Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Gastonia, NC: $31.02 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Gastonia, NC runs $31.02 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,522 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Gastonia's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.14 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,716 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Gastonia, North Carolina, the court reporter hourly pay is set at a median of $31.02, which is notably lower than the national median of $35.96. This discrepancy means that those working part-time, such as those committing to three days a week, may find their financial landscape constrained compared to their counterparts in other regions. For freelance positions, which are common in settings like deposition conference rooms or CART services, there is a significant hourly range where entry-level reporters might earn around $18.31, while highly experienced professionals can command as much as $48.08 per hour. These estimates are derived from annual salary data, illustrating how this profession can adapt to diverse work environments—whether it’s a courtroom setting or providing live captioning from home studios.
About the Gastonia 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) | $18.31 | $146.48 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.02 | $184.15 |
| Median (P50) | $31.02 | $248.18 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.71 | $317.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48.08 | $384.66 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Gastonia
Based on $31.02/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $31.02/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Gastonia, NC can expect to earn approximately $64,526 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,227. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Gastonia.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Gastonia
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,240.89 | $5,377 | $64,526 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $744.54 | $3,226 | $38,716 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $496.36 | $2,151 | $25,811 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Gastonia) | $31.02 |
| 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 Gastonia, NC earn a median of $64,522 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.73% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 7.80% below the North Carolina state average of $69,981.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $31.02/hr = $38,716/year (purchasing power: $41,363).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,526/year (purchasing power: $68,938).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$24.94/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.04/hr
2026 Current Est.
$31.02/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Gastonia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24.94/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $25.58/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $25.05/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $26.36/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.52/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $23.98/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.04/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $31.02/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.04/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Gastonia grew 20.4% from $24.94/hr (2019) to $30.04/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.04/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 Gastonia 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 Gastonia
Beyond the hourly rate, part-time court reporters in Gastonia typically bring home a modest annual income. For those working a 24-hour week, the overall earnings can fall considerably short of full-time counterparts. Freelance and per-diem court reporters often navigate variable pay structures. For instance, half-day depositions can yield anywhere from $400 to $800, with additional per-page fees potentially boosting income further, particularly for rush transcripts. Rates can vary widely depending on the employer type, where independent reporters often book through firms like Veritext, while official court reporters and broadcast captioners may have steadier but less flexible roles. Some reporters may choose to accept lower hourly rates in exchange for employer-sponsored health insurance, weighing the pros and cons of benefits versus paycheck size. Negotiating effectively is key in Gastonia’s market; being knowledgeable about typical pay rates and individual value can lead to better opportunities, especially given the ongoing shortage of court reporters as projected by the NCRA.
More salary data for Gastonia, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Gastonia in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Gastonia?
Are court reporters in Gastonia paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time court reporter make per year in Gastonia?
Do court reporters earn more per hour working part-time in Gastonia?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 Gastonia. 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 Gastonia 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