Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Bethlehem, PA: $32.66 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Bethlehem, PA runs $32.66 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $67,946 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Bethlehem's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.4, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.54 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,765 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, court reporters earn a median hourly rate of $32.66, which is slightly below the national average of $35.96 per hour. This rate offers ample opportunities for part-time or per-diem work, ideal for individuals pursuing flexible schedules. For instance, a court reporter working three days a week could utilize their skills in various settings, such as courtrooms, deposition conference rooms, or even CART services for live events and educational environments. The hourly pay for court reporters in Bethlehem ranges from $18.96 for entry-level positions to about $50.63 for those at the top of their field, providing a clear pathway for income growth based on experience and expertise.
About the Bethlehem Market
Salary estimated from Pennsylvania average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.96 | $151.68 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $24.07 | $192.58 |
| Median (P50) | $32.66 | $261.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $41.81 | $334.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50.63 | $405.07 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bethlehem
Based on $32.66/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.66/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bethlehem, PA can expect to earn approximately $67,942 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,197. With a cost-of-living index of 97.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bethlehem.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bethlehem
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,306.57 | $5,662 | $67,942 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $783.94 | $3,397 | $40,765 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $522.63 | $2,265 | $27,177 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Bethlehem) | $32.66 |
| 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 Bethlehem, PA earn a median of $67,946 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.15% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.90% above the Pennsylvania state average of $66,032.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.66/hr = $40,765/year (purchasing power: $41,853).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $67,942/year (purchasing power: $69,755).
CoL index: 97.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.26/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.63/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.66/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Bethlehem (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.26/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.93/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.37/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.76/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $27.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.44/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.63/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.66/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $33.73/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Bethlehem grew 20.4% from $26.26/hr (2019) to $31.63/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $33.73/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 Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem
Part-time court reporters serving 24 hours a week can expect an approximate annual income that varies significantly compared to full-timers, especially considering the nature of freelance versus employed positions. Many per diem court reporters cultivate relationships with agencies, earning between $400 and $800 for half-day depositions, and hourly rates for realtime captioning can reach $150-$300. Alternatively, agencies may charge their clients a premium for rush transcripts, resulting in additional income for quick turnarounds. In Bethlehem, rates are influenced by employer type; independent contractors generally face different financial landscapes compared to official court reporters or broadcast captioners. Navigating benefits can be tricky, as some may opt for lower hourly rates provided by employers in exchange for healthcare options. For those focusing on hourly work, negotiating terms based on experience and specialty can lead to better pay arrangements in the competitive court reporting sector.
More salary data for Bethlehem, PA:
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 Bethlehem. 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 Bethlehem 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