Court Reporter Salary in Laurel, MS: $41,451 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Laurel, MS earns a median $41,451/year (≈ $19.93/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Laurel's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.7), that paycheck buys what $48,368 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.5% below the Mississippi state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the court reporter salary in Laurel, Mississippi, is projected to be $41,451, significantly lower than the national median of $74,788. This discrepancy highlights the challenges faced by court reporters in smaller markets, where compensation often lags behind larger metropolitan areas. Salary estimates for this role show a range from $26,440 at the 10th percentile to $64,248 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diverse experience and workload among professionals in this field. These figures result from an analysis of BLS state-level data, adjusted for local economic conditions, emphasizing that court reporters in Laurel must often manage their earnings amidst varying deposition volumes and practices that can greatly influence compensation.
About the Laurel Market
Salary estimated from Mississippi average ($42,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $31,990 | $15.38 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $41,451 | $19.93 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $53,057 | $25.51 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $64,248 | $30.89 |
Median Salary Position
44.58% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Laurel
In Laurel, MS, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $37,808 (2026 est.). At $41,451, the local median is 44.58% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Laurel: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Laurel Court Reporter Pay Compares
Laurel median: $41,451/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Laurel Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Average | $44,811 | -7.50% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -44.58% less |
Court Reporters in Laurel, MS earn a median of $41,451 per year (2026 est.), which is 44.58% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 7.50% below the Mississippi state average of $44,811.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Laurel 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.
Laurel, MS has a cost-of-living index of 85.7 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $41,451 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $48,368 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.69% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$33,326
2025 BLS Actual
$40,138
2026 Current Est.
$41,451
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Laurel (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $33,326 | Actual |
| 2020 | $34,174 | Actual |
| 2021 | $33,465 | Actual |
| 2022 | $35,227 | Actual |
| 2023 | $35,438 | Actual |
| 2024 | $33,289 | Actual |
| 2025 | $40,138 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $41,451 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $42,806 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Laurel metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $33,326 (2019) to $40,138 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $42,806 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,480 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Laurel 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) | $26,440 – $31,990 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $31,990 – $41,451 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $41,451 – $53,057 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $53,057 – $64,248 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Laurel
Currently, there are six employed court reporters in Laurel, and the local cost-of-living index, which stands at 85.7, adds another layer to the salary equation. This lower cost of living can enhance take-home pay and purchasing power, despite salaries being below the national average. Freelance court reporters, who typically find work through agencies like Veritext or US Legal Support, can command rates that vary significantly depending on the rush turnaround required. Those focusing on realtime and CART services can benefit from the highest hourly rates, which range from $150 to $300 for live captioning. To increase their earnings, aspiring court reporters in Laurel should consider specializing in these high-demand areas and actively seeking freelance opportunities, as the competition from digital recording solutions intensifies and may reshape the landscape of official court reporting roles going forward.
More salary data for Laurel, 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 $40,138 for court reportersin the Laurel 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 Laurel 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