Court Reporter Salary in Hattiesburg, MS: $42,763 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Hattiesburg, MS earns a median $42,763/year (≈ $20.56/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Hattiesburg's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.7), that paycheck buys what $49,898 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.6% below the Mississippi state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the average annual court reporter salary in Hattiesburg, MS, is projected at $42,763, reflecting local dynamics that differentiate between freelance and official court reporting roles. The salary range is broad, starting at $26,372 for the lowest earners and reaching up to $66,283 for top professionals, illustrating the potential for substantial variance in pay within the field. These figures are estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for the region's cost of living, which stands below the national average. Hattiesburg's job market consists of only seven court reporters, indicating a relatively limited pool of professionals to fill this vital role, particularly as the demand for skilled reporters continues to grow amidst an industry shortage.
About the Hattiesburg Market
Salary estimated from Mississippi average ($42,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $26,372 | $12.68 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $32,484 | $15.61 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $42,763 | $20.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $54,737 | $26.31 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $66,283 | $31.87 |
Median Salary Position
42.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hattiesburg
In Hattiesburg, MS, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $39,911 (2026 est.). At $42,763, the local median is 42.82% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hattiesburg: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Hattiesburg Court Reporter Pay Compares
Hattiesburg median: $42,763/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hattiesburg Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Average | $44,825 | -4.60% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -42.82% less |
Court Reporters in Hattiesburg, MS earn a median of $42,763 per year (2026 est.), which is 42.82% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 4.60% below the Mississippi state average of $44,825.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hattiesburg has a cost of living 14.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hattiesburg, MS has a cost-of-living index of 85.7 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $42,763 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $49,898 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.68% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$34,382
2025 BLS Actual
$41,409
2026 Current Est.
$42,763
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Hattiesburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $34,382 | Actual |
| 2020 | $35,257 | Actual |
| 2021 | $34,525 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,343 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,560 | Actual |
| 2024 | $34,343 | Actual |
| 2025 | $41,409 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42,763 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,161 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hattiesburg metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $34,382 (2019) to $41,409 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,161 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,779 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hattiesburg 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) | $26,372 – $32,484 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $32,484 – $42,763 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $42,763 – $54,737 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $54,737 – $66,283 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Hattiesburg
Examining the local job market reveals that while the number of court reporters is low, opportunities exist alongside a cost-of-living index of 85.7, suggesting that salaries in Hattiesburg stretch further than in many higher-cost areas. Freelance court reporters typically earn more than their official counterparts, particularly when working for agencies like Veritext or Esquire, with per-page rates ranging from $3 to $8 based on urgency. The higher end of the pay scale tends to be dominated by realtime and CART providers, who can command hourly rates between $150 and $300 for live captioning services. Factors such as experience, specialty certifications like RPR or CRR, and the volume of pages transcribed during depositions will influence earning potential. Aspiring court reporters in Hattiesburg can maximize their pay by focusing on realtime transcription skills and building connections within local legal firms, capitalizing on the current demand in the field.
More salary data for Hattiesburg, MS:
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 $41,409 for court reportersin the Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg 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