Court Reporter Salary in Mankato, MN: $70,831 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Mankato, MN earns a median $70,831/year (≈ $34.06/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Mankato's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.5), that paycheck buys what $71,910 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.8% below the Minnesota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Mankato, Minnesota, court reporters earn a median annual salary of $70,831, reflecting the city's unique market dynamics and the specialized skills demanded within the profession. The salary spectrum ranges from $44,644 at the 10th percentile to $109,787 at the 90th percentile, indicating a significant potential for growth and specialization. These figures are based on estimates derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for the regional cost of living. Considering the increasing reliance on realtime and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services, which command higher hourly rates, the court reporter salary in Mankato reflects the broader trends in the field that reward competence with advanced technology and certification credentials like CRR.
About the Mankato Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($65,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,644 | $21.46 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,447 | $26.18 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $70,831 | $34.06 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $90,664 | $43.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $109,787 | $52.78 |
Median Salary Position
5.29% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Mankato
In Mankato, MN, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $65,143 (2026 est.). At $70,831, the local median is 5.29% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Mankato: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Mankato Court Reporter Pay Compares
Mankato median: $70,831/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Mankato Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $73,629 | -3.80% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -5.29% less |
Court Reporters in Mankato, MN earn a median of $70,831 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.29% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.80% below the Minnesota state average of $73,629.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Mankato has a cost of living 1.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Mankato, MN has a cost-of-living index of 98.5 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $70,831 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $71,910 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,948
2025 BLS Actual
$68,588
2026 Current Est.
$70,831
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Mankato (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,948 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,397 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,185 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,197 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,557 | Actual |
| 2024 | $61,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,588 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $70,831 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $73,147 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Mankato metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $56,948 (2019) to $68,588 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $73,147 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,199 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Mankato 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) | $44,644 – $54,447 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,447 – $70,831 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $70,831 – $90,664 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $90,664 – $109,787 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Mankato
Focusing on the local job market, Mankato has a tight-knit community of eight court reporters, and the cost of living index stands at 98.5, suggesting that salaries, while slightly below the national average, can afford a comfortable lifestyle. Competition among employers also plays a significant role in determining pay. Freelance court reporters booking through major firms like Veritext often have lucrative pay rates based on per-page transcript fees, while official court reporters within the state court system typically earn fixed salaries based on civil service scales. This disparity emphasizes the importance of specialization; those who offer CART services or operate as broadcast captioners can earn substantially more, commanding rates that range from $150 to $300 per hour for live captioning events. For aspiring court reporters in Mankato, maximizing pay strategies from seeking further certification to expanding networks in diverse reporting sectors can be a pathway to increased earnings and job fulfillment.
More salary data for Mankato, MN:
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 $68,588 for court reportersin the Mankato 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 Mankato 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