Court Reporter Salary in Somerville, MA: $82,252 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Somerville, MA earns a median $82,252/year (≈ $39.54/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Somerville's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 108.5), that paycheck buys what $75,808 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% above the Massachusetts state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Somerville, Massachusetts, the projected median annual salary for court reporters in 2026 is set at $82,252, which reflects a competitive edge over the national median of $74,788. The salary range for this profession in the city spans from $48,003 at the 10th percentile to $127,491 at the 90th percentile, indicating a notable variance in pay based on experience, specialization, and demand. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, with adjustments made for local economic conditions. The job market for court reporters in Somerville benefits from a unique position, especially for those skilled in realtime reporting and CART services, where certification can significantly elevate earning potential.
About the Somerville Market
Salary estimated from Massachusetts average ($78,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,003 | $23.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,558 | $29.11 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,252 | $39.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $105,283 | $50.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $127,491 | $61.29 |
Median Salary Position
9.98% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Somerville
In Somerville, MA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $79,488 (2026 est.). At $82,252, the local median is 9.98% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Somerville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Somerville Court Reporter Pay Compares
Somerville median: $82,252/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Somerville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $81,117 | +1.40% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +9.98% more |
Court Reporters in Somerville, MA earn a median of $82,252 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.98% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 1.40% above the Massachusetts state average of $81,117.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Somerville has a cost of living 8.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Somerville, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $82,252 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $75,808 — a 7.83% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$66,131
2025 BLS Actual
$79,648
2026 Current Est.
$82,252
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Somerville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66,131 | Actual |
| 2020 | $67,814 | Actual |
| 2021 | $66,406 | Actual |
| 2022 | $69,904 | Actual |
| 2023 | $70,322 | Actual |
| 2024 | $85,784 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,648 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,252 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $84,942 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Somerville metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $66,131 (2019) to $79,648 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,942 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,811 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Somerville 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) | $48,003 – $60,558 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,558 – $82,252 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,252 – $105,283 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $105,283 – $127,491 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Somerville
The job market in Somerville currently employs about 20 court reporters, but the average cost of living index at 108.5 indicates that living expenses are higher than the national norm, which could impact take-home earnings. Various employers offer differing pay structures in this area, with freelance and independent reporting being the most common routes. Often, these court reporters secure contracts through established firms like Veritext and Esquire, which can yield higher earnings depending on urgency and volume of work. Additionally, official court reporters working for the state or federal court systems typically receive salaries based on civil service pay scales. The potential earnings can see substantial variation, as realtime and CART services command premium rates of $150 to $300 per hour, while freelance rates of $3 to $8 per page often depend on the complexity and turnaround time of transcripts. To maximize earnings in Somerville, court reporters should focus on attaining certifications such as CRR or RPR and seek opportunities in specialized fields like CART reporting, given the ongoing shortage within the profession.
More salary data for Somerville, 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 $79,648 for court reportersin the Somerville 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 Somerville 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