Court Reporter Salary in Butte, MT: $53,793 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Butte, MT earns a median $53,793/year (≈ $25.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Butte's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.2), that paycheck buys what $55,918 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the Montana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Butte, Montana, can expect a median salary of $53,793, significantly below the national median of $74,788. Local data indicates a salary range from $31,200 at the 10th percentile to $83,380 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the disparity between freelance and official court reporter roles. Independent court reporters typically generate income based on per-page rates which can range widely, while those employed by the state or federal court systems often earn salaries that align with established pay scales. These estimates, drawn from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional economic conditions, reflect the ongoing demands and structural dynamics within the court reporting profession in Butte, where the competition from digital recording is reshaping pay structures and opportunities.
About the Butte Market
Salary estimated from Montana average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,200 | $15.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,853 | $19.64 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $53,793 | $25.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,855 | $33.11 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,380 | $40.09 |
Median Salary Position
28.07% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Butte
In Butte, MT, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $52,180 (2026 est.). At $53,793, the local median is 28.07% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Butte: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Butte Court Reporter Pay Compares
Butte median: $53,793/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Butte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $55,343 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -28.07% less |
Court Reporters in Butte, MT earn a median of $53,793 per year (2026 est.), which is 28.07% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.80% below the Montana state average of $55,343.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Butte has a cost of living 3.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Butte, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.2 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $53,793 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $55,918 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.95% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$43,250
2025 BLS Actual
$52,090
2026 Current Est.
$53,793
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Butte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $43,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,351 | Actual |
| 2021 | $43,430 | Actual |
| 2022 | $45,717 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,991 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,615 | Actual |
| 2025 | $52,090 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53,793 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $55,552 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Butte metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $43,250 (2019) to $52,090 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $55,552 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,302 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Butte 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) | $31,200 – $40,853 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,853 – $53,793 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $53,793 – $68,855 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,855 – $83,380 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Butte
The job market for court reporters in Butte remains relatively small, with only seven professionals currently employed in the field. The cost of living index for the area stands at 96.2, suggesting that living expenses are below the national average, which might make the local salaries more palatable in terms of actual purchasing power. Among employers, freelance reporting positions often yield the highest pay, particularly for those skilled in realtime gross captioning and CART services, which can command premium rates. The income gap within the court reporter salary in Butte hinges on several factors, including the volume of transcripts produced and the types of services provided, such as courtroom reporting versus depositions. To maximize earning potential, court reporters should focus on building expertise in specialized areas like CART services or seek freelance opportunities that offer competitive rates, capitalizing on the chronic shortage of skilled professionals in this market.
More salary data for Butte, MT:
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 $52,090 for court reportersin the Butte 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 Butte 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