Court Reporter Salary in Kearny, NJ: $77,026 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Kearny, NJ earns a median $77,026/year (≈ $37.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Kearny's price level (15% above national, BEA RPP 115.2), that paycheck buys what $66,863 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the New Jersey state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Kearny, NJ, the financial outlook for court reporters reflects a promising landscape, with a median salary projected at $77,026 for 2026. This figure is slightly above the national median of $74,788, highlighting the competitive nature of the job market in the area. Salary ranges vary significantly, from a lower end of $49,239 to an upper tier of $119,390, suggesting that earnings can fluctuate based on experience, specialization, and workload. These estimates, derived from state-level data and adjusted for local cost factors, indicate that the volume of depositions and the nature of work—such as freelance engagements versus official court reporting—can greatly influence earning potential. Given the ongoing shortage of court reporters, as noted by the NCRA, Kearny presents unique opportunities for earning robust compensation.
About the Kearny Market
Salary estimated from New Jersey average ($75,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,239 | $23.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $77,026 | $37.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $98,593 | $47.40 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $119,390 | $57.40 |
Median Salary Position
2.99% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kearny
In Kearny, NJ, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $70,151 (2026 est.). At $77,026, the local median is 2.99% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kearny: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kearny Court Reporter Pay Compares
Kearny median: $77,026/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kearny Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Average | $79,655 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +2.99% more |
Court Reporters in Kearny, NJ earn a median of $77,026 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.99% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 3.30% below the New Jersey state average of $79,655.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kearny has a cost of living 15.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kearny, NJ has a cost-of-living index of 115.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $77,026 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $66,863 — a 13.19% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,929
2025 BLS Actual
$74,587
2026 Current Est.
$77,026
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kearny (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,929 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,505 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,187 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,462 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,853 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,583 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,587 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $77,026 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $79,545 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kearny metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $61,929 (2019) to $74,587 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $79,545 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,616 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kearny 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) | $49,239 – $59,780 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,780 – $77,026 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $77,026 – $98,593 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $98,593 – $119,390 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Kearny
In this close-knit city, where only 11 court reporters are currently employed, the job market demonstrates strength but also a layer of complexity influenced by cost of living, which sits at 115.2, indicating higher-than-average expenses. To maximize take-home pay, court reporters in Kearny should consider diverse employment avenues, particularly in freelance work, where per-page rates can vary from $3 to $8 depending on urgency and specifics of each deposition. Those who excel in realtime or CART services can command rates from $150 to $300 per hour, showcasing a substantial premium for specialized skills. With a balance between traditional court reporting jobs and the flexibility of freelance, professionals can navigate their careers strategically. By building a reputation and expanding their skill set, such as pursuing RPR or CART certifications, court reporters can effectively enhance their compensation in the Kearny NJ market.
More salary data for Kearny, NJ:
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 $74,587 for court reportersin the Kearny 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 Kearny 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