Court Reporter Salary in Gurnee, IL: $71,565 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Gurnee, IL earns a median $71,565/year (≈ $34.41/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Gurnee's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $73,702 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Gurnee, Illinois, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $71,565 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $74,788 for the same year. The local salary range spans from $42,122 at the 10th percentile to $110,925 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse pay structure within the profession. These figures, based on 2025 BLS data projected to 2026, reflect adjustments for regional cost variations in Gurnee. As the demand for realtime and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) specialists grows, professionals reaching the Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) credential can expect to command higher wages, enhancing the earning potential in this area of court reporting significantly.
About the Gurnee Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,122 | $20.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,807 | $25.38 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $71,565 | $34.41 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $91,604 | $44.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $110,925 | $53.33 |
Median Salary Position
4.31% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Gurnee
In Gurnee, IL, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,803 (2026 est.). At $71,565, the local median is 4.31% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Gurnee: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Gurnee Court Reporter Pay Compares
Gurnee median: $71,565/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Gurnee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $72,655 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -4.31% less |
Court Reporters in Gurnee, IL earn a median of $71,565 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.31% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.50% below the Illinois state average of $72,655.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Gurnee 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.
Gurnee, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $71,565 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,702 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,539
2025 BLS Actual
$69,299
2026 Current Est.
$71,565
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Gurnee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,539 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,003 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,778 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,821 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,184 | Actual |
| 2024 | $68,897 | Actual |
| 2025 | $69,299 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $71,565 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $73,905 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Gurnee metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $57,539 (2019) to $69,299 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $73,905 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,366 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Gurnee 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) | $42,122 – $52,807 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,807 – $71,565 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $71,565 – $91,604 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $91,604 – $110,925 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Gurnee
In Gurnee, the job market supports only eight court reporters, which illustrates a competitive environment amid a chronic shortage of professionals in the field, with NCRA estimating a gap of 5,500 reporters nationally. The local cost of living index sits at 97.1, slightly below the national average, impacting take-home pay and purchasing power for court reporters in the area. The highest-paying work often comes from freelance roles or specialized positions in CART services, which can fetch substantial rates, especially for realtime captioning. Many Gurnee court reporters find success in generating income through per-page rates for depositions and minimizing their involvement in standard reporting to maximize profitability. Familiarity with local firms that book freelance work, such as Veritext or US Legal Support, and pursuing relevant credentials are effective strategies for enhancing compensation in this market.
More salary data for Gurnee, 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 $69,299 for court reportersin the Gurnee 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 Gurnee 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