Court Reporter Salary in Hays, KS: $63,650 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Hays, KS earns a median $63,650/year (≈ $30.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Hays's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $70,022 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.4% below the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Hays, Kansas, court reporters can anticipate a median annual salary of $63,650 in 2026, reflecting the local market's competitive nature. The salary range spans from $41,849 at the 10th percentile to $98,658 at the 90th percentile, highlighting significant variations based on experience, specialization, and employer type. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price parity, reveal how deposition volume can drive earnings. As court reporting continues to face a workforce shortage, with the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) projecting a gap of 5,500 reporters nationally, the remuneration landscape in Hays is evolving to attract qualified professionals.
About the Hays Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,849 | $20.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,081 | $24.07 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,473 | $39.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $98,658 | $47.43 |
Median Salary Position
14.89% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hays
In Hays, KS, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,809 (2026 est.). At $63,650, the local median is 14.89% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hays: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Hays Court Reporter Pay Compares
Hays median: $63,650/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hays Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $68,003 | -6.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -14.89% less |
Court Reporters in Hays, KS earn a median of $63,650 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.89% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 6.40% below the Kansas state average of $68,003.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hays has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hays, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $63,650 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,022 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$51,175
2025 BLS Actual
$61,635
2026 Current Est.
$63,650
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Hays (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,175 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,477 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,388 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,094 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,418 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,256 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,635 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,650 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,732 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hays metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $51,175 (2019) to $61,635 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,732 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,557 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hays 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) | $41,849 – $50,081 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,081 – $63,650 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $63,650 – $81,473 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,473 – $98,658 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Hays
With only five court reporters currently employed in Hays, the job market remains somewhat limited but offers unique opportunities for those entering the field. The cost of living index in the area stands at 90.9, suggesting that take-home pay may stretch further in Hays compared to other locations. Many court reporters in the area work as freelancers, often earning more through per-page rates that can range significantly based on turnaround demands. Other positions, such as official court reporters for the state or federal systems, typically provide more stable incomes but may have set salary scales. Meanwhile, specialized roles in realtime reporting or CART services command the highest rates, leading to a wide spread in earnings. To maximize pay, aspiring court reporters should focus on honing specialized skills, securing a steady stream of deposition work, and negotiating per-page rates effectively in this unique Hays market.
More salary data for Hays, KS:
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 $61,635 for court reportersin the Hays 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 Hays 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