Court Reporter Salary in New Mexico: $59,118 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across New Mexico's 17 metropolitan areas, the average median court reporter pay sits at $59,118/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-3092. Because New Mexico sits at BEA RPP 94.4 (6% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $62,625 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Albuquerque ($60,550), Las Cruces ($57,443), Rio Rancho ($57,227).
In New Mexico, the average median salary for court reporters in 2026 is projected to be $59,118, which is significantly lower than the national median of $74,788, resulting in a 21.0% salary difference. The highest-paying city in the state is Albuquerque, where court reporters can expect to earn around $62,530, while those in Taos can earn as low as $52,823. This salary gap of $9,707 may be driven by the cost of living differences, the concentration of legal employment opportunities, and the local demand for court reporting services. Licensing requirements in New Mexico underline the necessity of a certified shorthand reporter (CSR) certificate for practice, ensuring a standard of quality in the field. The demand for court reporters is projected to grow, with an annual growth rate of 3.27% from 2025 BLS data, highlighting a steady need for these professionals. Significant cities for employment future are Las Cruces with a projected salary of $59,321, Rio Rancho at $59,098, and Santa Fe at $57,974. This positive job market outlook reflects a consistent need for court reporting services in various legal settings across the state.
New Mexico Court Reporter Salary Range
Overall salary range in New Mexico: $32,251 (lowest entry-level) to $96,922 (highest top earner)
New Mexico vs National Average
New Mexico court reporters earn 20.95% less than the national median ($-15,670/year difference).
New Mexico Court Reporter Salary Distribution (2026)
Court Reporter salaries in New Mexico range from $34,710 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $91,632 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $59,118. The New Mexico median is $15,670 below the US national median of $74,788. The average hourly rate is $28.42/hr. Approximately 257 court reporters are employed across 17 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$57,900
2025 BLS Actual
$57,246
2026 Current Est.
$59,118
2019–2027 Growth
+5.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in New Mexico (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,900 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,740 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,460 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,242 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,542 | Actual |
| 2024 | $52,485 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,246 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59,118 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $61,051 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the New Mexico metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew -1.1% from $57,900 (2019) to $57,246 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $61,051 by 2027 — a total increase of $3,151 (5.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the New Mexico 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in New Mexico
Lowest Paying Cities in New Mexico
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Taos | $52,823 |
| Los Alamos | $52,922 |
| Los Lunas | $53,367 |
| Las Vegas | $53,375 |
| Gallup | $53,383 |
Best Value Cities for Court Reporters in New Mexico
When adjusted for local cost of living, these New Mexico cities offer the most purchasing power for court reporters.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $62,530 | 94.4 | $66,239 |
| Las Cruces | $59,321 | 94.4 | $62,840 |
| Rio Rancho | $59,098 | 94.4 | $62,604 |
| Santa Fe | $57,974 | 94.4 | $61,413 |
| Farmington | $56,589 | 94.4 | $59,946 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in New Mexico
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $34,710 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $59,118 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $91,632 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across New Mexico metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 17 Cities in New Mexico
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque | $62,530 |
| 2 | Las Cruces | $59,321 |
| 3 | Rio Rancho | $59,098 |
| 4 | Santa Fe | $57,974 |
| 5 | Farmington | $56,589 |
| 6 | Roswell | $56,327 |
| 7 | Alamogordo | $55,863 |
| 8 | Hobbs | $55,832 |
| 9 | South Valley | $55,605 |
| 10 | Clovis | $54,526 |
| 11 | Carlsbad | $54,441 |
| 12 | Deming | $53,573 |
| 13 | Gallup | $53,383 |
| 14 | Las Vegas | $53,375 |
| 15 | Los Lunas | $53,367 |
| 16 | Los Alamos | $52,922 |
| 17 | Taos | $52,823 |
More New Mexico Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore court reporter hourly pay in New Mexico cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced court reporters.
Explore More Court Reporter Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in New Mexico in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for court reporters in New Mexico?
How does New Mexico court reporter pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level court reporter salary in New Mexico?
How many court reporters are employed in New Mexico?
Which New Mexico city offers the best value for court reporters?
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
Statewide 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. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 court reporter compensation across New Mexico. State averages are employment-weighted across 17 metro areas — larger metro areas with more court reporterscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 4-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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