Court Reporter Salary in Union, NJ: $80,379 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Union, NJ earns a median $80,379/year (≈ $38.64/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Union's price level (15% above national, BEA RPP 115.2), that paycheck buys what $69,773 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.0% above the New Jersey state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Union, New Jersey, the projected median annual salary for court reporters in 2026 is $80,379, surpassing the national median of $74,788 by 7.48%. This figure derives from local estimates based on 2025 BLS data and regional cost adjustments. Court reporters in Union can expect a salary range from $46,620 at the 10th percentile to $124,588 at the 90th percentile. The ability to increase earnings significantly often hinges on the volume of deposition work, as compensation commonly operates on a per-page basis. Therefore, those who manage to secure high-volume contracts tend to achieve better financial outcomes.
About the Union Market
Salary estimated from New Jersey average ($75,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $58,777 | $28.25 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $80,379 | $38.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,886 | $49.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $124,588 | $59.90 |
Median Salary Position
7.48% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Union
In Union, NJ, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,968 (2026 est.). At $80,379, the local median is 7.48% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Union: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Union Court Reporter Pay Compares
Union median: $80,379/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Union Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Average | $79,583 | +1.00% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +7.48% more |
Court Reporters in Union, NJ earn a median of $80,379 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.48% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 1.00% above the New Jersey state average of $79,583.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Union has a cost of living 15.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Union, NJ has a cost-of-living index of 115.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $80,379 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $69,773 — a 13.19% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,625
2025 BLS Actual
$77,834
2026 Current Est.
$80,379
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Union (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,625 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,270 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,894 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,312 | Actual |
| 2023 | $68,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $87,223 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,834 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $80,379 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $83,008 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Union metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $64,625 (2019) to $77,834 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,008 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,383 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Union 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) | $46,620 – $58,777 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $58,777 – $80,379 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $80,379 – $102,886 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,886 – $124,588 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Union
Evaluating the job market for court reporters in Union reveals a workforce of 15 professionals currently employed. With a cost-of-living index of 115.2, it’s evident that living expenses are above the national average, which can impact take-home pay. Freelance court reporting opportunities, which represent a substantial segment of employment, often provide the highest compensation, particularly for high-demand services such as realtime transcription or CART, where rates can soar to $150-$300 per hour. To optimize earnings in this competitive landscape, court reporters should focus on expanding their skill set—such as obtaining NCRA certifications, including RPR, and adapting to digital reporting tools alongside traditional stenography. Engaging with multiple clients and leveraging high-volume deposition work can also enhance overall pay structures within Union, NJ.
More salary data for Union, NJ:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Union, NJ in 2026?
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Can court reporters make $100K in Union?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Union?
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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 $77,834 for court reportersin the Union 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 Union 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