Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Newport, RI: $34.74 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Newport, RI runs $34.74 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $72,257 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Newport's regional price level (BEA RPP 100.5, 1% above national), each hour of work buys what $34.57 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $43,356 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Earning $34.74 per hour, court reporters in Newport, Rhode Island, find themselves positioned slightly below the national median hourly rate of $35.96. This figure significantly impacts part-time professionals and per-diem workers in various settings, including freelance deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and CART live event venues. For those working three days a week, the flexibility and income potential are considerable, as they can effectively command between $20.84 (entry-level) to $53.84 (top earners) per hour. Such hourly rates provide a compelling incentive for entry into the field, especially in a region where the cost of living hovers just above the national average. These estimates reflect broader trends in annual salary projections for 2026, emphasizing the importance of hourly considerations in a market that increasingly values flexibility and skill.
About the Newport Market
Salary estimated from Rhode Island average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $20.84 | $166.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.92 | $207.37 |
| Median (P50) | $34.74 | $277.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.47 | $355.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $53.84 | $430.76 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Newport
Based on $34.74/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.74/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Newport, RI can expect to earn approximately $72,259 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $41,688. With a cost-of-living index of 100.50 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Newport.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Newport
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,389.60 | $6,022 | $72,259 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $833.76 | $3,613 | $43,356 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $555.84 | $2,409 | $28,904 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Newport) | $34.74 |
| 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 Newport, RI earn a median of $72,257 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.38% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.90% below the Rhode Island state average of $75,189.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.74/hr = $43,356/year (purchasing power: $43,140).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $72,259/year (purchasing power: $71,900).
CoL index: 100.5 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$27.93/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.64/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.74/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Newport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $27.93/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.64/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.05/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.52/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.70/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.80/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.64/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.74/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35.88/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Newport grew 20.4% from $27.93/hr (2019) to $33.64/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $35.88/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 Newport 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 Newport
Successful part-time court reporters in Newport could take home a substantial income even while working a reduced schedule. For instance, a court reporter committed to a three-day workweek, totaling 24 hours, may generate an annual income of around $44,982, significantly lower than full-time earnings but still noteworthy for part-time work. Freelance and per-diem opportunities heighten earnings potential in this profession, with per diem court reporter pay in Newport typically ranging from $400 to $800 for a half-day deposition session, plus additional fees for transcripts. Moreover, specialized services such as CART and realtime captioning can command rates between $150 to $300 per hour, reflecting particular skill sets valued in the industry. Pay often varies depending on employment type, with freelance reporters generally earning higher rates compared to official court reporters or those employed by federal agencies, who might prioritize benefits over hourly wage. As the court reporting workforce faces a significant shortage, negotiation skills become increasingly valuable in securing competitive pay while assessing the trade-offs between higher hourly rates and benefits like health insurance, making strategic career choices all the more crucial in Newport's evolving market.
More salary data for Newport, RI:
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 Newport. 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 Newport 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