Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Kernersville, NC: $33.35 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Kernersville, NC runs $33.35 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $69,360 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Kernersville's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.63 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $41,616 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Kernersville, North Carolina, the projected court reporter hourly pay for 2026 is $33.35, which is slightly below the national hourly median of $35.96. This difference highlights the local economic climate as well as the competition between traditional stenography and digital recording methods in some courts. For those considering part-time work, such as a court reporter operating three days a week, the hourly rate translates into sustainable income, especially when working in environments like deposition conference rooms or federal courtrooms. The broader hourly range spans from $19.93 for entry-level positions to $51.69 for top earners. These estimates are based on annual salary data, providing a glimpse into the earning potential of court reporters actively engaged in various services like CART live event captioning and university classroom support.
About the Kernersville 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) | $19.93 | $159.45 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.83 | $198.61 |
| Median (P50) | $33.35 | $266.77 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $42.68 | $341.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $51.69 | $413.49 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kernersville
Based on $33.35/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.35/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kernersville, NC can expect to earn approximately $69,359 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $40,015. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Kernersville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kernersville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,333.84 | $5,780 | $69,359 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $800.30 | $3,468 | $41,616 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $533.53 | $2,312 | $27,744 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Kernersville) | $33.35 |
| 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 Kernersville, NC earn a median of $69,360 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.26% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.90% below the North Carolina state average of $69,990.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.35/hr = $41,616/year (purchasing power: $44,461).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $69,359/year (purchasing power: $74,102).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.81/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$32.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.35/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kernersville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.81/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.49/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.92/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $28.34/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.51/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.52/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $32.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.35/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.44/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Kernersville grew 20.4% from $26.81/hr (2019) to $32.29/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.44/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 Kernersville 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 Kernersville
Assessing the income potential for court reporters reveals intriguing opportunities, especially for those working part-time or in freelance roles. A court reporter who works 24 hours weekly might earn a substantial income annually, but individuals operating as per-diem court reporters could realize higher pay per engagement. In Kernersville, freelance deposition reporters often earn between $400 and $800 for a half-day job, alongside additional transcript fees charged per page. Those providing realtime or CART captioning services might command rates from $150 to $300 per hour, reflecting the growing importance of these specialized skills. Employers vary in their compensation, with independent court reporters often earning less per hour than state or federal employees due to the lack of benefits. For those negotiating pay in this competitive field, understanding the nuances between different employer types and the potential for higher hourly rates without benefits is essential in maximizing earnings.
More salary data for Kernersville, NC:
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 Kernersville. 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 Kernersville 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