Court Reporter Salary in Normal, IL: $70,406 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Normal, IL earns a median $70,406/year (≈ $33.85/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Normal's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $72,509 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.0% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Normal, Illinois, can expect a median annual salary of $70,406 in 2026, which is around 5.86% below the national average of $74,788. The salary range for this role spans from $40,836 at the 10th percentile to $109,130 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the varied demands and specialties within the field, such as realtime and CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services. These positions are particularly lucrative, especially for those who acquire the CRR credential. The salary data presented here are local estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional price parities, offering a closer look at the compensation landscape specific to Normal, IL.
About the Normal Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,836 | $19.63 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,754 | $24.40 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,406 | $33.85 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $90,121 | $43.33 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $109,130 | $52.46 |
Median Salary Position
5.86% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Normal
In Normal, IL, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,294 (2026 est.). At $70,406, the local median is 5.86% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Normal: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Normal Court Reporter Pay Compares
Normal median: $70,406/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Normal Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $72,584 | -3.00% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -5.86% less |
Court Reporters in Normal, IL earn a median of $70,406 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.86% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.00% below the Illinois state average of $72,584.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Normal 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.
Normal, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $70,406 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,509 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,607
2025 BLS Actual
$68,177
2026 Current Est.
$70,406
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Normal (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,607 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,047 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,842 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,836 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,194 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,782 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,177 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,406 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,709 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Normal metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $56,607 (2019) to $68,177 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,709 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,102 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Normal 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) | $40,836 – $50,754 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,754 – $70,406 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,406 – $90,121 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $90,121 – $109,130 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Normal
Currently, the job market in Normal features eight employed court reporters, indicating a niche but stable demand for professionals in this field. With a cost-of-living index of 97.1, wages in the area may stretch a little further than in higher-cost locales. Freelance work generally commands the most lucrative rates, with per-page transcript payments typically ranging between $3-$8, while realtime and CART services attract rates of $150-$300 per hour. Factors influencing salary variability include differences in employer type; independent contractors often earn more than their counterparts in official court reporter roles, who are bound by state or federal salary scales. To maximize earnings in Normal, court reporters should consider diversifying their skill sets, pursuing advanced certifications, and building a robust freelance clientele, given the ongoing national shortage of qualified reporters highlighted by NCRA.
More salary data for Normal, 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 $68,177 for court reportersin the Normal 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 Normal 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