Court Reporter Salary in Cicero, IL: $70,292 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Cicero, IL earns a median $70,292/year (≈ $33.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Cicero's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $72,391 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.2% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Cicero, Illinois, court reporters can expect to earn a median annual salary of $70,292 in 2026, reflecting the competitive nature of this profession amid rising demand for legal transcription services. The salary range for this occupation spans from $41,455 at the P10 level to as much as $108,952 for those at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variability in compensation based on experience, client volume, and types of assignments undertaken. These figures are derived from projections based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost of living factors. The local market for court reporters in Cicero benefits from a steady need for skilled professionals, particularly as courts balance traditional stenographic services with digital recording solutions.
About the Cicero Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,455 | $19.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,076 | $25.03 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,292 | $33.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $89,973 | $43.26 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $108,952 | $52.38 |
Median Salary Position
6.01% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cicero
In Cicero, IL, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,497 (2026 est.). At $70,292, the local median is 6.01% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cicero: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cicero Court Reporter Pay Compares
Cicero median: $70,292/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cicero Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $72,615 | -3.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -6.01% less |
Court Reporters in Cicero, IL earn a median of $70,292 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.01% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.20% below the Illinois state average of $72,615.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cicero has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cicero, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $70,292 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,391 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,515
2025 BLS Actual
$68,066
2026 Current Est.
$70,292
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Cicero (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,515 | Actual |
| 2020 | $57,953 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,739 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,096 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,671 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,066 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,292 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,590 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cicero metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $56,515 (2019) to $68,066 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,590 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,075 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cicero 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) | $41,455 – $52,076 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,076 – $70,292 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,292 – $89,973 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $89,973 – $108,952 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Cicero
Job opportunities for court reporters in Cicero are underscored by the presence of 21 employed practitioners who navigate a local cost-of-living index of 97.1, making the effective purchasing power slightly lower than the national average. Freelance reporting roles often dominate this market, with pay rates influenced greatly by per-page deposition economics and transcript volume, where independent court reporters can charge anywhere from $3 to $8 per page based on urgency and delivery timeframes. For those pursuing specialized areas like realtime CART services, there is significant earning potential, with hourly pay rates ranging from $150 to $300 during live captioning events. The disparity between the lower and higher ends of court reporter pay in Cicero is driven not only by experience and specialization but also by the ability to efficiently handle substantial deposition volumes. Maximizing income in this environment typically involves building a strong network and reputation along with diversifying service offerings to include high-demand realtime captioning and CART services.
More salary data for Cicero, IL:
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 $68,066 for court reportersin the Cicero 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 Cicero 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