Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Brookfield, WI: $29.00 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Brookfield, WI runs $29.00 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,309 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Brookfield's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.4, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.05 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,190 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In 2026, the court reporter hourly pay in Brookfield, Wisconsin, is projected to reach a median rate of $29.00. This figure is notably lower than the national hourly median of $35.96, highlighting the local pay scale's disparity compared to broader trends. For part-time court reporters working three days a week, typically around 24 hours, this hourly pay reflects a stable income stream. Moreover, those seeking per diem opportunities—common in settings such as deposition rooms, federal and state courthouses, and broadcast captioning—can expect to operate within an hourly range of $16.95 to $44.94. This range accounts for entry-level positions transitioning into freelance work, where earnings can vary based on experience and the complexity of the assignments.
About the Brookfield Market
Salary estimated from Wisconsin average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Court Reporter Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.95 | $135.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.43 | $179.44 |
| Median (P50) | $29.00 | $231.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.12 | $296.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $44.94 | $359.54 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Brookfield
Based on $29.00/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.00/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Brookfield, WI can expect to earn approximately $60,316 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,798. With a cost-of-living index of 93.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Brookfield.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Brookfield
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,159.93 | $5,026 | $60,316 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $695.96 | $3,016 | $36,190 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $463.97 | $2,011 | $24,127 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Brookfield) | $29.00 |
| 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 Brookfield, WI earn a median of $60,309 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.36% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.70% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,352.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.00/hr = $36,190/year (purchasing power: $38,747).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,316/year (purchasing power: $64,578).
CoL index: 93.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.31/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.08/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.00/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Brookfield (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.31/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.91/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.41/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.64/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.61/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.08/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.00/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.95/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Brookfield grew 20.4% from $23.31/hr (2019) to $28.08/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.95/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 Brookfield 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 Brookfield
Evaluating part-time earning potential reveals that a court reporter in Brookfield could gross approximately $36,672 annually when working part-time, significantly less than a full-time reporter's potential earnings. Freelance deposition reporters, on the other hand, often thrive in per diem roles, commanding $400 to $800 per half-day deposition, plus per-page fees that can add substantial income. Earnings for CART and realtime captioners may vary from $150 to $300 per hour, reflecting the specialty's higher demand. The diverse employment landscape in Brookfield includes independent contractors, official court reporters, and federal positions, with each category featuring distinct pay structures and benefits. Court reporters may find themselves negotiating for either higher pay rates without benefits or lower rates that include health insurance—an important trade-off in this field. Successful negotiation tips include understanding local demand and emphasizing the unique skills brought to various reporting roles. As the profession faces a shortage of skilled reporters, maintaining a competitive edge is crucial for both new and seasoned court reporters.
More salary data for Brookfield, WI:
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 Brookfield. 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 Brookfield 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