Court Reporter Salary in Minneapolis, MN: $89,742 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Minneapolis, MN earns a median $89,742/year (≈ $43.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Minneapolis's price level (5% above national, BEA RPP 104.8), that paycheck buys what $85,614 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 21.8% above the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Minneapolis, court reporters can expect to earn a median annual salary of $89,742 in 2026, considerably higher than the national median of $74,788, reflecting the city's healthy demand for skilled stenographers. The salary range for this profession in the area varies from $66,248 at the lower end (P10) to $102,888 at the upper end (P90). These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, indicating a strong market for court reporters, particularly those certified as Registered Professional Reporters (RPR) or Certified Realtime Reporters (CRR). The increasing need for realtime and CART specialists adds a premium to those positions, making it an attractive field for qualified professionals in Minneapolis.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $66,248 | $31.85 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $74,230 | $35.69 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $89,742 | $43.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $91,291 | $43.89 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $102,888 | $49.47 |
Median Salary Position
20.00% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Minneapolis
In Minneapolis, MN, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $36,640 (2026 est.). At $89,742, the local median is 20% above the national median of $74,788.
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At 40 hours/week in Minneapolis: You'd be above the median
How Minneapolis Court Reporter Pay Compares
Minneapolis median: $89,742/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Minneapolis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $73,679 | +21.80% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +20.00% more |
Court Reporters in Minneapolis, MN earn a median of $89,742 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.00% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 21.80% above the Minnesota state average of $73,679.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Minneapolis has a cost of living 4.82% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Minneapolis, MN has a cost-of-living index of 104.822 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $89,742 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $85,614 — a 4.6% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,490
2025 BLS Actual
$86,900
2026 Current Est.
$89,742
2019–2027 Growth
+21.2%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Minneapolis (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 | $68,490 | Actual |
| 2025 | $86,900 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $89,742 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $92,676 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Minneapolis metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 13.6% from $76,490 (2019) to $86,900 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $92,676 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,186 (21.16%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Minneapolis 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) | $66,248 – $74,230 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $74,230 – $89,742 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $89,742 – $91,291 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $91,291 – $102,888 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Minneapolis
The job market for court reporters in Minneapolis is robust, with approximately 160 professionals employed locally. Coupled with a cost of living index of 104.822, the purchasing power for court reporters may be more favorable compared to other markets, despite the city's above-average expenses. Freelance court reporting remains the most common employment model, with firms like Veritext and US Legal Support typically offering competitive per-page rates ranging from $3 to $8, influenced by factors such as turnaround time. State and federal court employees often follow official salary scales, which can lead to variability in pay, especially between types of reporting, such as broadcast captioning and CART services. For those looking to maximize their earnings in Minneapolis, building a diverse skill set can be advantageous; acquiring realtime certification or specializing in sectors like the legal or broadcast industry can increase earning potential significantly.
More salary data for Minneapolis, 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 $86,900 for court reportersin the Minneapolis 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
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