Court Reporter Salary in Salem, MA: $78,186 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Salem, MA earns a median $78,186/year (≈ $37.59/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Salem's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $72,061 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.6% below the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the average court reporter salary in Salem, Massachusetts, is projected to be $78,186, which reflects a notable increase compared to the national median of $74,788. This growth is likely driven by the ongoing shortage in the court reporting workforce, where specialties like realtime transcription and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) are in high demand, bringing about a premium for those who achieve the Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) credential. The local salary range extends from $49,465 at the lower end (P10) to $121,188 at the higher end (P90), suggesting a diverse market where experience, skill set, and specialty play significant roles. These estimates are derived from the 2025 BLS data, adjusted for the local economy and cost of living in Salem.
About the Salem Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,465 | $23.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,314 | $29.00 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $78,186 | $37.59 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $100,078 | $48.11 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $121,188 | $58.26 |
Median Salary Position
4.54% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Salem
In Salem, MA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,723 (2026 est.). At $78,186, the local median is 4.54% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Salem: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Salem Court Reporter Pay Compares
Salem median: $78,186/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Salem Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $81,106 | -3.60% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +4.54% more |
Court Reporters in Salem, MA earn a median of $78,186 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.54% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 3.60% below the Massachusetts state average of $81,106.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Salem has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Salem, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $78,186 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $72,061 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,862
2025 BLS Actual
$75,710
2026 Current Est.
$78,186
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Salem (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,862 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,461 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,123 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,447 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,845 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,543 | Actual |
| 2025 | $75,710 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,186 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $80,742 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Salem metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $62,862 (2019) to $75,710 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,742 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,880 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Salem 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) | $49,465 – $60,314 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,314 – $78,186 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $78,186 – $100,078 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $100,078 – $121,188 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Salem
Currently, only eight court reporters are employed in Salem, indicating a tight job market. The cost of living index stands at 108.5, which is higher than the national average and can impact take-home pay. Jurisdictions that typically offer the highest compensation include independent reporting firms like Veritext and Esquire, as well as federal court positions. The disparity in salaries can be attributed to various factors: freelance rates for transcriptions, which range from $3 to $8 per page, significantly affect income, while realtime services command rates as high as $300 per hour. To maximize earnings in this competitive sector, court reporters in Salem should consider seeking certifications, networking within the industry, and diversifying their skill sets to include CART and broadcast captioning, which can enhance their value to employers and increase overall court reporter pay in Salem, MA.
More salary data for Salem, 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 $75,710 for court reportersin the Salem 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 Salem 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