Court Reporter Salary in Moline, IL: $71,689 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Moline, IL earns a median $71,689/year (≈ $34.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Moline's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $73,830 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Moline, Illinois, court reporters earn a median annual salary of $71,689, which sits slightly below the national median of $74,788. Given the compelling dynamics of court reporting, the earning potential closely correlates to deposition volume; qualified court reporters can maximize their compensation significantly by increasing their transcript output. The salary range here spans from $42,101 for the lowest earners to as high as $111,117 for the most seasoned professionals, illustrating the varied earning capacity in this market. These figures come from estimates derived from BLS state-level data and regional cost adjustments, reflecting the unique economic landscape of Moline, which continues to drive demand for skilled court reporters.
About the Moline Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,101 | $20.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,052 | $25.51 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $71,689 | $34.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $91,762 | $44.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,117 | $53.42 |
Median Salary Position
4.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Moline
In Moline, IL, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,016 (2026 est.). At $71,689, the local median is 4.14% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Moline: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Moline Court Reporter Pay Compares
Moline median: $71,689/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Moline Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $72,633 | -1.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -4.14% less |
Court Reporters in Moline, IL earn a median of $71,689 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.14% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.30% below the Illinois state average of $72,633.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Moline 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.
Moline, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $71,689 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,830 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,638
2025 BLS Actual
$69,419
2026 Current Est.
$71,689
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Moline (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,638 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,105 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,878 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,926 | Actual |
| 2023 | $61,290 | Actual |
| 2024 | $69,016 | Actual |
| 2025 | $69,419 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $71,689 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,033 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Moline metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $57,638 (2019) to $69,419 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,033 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,395 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Moline 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) | $42,101 – $53,052 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,052 – $71,689 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $71,689 – $91,762 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $91,762 – $111,117 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Moline
With only ten court reporters employed in the area, the job market is relatively limited but stable, presenting unique opportunities amidst a national shortage. The cost of living index in Moline, being 97.1, is below the national average, which may afford court reporters improved purchasing power relative to their earnings. Employers that typically offer higher wages for court reporters include independent firms like Veritext and Esquire, official court reporters employed by the state court system, and specialized real-time captioning roles, where professionals can charge from $150 to $300 per hour for their premium services. The disparity between low and high pay can largely be attributed to factors such as the type of reporting work, the per-page rates, and the volume of depositions completed. To maximize pay in Moline, strategic networking with local law firms and constantly refining skills to command higher rates for realtime and CART services is advisable, especially as the profession adapts to increasing digital competition.
More salary data for Moline, 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 $69,419 for court reportersin the Moline 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 Moline 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