Court Reporter Salary in Chicopee, MA: $80,735 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Chicopee, MA earns a median $80,735/year (≈ $38.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Chicopee's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $74,410 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% below the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the court reporter salary in Chicopee, Massachusetts, is projected to reach a median annual compensation of $80,735, exceeding the national average salary of $74,788 by nearly 8%. This competitive pay bracket reflects a salary range from $46,827 at the lower end (P10) to $125,139 at the high end (P90), indicating a diverse spectrum of earnings influenced by factors such as experience level and employment structure. While many court reporters operate as freelancers—often through firms like Veritext, US Legal Support, and Esquire—official court reporters working for state or federal agencies also contribute to the local numbers. Given the chronic shortage in the workforce, particularly due to the growing competition from digital recording methods, Chicopee's unique job market is poised to offer varied opportunities in this essential field.
About the Chicopee Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,827 | $22.51 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,130 | $27.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $80,735 | $38.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $103,341 | $49.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $125,139 | $60.17 |
Median Salary Position
7.95% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Chicopee
In Chicopee, MA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $78,312 (2026 est.). At $80,735, the local median is 7.95% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Chicopee: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Chicopee Court Reporter Pay Compares
Chicopee median: $80,735/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Chicopee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $81,141 | -0.50% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +7.95% more |
Court Reporters in Chicopee, MA earn a median of $80,735 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.95% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 0.50% below the Massachusetts state average of $81,141.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Chicopee has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Chicopee, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $80,735 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $74,410 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,912
2025 BLS Actual
$78,179
2026 Current Est.
$80,735
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Chicopee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,912 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,563 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,182 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,614 | Actual |
| 2023 | $69,025 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,203 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,179 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $80,735 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $83,376 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Chicopee metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $64,912 (2019) to $78,179 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,376 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,464 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Chicopee 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) | $46,827 – $58,130 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,130 – $80,735 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $80,735 – $103,341 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $103,341 – $125,139 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Chicopee
Analyzing the local job market reveals a modest yet stable presence of approximately 10 court reporters in the Chicopee area, which could lead to increased competition for freelance assignments and potentially stabilizing pay. The cost of living index in Chicopee stands at 108.5, slightly above the national average, suggesting that while salaries are relatively attractive, the actual purchasing power may be impacted. Among local employers, independent contractors often earn the highest rates, particularly for complex realtime reporting or CART services, with pay reaching between $150 and $300 per hour for live captioning. However, official court reporters might see salaries dictated by civil service scales, creating disparities based on the employment type. To maximize earnings in this specific market, court reporters should pursue realtime and CART certifications to capitalize on specialty pay, while self-promoting their freelance services and tapping into niche markets to build a sustainable client base alongside their official roles.
More salary data for Chicopee, 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 $78,179 for court reportersin the Chicopee 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 Chicopee 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