Court Reporter Salary in Kailua, HI: $74,527 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Kailua, HI earns a median $74,527/year (≈ $35.83/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Kailua's price level (19% above national, BEA RPP 119.3), that paycheck buys what $62,470 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the Hawaii state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Kailua, HI, can expect a median annual compensation of $74,527 in 2026, a figure that positions them slightly below the national median of $74,788. Their salaries will range from $44,525 at the 10th percentile to as high as $115,517 for the top 90th percentile. These figures are informed by the current economic landscape, with adjustments made for local cost-of-living factors, particularly given Kailua's index of 119.3, which is above the national average. The market here is shaped by the distinction between freelance and official court reporters, with many in Kailua likely relying on freelance work for their earnings, which can also influence overall salary expectations.
About the Kailua Market
Salary estimated from Hawaii average ($70,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,525 | $21.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $55,538 | $26.71 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $74,527 | $35.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,395 | $45.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $115,517 | $55.54 |
Median Salary Position
0.35% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kailua
In Kailua, HI, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $70,992 (2026 est.). At $74,527, the local median is 0.35% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kailua: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kailua Court Reporter Pay Compares
Kailua median: $74,527/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kailua Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $75,204 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -0.35% less |
Court Reporters in Kailua, HI earn a median of $74,527 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.35% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.90% below the Hawaii state average of $75,204.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kailua has a cost of living 19.30% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kailua, HI has a cost-of-living index of 119.3 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $74,527 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $62,470 — a 16.18% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,920
2025 BLS Actual
$72,167
2026 Current Est.
$74,527
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kailua (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,920 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,445 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,169 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,338 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,717 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,784 | Actual |
| 2025 | $72,167 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,527 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,964 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kailua metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $59,920 (2019) to $72,167 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,964 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,044 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kailua 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) | $44,525 – $55,538 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $55,538 – $74,527 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $74,527 – $95,395 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,395 – $115,517 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Kailua
With only six court reporters currently employed in Kailua, the local job market presents unique dynamics for the profession. The elevated cost of living impacts purchasing power, meaning that salaries—while competitive—must be adjusted for the realities of daily expenses. Employers in Kailua, including firms like Veritext and US Legal Support, typically offer the most lucrative pay for freelance court reporters, often compensating based on transcript rates that can range from $3 to $8 per page. The variance in pay can also be driven by specialization, with realtime and CART providers commanding rates of $150 to $300 hourly for live services, in contrast to the more standardized pay scales for official court reporters working under state or federal jurisdictions. To maximize pay in the Kailua market, focusing on gaining certifications, such as RPR, and specializing in areas like CART or broadcasting captioning may enhance earning potential significantly.
More salary data for Kailua, HI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can court reporters make $100K in Kailua?
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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 $72,167 for court reportersin the Kailua 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 Kailua 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