Court Reporter Salary in Kearney, NE: $65,898 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Kearney, NE earns a median $65,898/year (≈ $31.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Kearney's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $72,020 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.7% below the Nebraska state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Prospective court reporters in Kearney, NE, can expect a median annual salary of $65,898 in 2026, a figure that falls below the national median of $74,788. This discrepancy may be partly attributed to the diverse structural roles within the profession, particularly the distinction between freelance reporters and those employed officially by federal or state systems. The salary range within Kearney shows significant variability, with earnings projected to start at $41,422 and reach as high as $102,141. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local economic conditions, reflect the competitive yet limited nature of court reporter pay Kearney NE, influenced by factors such as market demand and employer type.
About the Kearney Market
Salary estimated from Nebraska average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,422 | $19.91 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $50,777 | $24.41 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,898 | $31.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $84,349 | $40.55 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $102,141 | $49.10 |
Median Salary Position
11.89% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kearney
In Kearney, NE, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $60,719 (2026 est.). At $65,898, the local median is 11.89% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kearney: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kearney Court Reporter Pay Compares
Kearney median: $65,898/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kearney Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $68,430 | -3.70% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -11.89% less |
Court Reporters in Kearney, NE earn a median of $65,898 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.89% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.70% below the Nebraska state average of $68,430.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kearney has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kearney, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $65,898 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,020 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$52,982
2025 BLS Actual
$63,811
2026 Current Est.
$65,898
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kearney (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,982 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,330 | Actual |
| 2021 | $53,202 | Actual |
| 2022 | $56,004 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,339 | Actual |
| 2024 | $47,581 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,811 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,898 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,052 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kearney metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $52,982 (2019) to $63,811 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,052 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,070 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kearney 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) | $41,422 – $50,777 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $50,777 – $65,898 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,898 – $84,349 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $84,349 – $102,141 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Kearney
Kearney's labor market currently employs nine court reporters, reflecting a stable but small cluster in this field. The local cost-of-living index stands at 91.5, suggesting that salaries offer reasonable purchasing power compared to national averages. For those aiming to maximize court reporter pay in Kearney, aligning with firms specializing in freelance work may yield higher returns, particularly given the per-page transcript rates ranging from $3 to $8 and premium rates for realtime captioning that can reach $300 per hour. Court reporters serving in official or federal capacities might have access to organized salary scales but could find their pay less competitive overall. To enhance earning potential, aspiring reporters should consider gaining NCRA certifications such as RPR or CRR, as these credentials can command a premium in specialized areas like CART services.
More salary data for Kearney, NE:
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 $63,811 for court reportersin the Kearney 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 Kearney 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