Court Reporter Salary in Sulphur, LA: $62,448 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Sulphur, LA earns a median $62,448/year (≈ $30.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Sulphur's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.3), that paycheck buys what $69,156 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.5% below the Louisiana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Sulphur, Louisiana, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $62,448, which reflects a significant contrast when compared to the national median of $74,788. With a salary range spanning from $39,817 at the lower tenth percentile to $96,795 at the ninetieth percentile, earnings can vary widely based on factors such as experience, specialization, and the volume of work completed. These figures derive from estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, adjusted for local economic conditions, highlighting the unique dynamics within Sulphur's job market. As demand grows amid workforce shortages, local court reporters can gain a better understanding of the financial landscape they are entering.
About the Sulphur Market
Salary estimated from Louisiana average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,817 | $19.15 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,183 | $23.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,448 | $30.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79,934 | $38.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96,795 | $46.53 |
Median Salary Position
16.5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sulphur
In Sulphur, LA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,978 (2026 est.). At $62,448, the local median is 16.5% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sulphur: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sulphur Court Reporter Pay Compares
Sulphur median: $62,448/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sulphur Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $67,512 | -7.50% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -16.50% less |
Court Reporters in Sulphur, LA earn a median of $62,448 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.50% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 7.50% below the Louisiana state average of $67,512.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sulphur 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.
Sulphur, LA has a cost-of-living index of 90.3 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $62,448 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,156 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.74% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$50,209
2025 BLS Actual
$60,471
2026 Current Est.
$62,448
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Sulphur (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,209 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,486 | Actual |
| 2021 | $50,418 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,073 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,390 | Actual |
| 2024 | $43,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,471 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,448 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,490 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sulphur metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $50,209 (2019) to $60,471 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,490 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,281 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sulphur 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) | $39,817 – $48,183 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,183 – $62,448 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,448 – $79,934 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $79,934 – $96,795 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Sulphur
There are currently five court reporters employed in Sulphur, LA, making for a tight-knit community offering various avenues for employment. The area’s cost-of-living index stands at 90.3, which provides insight into the effective purchasing power of local salaries. Freelance and independent reporting opportunities are often the most lucrative, with deposition rates ranging from $3 to $8 per page, depending on turnaround times. On the other hand, official court reporters and federal court reporters may work under fixed salary scales that can limit potential earnings but offer stability. The real-time captioning specialty and CART services fetch elevated rates, sometimes reaching $150-$300 per hour, allowing those who invest in specialized training to maximize their pay potential. To optimize earnings in the Sulphur market, developing skills in real-time reporting or working closely with deposition firms could be advantageous, especially for those holding credentials such as RPR, RMR, or CRR.
More salary data for Sulphur, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Sulphur, LA in 2026?
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Can court reporters make $100K in Sulphur?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Sulphur?
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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 $60,471 for court reportersin the Sulphur 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 Sulphur 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