Court Reporter Salary in Needham, MA: $79,728 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Needham, MA earns a median $79,728/year (≈ $38.33/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Needham's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $73,482 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.7% below the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Needham, Massachusetts, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $79,728, which reflects a notable premium over the national median of $74,788. The salary range for this profession locally spans from $46,443 at the 10th percentile to $123,578 at the 90th percentile, illustrating the significant variation in earnings based on experience, specialization, and volume of work. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost factors, provide a realistic picture of compensation in Needham's court reporting market. With an effective court reporting environment, those looking to establish or further their careers will find a competitive landscape that favors proactive engagement in volume-heavy deposition work.
About the Needham Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,443 | $22.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,534 | $28.14 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,728 | $38.33 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,051 | $49.06 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $123,578 | $59.41 |
Median Salary Position
6.61% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Needham
In Needham, MA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,135 (2026 est.). At $79,728, the local median is 6.61% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Needham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Needham Court Reporter Pay Compares
Needham median: $79,728/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Needham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $81,106 | -1.70% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +6.61% more |
Court Reporters in Needham, MA earn a median of $79,728 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.61% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 1.70% below the Massachusetts state average of $81,106.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Needham has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Needham, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $79,728 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $73,482 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,101
2025 BLS Actual
$77,203
2026 Current Est.
$79,728
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Needham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,101 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,732 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,368 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,758 | Actual |
| 2023 | $68,163 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,152 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,203 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,728 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $82,335 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Needham metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $64,101 (2019) to $77,203 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $82,335 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,234 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Needham 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) | $46,443 – $58,534 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,534 – $79,728 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,728 – $102,051 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,051 – $123,578 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Needham
The court reporter job market in Needham features six actively employed professionals, indicating a dense yet occasionally competitive atmosphere for entry-level reporters. Given that the cost of living index is 108.5, salaries in this area must be viewed against the backdrop of higher local expenses, impacting take-home pay. Freelance and independent court reporting typically offers the highest earning potential in Needham, especially through firms like Veritext or US Legal Support, where per-page rates can range from $3 to $8 depending on urgency and turnaround time. High-demand specialties like realtime reporting and CART transcription services further elevate earnings, with some professionals charging between $150 and $300 per hour for live captioning. Aspiring court reporters should focus on building a solid freelance client base to take advantage of the growing opportunities, particularly in light of the chronic reporter shortage highlighted by NCRA forecasts.
More salary data for Needham, 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 $77,203 for court reportersin the Needham 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 Needham 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