Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Pleasant Prairie, WI: $28.02 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Pleasant Prairie, WI runs $28.02 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,268 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Pleasant Prairie's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.4, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.00 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $34,965 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

Court reporters in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, are projected to earn a median hourly rate of $28.02 in 2026, significantly below the national median of $35.96. This hourly wage reflects the pay landscape across various work settings, including freelance deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and real-time captioning environments. For those working part-time, such as three days a week, the hourly pay can effectively round out their monthly earnings, impacting their overall financial stability. Entry-level court reporters in Pleasant Prairie may earn around $16.73 an hour, while experienced professionals can make as much as $43.43, highlighting a substantial disparity within the field and across different employment situations. These estimates offer a general view based on annual earnings data, helping prospective court reporters gauge their potential hourly pay in this regional market.
About the Pleasant Prairie 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) | $16.73 | $133.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $20.81 | $166.47 |
| Median (P50) | $28.02 | $224.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $35.86 | $286.84 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43.43 | $347.40 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Pleasant Prairie
Based on $28.02/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.02/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Pleasant Prairie, WI can expect to earn approximately $58,276 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,621. With a cost-of-living index of 93.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Pleasant Prairie.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Pleasant Prairie
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,120.69 | $4,856 | $58,276 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $672.41 | $2,914 | $34,965 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $448.27 | $1,943 | $23,310 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Pleasant Prairie) | $28.02 |
| 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI earn a median of $58,268 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.09% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 5.00% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,335.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.02/hr = $34,965/year (purchasing power: $37,436).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,276/year (purchasing power: $62,394).
CoL index: 93.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$22.53/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.13/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.02/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Pleasant Prairie (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $22.53/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.10/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.62/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.81/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.95/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $24.74/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.13/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.02/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.93/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Pleasant Prairie grew 20.4% from $22.53/hr (2019) to $27.13/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.93/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 Pleasant Prairie 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 Pleasant Prairie
Focusing on part-time opportunities, a court reporter working 24 hours a week can expect to bring home approximately $34,934 annually, which contrasts with the earnings from full-time positions. Freelance and per-diem work often provide increased earning potential; for instance, reporters may charge between $400 and $800 for a half-day deposition and earn $150 to $300 per hour for realtime CART services. Interestingly, hourly pay can vary significantly based on the employer type in Pleasant Prairie—freelancers generally rely on firms like Veritext and US Legal Support, while official court reporters and federal court reporters may receive more structured compensation packages. Some court reporters opt for positions offering benefits, accepting slightly lower hourly rates in exchange for health insurance and job stability. When negotiating hourly pay, reporters should consider their experience levels and the demand for realtime specialties, which can dramatically affect their market value. Understanding how these factors play into local compensation trends can empower court reporters to make informed career decisions in WI.
More salary data for Pleasant Prairie, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for court reporters in Pleasant Prairie in 2026?
How much do part-time court reporters make in Pleasant Prairie?
Are court reporters in Pleasant Prairie paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time court reporter make per year in Pleasant Prairie?
Do court reporters earn more per hour working part-time in Pleasant Prairie?
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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 Pleasant Prairie. 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 Pleasant Prairie 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