Court Reporter Salary in Arkansas: $48,306 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Arkansas's 21 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $48,306/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because Arkansas sits at BEA RPP 86.9 (13% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $55,588 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Little Rock ($48,962), Jonesboro ($47,442), Fort Smith ($47,368).
Court reporters in Arkansas earn an average median salary of $48,306 in 2026, significantly lower than the national median of $74,788, marking a difference of 35.4%. The highest salaries are found in Little Rock at $50,563, while those in Van Buren receive the lowest at $44,862, showcasing a gap of $5,701 between these two cities. This disparity is influenced by the larger volume of court cases and the demand for reporting services in urban areas compared to smaller towns. In Arkansas, state licensing requirements and specific scope of practice laws play a crucial role in shaping the profession. Those wishing to work as court reporters must complete a court reporter training program and pass state examinations. As the legal system evolves, the demand for skilled court reporters remains steady, with a projected growth rate of 3.27% annually based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Top cities for employment include Jonesboro, with a salary of $48,993, Fort Smith at $48,917, Fayetteville at $48,668, and Rogers at $48,630. The overall job market for court reporters in Arkansas appears stable, presenting opportunities, especially in metropolitan areas where the need for court reporting services continues to grow.
Arkansas Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in Arkansas: $26,855 (lowest entry-level) to $78,373 (highest top earner)
Arkansas vs National Average
Arkansas court reporters earn 35.41% less than the national median ($-26,482/year difference).
Arkansas Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in Arkansas range from $28,408 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $74,874 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $48,306. The Arkansas median is $26,482 below the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $23.22/hr. Approximately 242 court reporters are employed across 21 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$38,838
2025 BLS Actual
$46,776
2026 Current Est.
$48,306
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Arkansas (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,838 | Actual |
| 2020 | $39,826 | Actual |
| 2021 | $39,000 | Actual |
| 2022 | $41,054 | Actual |
| 2023 | $41,299 | Actual |
| 2024 | $39,085 | Actual |
| 2025 | $46,776 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $48,306 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $49,886 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Arkansas metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $38,838 (2019) to $46,776 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $49,886 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,048 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Arkansas 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Arkansas
Lowest Paying Cities in Arkansas
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in Arkansas
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Arkansas cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $50,563 | 86.9 | $58,185 |
| Jonesboro | $48,993 | 86.9 | $56,379 |
| Fort Smith | $48,917 | 86.9 | $56,291 |
| Fayetteville | $48,668 | 86.9 | $56,005 |
| Rogers | $48,630 | 86.9 | $55,961 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Arkansas
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $28,408 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $48,306 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $74,874 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Arkansas metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 21 Cities in Arkansas
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | $50,563 |
| 2 | Jonesboro | $48,993 |
| 3 | Fort Smith | $48,917 |
| 4 | Fayetteville | $48,668 |
| 5 | Rogers | $48,630 |
| 6 | Springdale | $48,596 |
| 7 | Jacksonville | $47,981 |
| 8 | Bentonville | $47,746 |
| 9 | Benton | $47,347 |
| 10 | Hot Springs | $47,303 |
| 11 | Paragould | $47,212 |
| 12 | Pine Bluff | $47,175 |
| 13 | North Little Rock | $47,141 |
| 14 | Sherwood | $46,957 |
| 15 | Conway | $46,831 |
| 16 | Russellville | $46,710 |
| 17 | Cabot | $46,499 |
| 18 | Texarkana | $46,488 |
| 19 | Searcy | $46,014 |
| 20 | Bryant | $45,669 |
| 21 | Van Buren | $44,862 |
More Arkansas Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore court reporter hourly pay in Arkansas cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Arkansas in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for court reporters in Arkansas?
How does Arkansas court reporter pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level court reporter salary in Arkansas?
How many court reporters are employed in Arkansas?
Which Arkansas city offers the best value for court reporters?
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
Statewide salary 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 each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 court reporter compensation across Arkansas. State averages are employment-weighted across 21 metro areas — larger metro areas with more court reporterscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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