Court Reporter Salary in Minnesota: $78,911 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Minnesota's 44 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $78,911/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because Minnesota sits at BEA RPP 98.5 (1% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $80,113 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Minneapolis ($86,900), St. Paul ($86,028), Bloomington ($85,360).
In 2026, court reporters in Minnesota can expect an average median salary of $78,911, which is 5.5% higher than the national median of $74,788. The highest-paying city in the state is Minneapolis, where salaries reach $89,742, while Faribault offers the lowest salaries at $69,587. The significant salary difference of $20,155 between these cities is influenced by factors such as the concentration of legal and business activity in urban areas, demand for court reporting services, and the cost of living. Minnesota requires court reporters to be certified, with specific licensing requirements that can impact job opportunities. The projected annual growth rate for this profession in the state is 3.27%, suggesting a steady demand for skilled court reporters. Total employment is estimated at 666 individuals in this role. The top five cities for court reporter salaries are Minneapolis at $89,742, followed closely by St. Paul at $88,841, Bloomington at $88,151, Maple Grove at $74,665, and Woodbury at $74,636. With a growing legal field and increasing reliance on transcription services, the job market outlook for court reporters in Minnesota remains positive.
Minnesota Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in Minnesota: $40,413 (lowest entry-level) to $137,703 (highest top earner)
Minnesota vs National Average
Minnesota court reporters earn 5.51% more than the national median (+$4,123/year difference).
Minnesota Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in Minnesota range from $50,042 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $113,612 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $78,911. The Minnesota median is $4,123 above the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $37.94/hr. Approximately 666 court reporters are employed across 44 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$76,490
2025 BLS Actual
$76,412
2026 Current Est.
$78,911
2019–2027 Growth
+6.5%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Minnesota (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,490 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,040 | Actual |
| 2021 | $78,790 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,970 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,350 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,511 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,412 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,911 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,491 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Minnesota metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew -0.1% from $76,490 (2019) to $76,412 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,491 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,001 (6.54%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Minnesota 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Minnesota
Lowest Paying Cities in Minnesota
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in Minnesota
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Minnesota cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul | $88,841 | 98.5 | $90,194 |
| Bloomington | $88,151 | 98.5 | $89,493 |
| Minneapolis | $89,742 | 104.822 | $85,614 |
| Maple Grove | $74,665 | 98.5 | $75,802 |
| Woodbury | $74,636 | 98.5 | $75,773 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Minnesota
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $50,042 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $78,911 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $113,612 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Minnesota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 44 Cities in Minnesota
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $89,742 |
| 2 | St. Paul | $88,841 |
| 3 | Bloomington | $88,151 |
| 4 | Maple Grove | $74,665 |
| 5 | Woodbury | $74,636 |
| 6 | Eden Prairie | $74,566 |
| 7 | Duluth | $74,292 |
| 8 | Rochester | $74,156 |
| 9 | Owatonna | $73,129 |
| 10 | St. Cloud | $73,125 |
| 11 | Brooklyn Park | $73,033 |
| 12 | Plymouth | $72,903 |
| 13 | Roseville | $72,860 |
| 14 | Chaska | $72,803 |
| 15 | Minnetonka | $72,787 |
| 16 | Cottage Grove | $72,705 |
| 17 | Burnsville | $72,647 |
| 18 | Lakeville | $72,379 |
| 19 | Chanhassen | $72,328 |
| 20 | Inver Grove Heights | $72,214 |
| 21 | Eagan | $72,203 |
| 22 | Brooklyn Center | $72,186 |
| 23 | Elk River | $72,174 |
| 24 | Prior Lake | $72,100 |
| 25 | Ramsey | $71,837 |
| 26 | Blaine | $71,533 |
| 27 | Apple Valley | $71,422 |
| 28 | Shakopee | $71,351 |
| 29 | Coon Rapids | $71,340 |
| 30 | Savage | $71,225 |
| 31 | Edina | $71,217 |
| 32 | Maplewood | $71,007 |
| 33 | Andover | $70,991 |
| 34 | Richfield | $70,957 |
| 35 | St. Louis Park | $70,951 |
| 36 | Moorhead | $70,847 |
| 37 | Mankato | $70,831 |
| 38 | Northfield | $70,335 |
| 39 | Hastings | $70,185 |
| 40 | Fridley | $69,870 |
| 41 | Winona | $69,814 |
| 42 | Shoreview | $69,785 |
| 43 | Austin | $69,676 |
| 44 | Faribault | $69,587 |
More Minnesota Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore court reporter hourly pay in Minnesota cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Compare Cities in Minnesota
View all comparisons →Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Minnesota in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for court reporters in Minnesota?
How does Minnesota court reporter pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level court reporter salary in Minnesota?
How many court reporters are employed in Minnesota?
Which Minnesota city offers the best value for court reporters?
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
Statewide 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. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 court reporter compensation across Minnesota. State averages are employment-weighted across 44 metro areas — larger metro areas with more court reporterscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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