Court Reporter Salary in Dracut, MA: $77,725 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Dracut, MA earns a median $77,725/year (≈ $37.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Dracut's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $71,636 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Dracut, Massachusetts, the role of court reporters is showing promising compensation trends, reflected in the projected median annual salary of $77,725 for 2026. This figure is notably higher than the national median of $74,788, illustrating a competitive local market for court reporting professionals. Salaries in this field range from a lower end of $48,507 at the 10th percentile, reaching up to $120,474 for those in the 90th percentile. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price parities, reveal how deposition volumes and ongoing demand for stenographic services play a vital role in determining effective compensation for court reporters in Dracut.
About the Dracut Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,507 | $23.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,391 | $28.55 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $77,725 | $37.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,488 | $47.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $120,474 | $57.92 |
Median Salary Position
3.93% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Dracut
In Dracut, MA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,967 (2026 est.). At $77,725, the local median is 3.93% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Dracut: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Dracut Court Reporter Pay Compares
Dracut median: $77,725/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Dracut Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $81,133 | -4.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +3.93% more |
Court Reporters in Dracut, MA earn a median of $77,725 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.93% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 4.20% below the Massachusetts state average of $81,133.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Dracut has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Dracut, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $77,725 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $71,636 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,491
2025 BLS Actual
$75,264
2026 Current Est.
$77,725
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Dracut (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,491 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,081 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,751 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,056 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,451 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,063 | Actual |
| 2025 | $75,264 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $77,725 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $80,267 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Dracut metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $62,491 (2019) to $75,264 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,267 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,776 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Dracut 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) | $48,507 – $59,391 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,391 – $77,725 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $77,725 – $99,488 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,488 – $120,474 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Dracut
With only six court reporters employed in Dracut, the job market remains quite niche yet essential, especially considering the area’s cost of living index of 108.5, which is above the national average. This higher cost of living influences take-home pay, making it crucial for local court reporters to strategically maximize their income. Freelance court reporters often experience the highest earning potential, capitalizing on per-page transcript rates that can range from $3 to $8 depending on urgency. Additionally, opportunities exist for higher pay among official court reporters within state and federal systems, as well as specialized roles like realtime captioners and CART providers who can command $150 to $300 per hour. Given the chronic shortage of court reporters, estimated at a 5,500-reporter gap nationally, those in Dracut who enhance their skills and gain NCRA certifications may find themselves in a strong position to negotiate higher salaries and benefit from the increasing demand for their expertise.
More salary data for Dracut, 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 $75,264 for court reportersin the Dracut 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 Dracut 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