Court Reporter Salary in Des Plaines, IL: $70,205 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Des Plaines, IL earns a median $70,205/year (≈ $33.75/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Des Plaines's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $72,302 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Freelance court reporters in Des Plaines, IL, find themselves navigating a competitive environment that impacts their earnings. With a projected median annual salary of $70,205 for 2026, reports indicate that earnings in this region can range from $41,269 at the lowest tier to $108,818 for top earners. These local estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, illustrate a nuanced market where employment structures—such as independent contracting versus official state employment—play a significant role in determining pay rates. The ongoing demand for qualified court reporters, amidst a national shortage identified by the NCRA, highlights the need for skilled professionals capable of meeting both realtime captions and traditional court reporting requirements.
About the Des Plaines Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,269 | $19.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,548 | $24.30 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,205 | $33.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $89,862 | $43.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $108,818 | $52.32 |
Median Salary Position
6.13% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Des Plaines
In Des Plaines, IL, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,549 (2026 est.). At $70,205, the local median is 6.13% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Des Plaines: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Des Plaines Court Reporter Pay Compares
Des Plaines median: $70,205/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Des Plaines Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $72,601 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -6.13% less |
Court Reporters in Des Plaines, IL earn a median of $70,205 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.13% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.30% below the Illinois state average of $72,601.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Des Plaines 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.
Des Plaines, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $70,205 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,302 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$56,445
2025 BLS Actual
$67,982
2026 Current Est.
$70,205
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Des Plaines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,445 | Actual |
| 2020 | $57,881 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,680 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,665 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,022 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,588 | Actual |
| 2025 | $67,982 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,205 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,501 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Des Plaines metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $56,445 (2019) to $67,982 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,501 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,056 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Des Plaines 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) | $41,269 – $50,548 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,548 – $70,205 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,205 – $89,862 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $89,862 – $108,818 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Des Plaines
With only 12 court reporters currently employed in Des Plaines, the market exhibits a limited but stable job opportunity for this profession. The area’s cost-of-living index of 97.1 indicates that, while the salary may be slightly lower than the national average, court reporters can still enjoy a reasonable standard of living in this suburb. Employers vary in compensation—official state court reporters may follow a structured salary scale, while freelance reporters often earn through per-page transcription rates that can fall between $3 and $8, significantly affecting their annual take-home pay. Those specializing in realtime or CART services can command a premium, charging between $150 and $300 per hour for live captioning. To maximize earnings in this specific market, aspiring courtiers may consider focusing on high-demand specialties such as realtime reporting, building strong networks with legal firms, and diversifying their skills to include broadcast captioning, enhancing their job prospects and wages in Des Plaines.
More salary data for Des Plaines, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Des Plaines, IL in 2026?
Is Des Plaines, IL a good place to work as a court reporter?
Can court reporters make $100K in Des Plaines?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Des Plaines?
How much does a court reporter make per hour in Des Plaines?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 $67,982 for court reportersin the Des Plaines 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 Des Plaines 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