Court Reporter Salary in Owatonna, MN: $73,129 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Owatonna, MN earns a median $73,129/year (≈ $35.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Owatonna's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.5), that paycheck buys what $74,243 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% below the Minnesota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Owatonna, Minnesota, the projected median salary for court reporters is $73,129 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $74,788. The salary range in the region varies significantly, from $42,415 at the lowest percentile to $113,349 at the highest. This wide range reflects the structural divide in the field between freelance and official court reporters. Many court reporters in Owatonna operate as freelancers, often booking through firms like Veritext and US Legal Support, which influences their earning potential based on demand, turnaround time, and the complexity of their clients' needs. Such variables create distinct pay trends in this local job market.
About the Owatonna Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($65,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,415 | $20.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,998 | $25.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $73,129 | $35.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $93,605 | $45.01 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,349 | $54.50 |
Median Salary Position
2.22% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Owatonna
In Owatonna, MN, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $70,934 (2026 est.). At $73,129, the local median is 2.22% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Owatonna: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Owatonna Court Reporter Pay Compares
Owatonna median: $73,129/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Owatonna Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $73,644 | -0.70% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -2.22% less |
Court Reporters in Owatonna, MN earn a median of $73,129 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.22% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.70% below the Minnesota state average of $73,644.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Owatonna 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.
Owatonna, MN has a cost-of-living index of 98.5 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $73,129 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,243 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$58,796
2025 BLS Actual
$70,813
2026 Current Est.
$73,129
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Owatonna (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $58,796 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,292 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,150 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,521 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,557 | Actual |
| 2025 | $70,813 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,129 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $75,520 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Owatonna metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $58,796 (2019) to $70,813 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,520 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,724 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Owatonna 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) | $42,415 – $52,998 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,998 – $73,129 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $73,129 – $93,605 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $93,605 – $113,349 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Owatonna
With only six court reporters employed in Owatonna, the job market remains relatively small, which can impact salary negotiations for those entering the field. The cost of living index in the city stands at 98.5, indicating a moderately lower cost of living compared to the national average. For court reporters seeking the highest pay, pursuing certifications such as RPR, RMR, or CRR can lead to increased opportunities, especially in realtime and CART services, which command higher hourly rates. Additionally, understanding the pricing structure used by employers is essential. Freelancers can earn between $3 to $8 per page for transcripts, while realtime captioning might offer $150 to $300 per hour. Those who specialize in official court reporting must consider the scales set by state and federal systems as they navigate their compensation in the evolving landscape that often favors digital recording technologies alongside traditional stenography.
More salary data for Owatonna, 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 $70,813 for court reportersin the Owatonna 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 Owatonna 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