Court Reporter Salary in Brookline, MA: $78,705 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Brookline, MA earns a median $78,705/year (≈ $37.84/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Brookline's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $72,539 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.0% below the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Brookline, Massachusetts, court reporters can anticipate a median annual salary of $78,705, which highlights a competitive pay scale compared to the national median of $74,788. The local salary range for this profession varies considerably, with the lowest 10% earning around $46,668 and the top 10% making approximately $121,993. These figures represent estimates based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, along with regional price adjustments. As a hub for legal and professional services, Brookline's court reporter market is defined by the volume of deposition work and per-page transcript economics, which significantly influences overall compensation.
About the Brookline Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,668 | $22.44 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,497 | $28.12 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $78,705 | $37.84 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $100,743 | $48.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $121,993 | $58.65 |
Median Salary Position
5.24% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Brookline
In Brookline, MA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $75,325 (2026 est.). At $78,705, the local median is 5.24% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Brookline: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Brookline Court Reporter Pay Compares
Brookline median: $78,705/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Brookline Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $81,139 | -3.00% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +5.24% more |
Court Reporters in Brookline, MA earn a median of $78,705 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.24% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 3.00% below the Massachusetts state average of $81,139.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Brookline has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Brookline, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $78,705 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $72,539 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,279
2025 BLS Actual
$76,213
2026 Current Est.
$78,705
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Brookline (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,279 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,889 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,542 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,889 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,289 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,085 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,213 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,705 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,279 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Brookline metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $63,279 (2019) to $76,213 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,279 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,000 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Brookline 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) | $46,668 – $58,497 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,497 – $78,705 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $78,705 – $100,743 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $100,743 – $121,993 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Brookline
With 13 court reporters currently employed in Brookline, the local job market offers a limited but stable employment opportunity for professionals in this sector. The area has a higher cost of living index at 108.5, which affects take-home purchasing power. Independent and freelance court reporters, often working through firms like Veritext and Esquire, have the potential to earn significantly more per-page rates, especially for expedited assignments. Real-time captioning specialists and broadcast captioners also command premium rates, often ranging from $150 to $300 per hour for live services. Understanding these dynamics and leveraging high-demand services such as CART can maximize compensation. To stay competitive, court reporters should focus on maintaining their NCRA certifications and adapting to technological changes within the industry, which increasingly favor realtime services over traditional transcription methods.
More salary data for Brookline, MA:
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 $76,213 for court reportersin the Brookline 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 Brookline 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