Court Reporter Salary in Houma, LA: $65,342 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Houma, LA earns a median $65,342/year (≈ $31.41/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Houma's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.3), that paycheck buys what $72,361 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.2% below the Louisiana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Houma, Louisiana are projected to earn a median salary of $65,342, which is significantly lower than the national median of $74,788. The local salary range spans from $41,581 at the 10th percentile to $101,280 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the variation in pay based on experience, type of employment, and workload. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for the regional cost of living. With the continued demand for accurate legal transcription and the ongoing gap in the workforce—estimated at 5,500 reporters nationwide—opportunities in court reporting are expected to remain robust in Houma, particularly for skilled professionals who can accommodate both freelance and official positions.
About the Houma Market
Salary estimated from Louisiana average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,581 | $19.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,724 | $24.38 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,342 | $31.41 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $83,637 | $40.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101,280 | $48.69 |
Median Salary Position
12.63% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houma
In Houma, LA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,699 (2026 est.). At $65,342, the local median is 12.63% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houma: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houma Court Reporter Pay Compares
Houma median: $65,342/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houma Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $67,502 | -3.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -12.63% less |
Court Reporters in Houma, LA earn a median of $65,342 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.63% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.20% below the Louisiana state average of $67,502.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houma has a cost of living 9.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houma, LA has a cost-of-living index of 90.3 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $65,342 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,361 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.74% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,535
2025 BLS Actual
$63,273
2026 Current Est.
$65,342
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Houma (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,535 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,872 | Actual |
| 2021 | $52,754 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,532 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,864 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,433 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,273 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,342 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,479 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houma metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $52,535 (2019) to $63,273 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,479 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,944 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houma 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) | $41,581 – $50,724 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,724 – $65,342 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,342 – $83,637 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $83,637 – $101,280 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Houma
The job market for court reporters in Houma includes just six individuals currently employed in the field, indicating a competitive environment but also potential demand for new entrants. Given the area's cost of living index of 90.3, which is below the national average, court reporter pay in Houma LA offers reasonable purchasing power relative to local expenses. Freelancing tends to provide the highest earnings, with per-page rates varying widely based on urgency and complexity, while official court reporters may command fixed salaries that are often lower. Additionally, specialties such as realtime reporting and CART services can significantly boost earnings, with potential hourly rates ranging from $150 to $300. For those looking to maximize their court reporter salary in Houma, focusing on freelance opportunities and expanding into realtime and CART transcription could yield the best financial outcomes.
More salary data for Houma, LA:
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 $63,273 for court reportersin the Houma 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 Houma 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