Court Reporter Hourly Pay in Racine, WI: $29.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a court reporter working in Racine, WI runs $29.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $60,522 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Weighted against Racine's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.4, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $31.16 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,319 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Racine, Wisconsin, the court reporter hourly pay is projected to reach a median of $29.10 in 2026, which is significantly below the national median hourly rate of $35.96. This discrepancy highlights the economic landscape for part-time and per-diem court reporters working in various environments such as deposition conference rooms, state and federal courtrooms, and broadcast captioning platforms. A court reporter working three days a week could expect to earn around $697 per week, while the hourly pay for freelancers generally ranges from $18.04 at the lower end to up to $45.10 for more experienced and specialized reporters. These hourly figures are estimates derived from annual salary data, reflecting the varying responsibilities and skills required in different settings.
About the Racine 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) | $18.04 | $144.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.21 | $177.71 |
| Median (P50) | $29.10 | $232.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.25 | $298.00 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $45.10 | $360.78 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Racine
Based on $29.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.10/hr, a court reporter working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Racine, WI can expect to earn approximately $60,531 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $34,922. With a cost-of-living index of 93.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Racine.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Racine
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,164.06 | $5,044 | $60,531 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $698.44 | $3,027 | $36,319 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $465.62 | $2,018 | $24,212 |
Compare CR Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Court Reporter (Racine) | $29.10 |
| 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 Racine, WI earn a median of $60,522 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.08% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.30% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,320.
Court Reporter Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.10/hr = $36,319/year (purchasing power: $38,885).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $60,531/year (purchasing power: $64,808).
CoL index: 93.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.40/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.18/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Court Reporters in Racine (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.40/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.99/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.50/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $24.73/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $24.88/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.70/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.18/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30.05/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for court reporters in Racine grew 20.4% from $23.40/hr (2019) to $28.18/hr (2025). At a 3.27% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $30.05/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 Racine 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 Racine
Part-time court reporters in Racine may find their earnings considerably impacted based on their workload and the type of work they pursue. A 24-hour work week would yield around $36,022 annually for a part-timer, which is considerably lower than a full-time counterpart. Freelance deposition reporters in Racine typically charge between $400 and $800 for a half-day deposition, not including additional fees for transcripts. Realtime and CART captioners can command higher rates of $150 to $300 per hour, while expedited transcript requests can incur a popular premium of 50% to 100% on the per-page rate. Specifically, the hourly rates differ based on employer types, with official court reporters earning predictable salaries through state employment and freelancers having the flexibility to negotiate based on demand. Some may choose lower-paying roles for the benefits that come with full-time positions, while others may prefer a higher hourly rate without the traditional perks. When negotiating rates, it’s helpful to highlight specialized skills, such as NCRA-recognized certifications like RPR or CRR, to secure better pay in this growing field.
More salary data for Racine, 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 Racine. 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 Racine 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