Court Reporter Salary in Durango, CO: $73,583 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Durango, CO earns a median $73,583/year (≈ $35.38/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Durango's price level (5% above national, BEA RPP 105.0), that paycheck buys what $70,079 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.3% below the Colorado state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the median annual salary for court reporters in Durango, Colorado, is projected to reach $73,583, slightly below the national median of $74,788. The salary range in this area spans from $48,560 at the 10th percentile to $114,053 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse market within local court reporter compensation. These figures come from estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional price parities, providing a more accurate view of what court reporters can expect in terms of pay. With effective deposition volume often driving compensation in this field, the local court reporting landscape can fluctuate based on client demand and the number of hearings or depositions scheduled.
About the Durango Market
Salary estimated from Colorado average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,969 | $27.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $73,583 | $35.38 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $94,186 | $45.28 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $114,053 | $54.84 |
Median Salary Position
1.61% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durango
In Durango, CO, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $65,493 (2026 est.). At $73,583, the local median is 1.61% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durango: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Durango Court Reporter Pay Compares
Durango median: $73,583/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durango Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Average | $78,530 | -6.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -1.61% less |
Court Reporters in Durango, CO earn a median of $73,583 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.61% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 6.30% below the Colorado state average of $78,530.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durango has a cost of living 5.00% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durango, CO has a cost-of-living index of 105 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $73,583 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $70,079 — a 4.76% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,161
2025 BLS Actual
$71,253
2026 Current Est.
$73,583
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Durango (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,161 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,666 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,407 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,536 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,910 | Actual |
| 2024 | $66,904 | Actual |
| 2025 | $71,253 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,583 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $75,989 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durango metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $59,161 (2019) to $71,253 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,989 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,828 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durango 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $48,560 – $57,969 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,969 – $73,583 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $73,583 – $94,186 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $94,186 – $114,053 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Durango
With just five court reporters currently employed in Durango, the job market remains competitive yet limited, influencing the prevailing salaries. The area's cost of living index stands at 105, which reflects a slightly above-average lifestyle expense that affects overall purchasing power for residents. Among the various types of employers, independent court reporting firms often provide the highest earnings potential due to freelance opportunities where pay can vary greatly, often based on per-page transcript rates ranging from $3 to $8. Realtime and CART services, which cater to specialized needs like live captioning, can command premium fees reaching upwards of $300 per hour. As such, court reporters in Durango looking to maximize their pay should consider these high-demand specialties or strive to secure consistent freelance opportunities to capitalize on the region's fluctuating pay scales.
More salary data for Durango, CO:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can court reporters make $100K in Durango?
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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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $71,253 for court reportersin the Durango metropolitan area. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Durango 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