Court Reporter Salary in Bear, DE: $64,030 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Bear, DE earns a median $64,030/year (≈ $30.78/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Bear's price level (2% above national, BEA RPP 101.7), that paycheck buys what $62,960 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Delaware state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Bear, Delaware, can expect a median annual salary of $64,030 in 2026, which is notably lower than the national median of $74,788 and reflects the regional economic conditions. Those entering the profession may see salaries ranging from $39,274 at the 10th percentile to $99,248 at the 90th percentile, as local estimates are informed by BLS state-level data adjusted for regional cost factors. The compensation for court reporters can largely depend on deposition volume; as with many reporting positions, those who handle higher page counts tend to earn more. The market in Bear is gradually evolving, presenting opportunities that are influenced by the chronic shortage of court reporters noted by the NCRA, which estimates a gap of about 5,500 reporters in the field.
About the Bear Market
Salary estimated from Delaware average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,274 | $18.88 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,275 | $23.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,030 | $30.78 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,959 | $39.41 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99,248 | $47.71 |
Median Salary Position
14.38% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bear
In Bear, DE, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,974 (2026 est.). At $64,030, the local median is 14.38% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bear: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bear Court Reporter Pay Compares
Bear median: $64,030/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bear Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Average | $66,838 | -4.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -14.38% less |
Court Reporters in Bear, DE earn a median of $64,030 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.38% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 4.20% below the Delaware state average of $66,838.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bear has a cost of living 1.70% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bear, DE has a cost-of-living index of 101.7 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $64,030 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $62,960 — a 1.67% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,481
2025 BLS Actual
$62,003
2026 Current Est.
$64,030
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Bear (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,481 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,791 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,695 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,417 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,743 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,425 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,003 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,030 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,124 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bear metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $51,481 (2019) to $62,003 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $66,124 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,643 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bear 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) | $39,274 – $48,275 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,275 – $64,030 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,030 – $81,959 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,959 – $99,248 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Bear
In Bear, with only six court reporters currently employed, local opportunities can be competitive. The cost of living index, standing at 101.7, suggests that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the expenses are slightly above the national benchmark, impacting overall purchasing power. Freelance opportunities through firms like Veritext or US Legal Support typically offer the highest pay, especially for those skilled in realtime reporting or CART services, where rates can range from $150 to $300 per hour. The disparity in earnings within the field often reflects the difference between freelance per-page rates, which range from $3 to $8 depending on urgency, and the more stable salaries provided to official court reporters employed by government systems. New entrants in the court reporting field should focus on developing specialized skills like realtime captioning to enhance their earning potential in the ever-changing market of Bear.
More salary data for Bear, DE:
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
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 $62,003 for court reportersin the Bear 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 Bear 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