Court Reporter Salary in Clinton, IA: $63,443 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Clinton, IA earns a median $63,443/year (≈ $30.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Clinton's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $70,180 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.2% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the median court reporter salary in Clinton, IA, is projected to be $63,443, underscoring a market that offers competitive compensation despite the national median of $74,788 being roughly 15.17% higher. Local salaries range from $40,054 at the 10th percentile to $98,337 at the 90th percentile, showcasing the potential earning variance within this profession. These figures are informed by 2025 BLS data adjusted for regional price parities in Iowa. Court reporters who achieve specialty credentials such as the Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) can expect to command higher wages, particularly in areas like Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), which reflects the increasing need for live captioning services in various sectors like education and public events. The market in Clinton illustrates the demand, particularly with recent shortages in the court reporting workforce.
About the Clinton Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,054 | $19.26 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,661 | $23.39 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $63,443 | $30.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,207 | $39.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $98,337 | $47.28 |
Median Salary Position
15.17% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Clinton
In Clinton, IA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $58,283 (2026 est.). At $63,443, the local median is 15.17% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Clinton: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Clinton Court Reporter Pay Compares
Clinton median: $63,443/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Clinton Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $67,636 | -6.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -15.17% less |
Court Reporters in Clinton, IA earn a median of $63,443 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.17% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 6.20% below the Iowa state average of $67,636.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Clinton has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Clinton, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $63,443 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,180 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,008
2025 BLS Actual
$61,434
2026 Current Est.
$63,443
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Clinton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,008 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,306 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,220 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,918 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,240 | Actual |
| 2024 | $49,201 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,434 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,443 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,517 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Clinton metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $51,008 (2019) to $61,434 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,517 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,509 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Clinton 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) | $40,054 – $48,661 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,661 – $63,443 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $63,443 – $81,207 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,207 – $98,337 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Clinton
Assessing the local job market, Clinton employs six court reporters, which provides a tight-knit professional community. The cost of living index, rated at 90.4, suggests more favorable living conditions compared to national averages, making the attainable salaries stretch further in terms of purchasing power. Freelance court reporters, often booking jobs through agencies like Veritext or US Legal Support, play a significant role in this market, while state and federal court systems also provide reliable employment opportunities. Earnings can greatly vary based on the delivery method; while freelance rates can fluctuate between $3 to $8 per transcript page, those with realtime CART capabilities may earn anywhere from $150 to $300 per hour. Given the ongoing demand and competitive pay dynamics, aspiring court reporters in Clinton can maximize their salaries by seeking specialized training in realtime reporting and broadening their freelance client base, particularly in the realms of legal and educational services.
More salary data for Clinton, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $61,434 for court reportersin the Clinton 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 Clinton 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