Court Reporter Salary in Wilmington, NC: $69,970 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Wilmington, NC earns a median $69,970/year (≈ $33.64/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Wilmington's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $74,754 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wilmington, North Carolina, the outlook for court reporter salaries shows a median annual compensation of $69,970, falling slightly below the national median of $74,788. The local salary range spans from $41,763 at the lower end (P10) to $108,453 at the upper end (P90), highlighting significant potential for earnings based on experience and specialization. These figures, drawn from data based on 2025 BLS estimates projected to 2026 and adjusted for regional cost indicators, reflect the dynamic workforce of court reporters in the area. Wilmington's court reporting field includes both freelance reporters and those employed by government entities, each facing different pay structures and opportunities for advancement, providing a competitive environment for professionals in the industry.
About the Wilmington Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($55,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,763 | $20.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,317 | $25.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $69,970 | $33.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $89,561 | $43.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $108,453 | $52.14 |
Median Salary Position
6.44% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wilmington
In Wilmington, NC, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $66,690 (2026 est.). At $69,970, the local median is 6.44% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wilmington: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wilmington Court Reporter Pay Compares
Wilmington median: $69,970/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wilmington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $74,788 | -6.44% less |
Court Reporters in Wilmington, NC earn a median of $69,970 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.44% lower than the national median of $74,788.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wilmington has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wilmington, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $69,970 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,754 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,256
2025 BLS Actual
$67,754
2026 Current Est.
$69,970
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Wilmington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,256 | Actual |
| 2020 | $57,687 | Actual |
| 2021 | $56,490 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,465 | Actual |
| 2023 | $59,820 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,456 | Actual |
| 2025 | $67,754 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,970 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,258 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wilmington metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $56,256 (2019) to $67,754 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,258 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,002 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wilmington 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) | $41,763 – $52,317 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,317 – $69,970 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $69,970 – $89,561 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $89,561 – $108,453 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Wilmington
With 28 court reporters currently employed in Wilmington, the job market reflects a concentrated yet potentially lucrative environment for those entering the field. The cost-of-living index at 93.6 indicates that living expenses are relatively lower than the national average, which can enhance purchasing power for court reporters in the region. Among the various pay structures, freelance court reporters who work through agencies like Veritext and US Legal Support often have the opportunity to earn more based on per-page transcript rates, which generally vary between $3 and $8, while those engaged in real-time captioning or Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) can command rates from $150 to $300 per hour. This disparity in pay emphasizes the importance of specialization and adaptability in the Wilmington market, where court reporters can maximize earnings by pursuing certifications and focusing on in-demand services, particularly as the industry faces a shortage of qualified professionals.
More salary data for Wilmington, NC:
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 $67,754 for court reportersin the Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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