the North Carolina state average of $70,032.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.68/hr = $43,278/year (purchasing power: $46,237).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $72,130/year (purchasing power: $77,062).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$27.88/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.58/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.68/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.88/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.59/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.00/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.47/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.65/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.50/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.58/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.68/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35.81/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Durham grew 20.4% from $27.88/hr (2019) to $33.58/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $35.81/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 Durham 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 Durham
Switching to the part-time earning potential in Durham, a court reporter working 24 hours a week could see an annual take-home amount significantly different from full-time earnings. Freelance deposition reporters generally expect to earn between $400 and $800 for a half-day's work, with added income from per-page transcript fees. Those specializing in realtime captioning or CART services command hourly rates ranging from $150 to $300. Each employer type influences compensation levels: independent contractors work through reporting firms, while official and federal court reporters might earn stable salaries but with different benefits. Negotiation tactics relevant to the Durham market may suggest accepting slightly lower hourly rates in exchange for health insurance benefits could appeal to some reporters. Understanding these nuances helps clarify the trade-offs involved in the varied court reporter hourly pay in Durham, NC, and aids in informed decisions for professionals in this essential field.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Durham in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Durham?
Are court reporters in Durham paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time court reporter make per year in Durham?
Do court reporters earn more per hour working part-time in Durham?
Related Pages
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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 Durham. 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 Durham 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