Court Reporter Salary in Rochester, NY: $88,090 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Rochester, NY earns a median $88,090/year (≈ $42.35/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Rochester's price level (16% above national, BEA RPP 115.9), that paycheck buys what $76,005 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.6% above the New York state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Rochester, NY, the court reporter salary for 2026 is projected to be $88,090 annually, reflecting a 17.79% higher earning potential compared to the national median of $74,788. This competitive pay comes in a salary range that spans from $51,093 at the 10th percentile to $136,540 at the 90th percentile, indicating a robust market for specialized skills. These figures are based on estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost factors, showcasing the strong demand for court reporters in the area. With the acute labor shortage in the profession—estimated at a 5,500-reporter gap nationwide—the job market in Rochester appears particularly promising for qualified candidates, especially those with additional realtime or CART credentials that command premium rates.
About the Rochester Market
Salary estimated from New York average ($82,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $51,093 | $24.57 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $64,613 | $31.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,090 | $42.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $112,755 | $54.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $136,540 | $65.65 |
Median Salary Position
17.79% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rochester
In Rochester, NY, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $85,447 (2026 est.). At $88,090, the local median is 17.79% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rochester: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rochester Court Reporter Pay Compares
Rochester median: $88,090/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rochester Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $86,703 | +1.60% more |
| National Average | $74,788 | +17.79% more |
Court Reporters in Rochester, NY earn a median of $88,090 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.79% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 1.60% above the New York state average of $86,703.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rochester has a cost of living 15.90% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Rochester, NY has a cost-of-living index of 115.9 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $88,090 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $76,005 — a 13.72% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$77,050
2025 BLS Actual
$85,301
2026 Current Est.
$88,090
2019–2027 Growth
+18.1%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Rochester (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $77,050 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,627 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,120 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,865 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,313 | Actual |
| 2024 | $96,585 | Actual |
| 2025 | $85,301 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,090 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,971 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rochester metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 10.7% from $77,050 (2019) to $85,301 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,971 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,921 (18.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rochester 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) | $51,093 – $64,613 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $64,613 – $88,090 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,090 – $112,755 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $112,755 – $136,540 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Rochester
The job market in Rochester currently employs 43 court reporters, a reasonable number given the city's demographic size and demand for these professionals. However, it's essential to consider the local cost of living index, which stands at 115.9, suggesting that while salaries may seem attractive, purchasing power can be impacted. Among various roles, freelance court reporters generally receive the highest compensation, with payment structures often based on per-page transcript rates ranging from $3 to $8, depending on deadlines. Official and federal court reporters typically have fixed civil service salaries, while specialized roles such as broadcast captioners and CART providers attract even higher wages due to their real-time performance requirements. To maximize earning potential in this competitive Rochester pay market, focusing on building skills such as realtime reporting—recognized with certifications like CRR—can greatly enhance pay opportunities in this evolving field.
More salary data for Rochester, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Rochester, NY in 2026?
Is Rochester, NY a good place to work as a court reporter?
Can court reporters make $100K in Rochester?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Rochester?
How much does a court reporter make per hour in Rochester?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in New York
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 $85,301 for court reportersin the Rochester 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 Rochester 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