Court Reporter Salary in Frankfort, KY: $65,423 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Frankfort, KY earns a median $65,423/year (≈ $31.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Frankfort's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $73,262 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% below the Kentucky state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the court reporter salary in Frankfort, KY, is projected to reach a median annual income of $65,423. While this figure reflects a commitment to fair compensation, it remains approximately 12.52% below the national average of $74,788. The full salary range for court reporters here extends from $37,946 at the 10th percentile to $101,405 at the 90th percentile. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS state-level data adjusted for regional cost factors, indicate that income can significantly vary based on the volume of deposition transcripts produced and the specific employer. With only six court reporters currently employed in the Frankfort area, the job market for this profession remains quite selective, but it also highlights the opportunity for potential gain as demands evolve.
About the Frankfort Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,946 | $18.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,423 | $31.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $83,741 | $40.26 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101,405 | $48.75 |
Median Salary Position
12.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Frankfort
In Frankfort, KY, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,459 (2026 est.). At $65,423, the local median is 12.52% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Frankfort: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Frankfort Court Reporter Pay Compares
Frankfort median: $65,423/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Frankfort Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $66,758 | -2.00% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -12.52% less |
Court Reporters in Frankfort, KY earn a median of $65,423 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.52% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.00% below the Kentucky state average of $66,758.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Frankfort has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Frankfort, KY has a cost-of-living index of 89.3 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $65,423 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,262 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.98% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,600
2025 BLS Actual
$63,351
2026 Current Est.
$65,423
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Frankfort (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,600 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,938 | Actual |
| 2021 | $52,819 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,601 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,933 | Actual |
| 2024 | $43,738 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,351 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,423 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,562 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Frankfort metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $52,600 (2019) to $63,351 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,562 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,962 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Frankfort 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) | $37,946 – $47,790 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,790 – $65,423 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,423 – $83,741 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $83,741 – $101,405 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Frankfort
As the cost of living index in Frankfort stands at 89.3, it implies that the purchasing power for court reporters may be more favorable compared to national standards. The most lucrative positions often come from freelance work, where reporters can command $3 to $8 per page based on the urgency of transcripts, alongside opportunities in realtime captioning, which can pay between $150 and $300 per hour. Official court reporter roles within the state court system offer stable salaries but are generally structured on a civil service scale. The disparity in salaries arises from various factors, such as the per-page transcript economics, the demand for realtime reporting, and the availability of jobs. To maximize earnings in this market, court reporters in Frankfort should focus on building a strong freelance portfolio, possibly obtaining NCRA credentials to enhance their marketability, and staying agile in adapting to the evolving needs of legal professionals.
More salary data for Frankfort, KY:
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 $63,351 for court reportersin the Frankfort 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 Frankfort 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