Court Reporter Salary in Bismarck, ND: $67,819 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Bismarck, ND earns a median $67,819/year (≈ $32.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Bismarck's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $73,716 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the North Dakota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the court reporter salary in Bismarck, ND, shows a competitive median of $67,819, which reflects a slight decrease when compared to the national median of $74,788. This discrepancy highlights the structural divide between freelance and official court reporters, with substantial implications for pay. The salary range for Bismarck court reporters spans from $41,871 at the 10th percentile to $105,121 at the 90th percentile, suggesting varying experiences and specialties within the field. These figures are local estimates based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026 and adjusted for regional cost factors. With 11 court reporters currently employed in the city, Bismarck's job market for this profession remains stable yet competitive, offering opportunities primarily in the freelance sector.
About the Bismarck Market
Salary estimated from North Dakota average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,871 | $20.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $51,702 | $24.86 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,819 | $32.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $86,809 | $41.73 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $105,121 | $50.54 |
Median Salary Position
9.32% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bismarck
In Bismarck, ND, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,250 (2026 est.). At $67,819, the local median is 9.32% below the national median of $74,788.
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At 40 hours/week in Bismarck: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bismarck Court Reporter Pay Compares
Bismarck median: $67,819/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bismarck Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Average | $68,782 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -9.32% less |
Court Reporters in Bismarck, ND earn a median of $67,819 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.32% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.40% below the North Dakota state average of $68,782.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bismarck has a cost of living 8.00% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bismarck, ND has a cost-of-living index of 92 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $67,819 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,716 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.7% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,527
2025 BLS Actual
$65,672
2026 Current Est.
$67,819
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Bismarck (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,527 | Actual |
| 2020 | $55,915 | Actual |
| 2021 | $54,754 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,638 | Actual |
| 2023 | $57,982 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,969 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,672 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,819 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $70,037 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bismarck metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $54,527 (2019) to $65,672 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $70,037 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,510 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bismarck 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) | $41,871 – $51,702 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $51,702 – $67,819 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,819 – $86,809 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $86,809 – $105,121 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Bismarck
The local job market for court reporters in Bismarck indicates a balanced employment environment, particularly with a cost of living index of 92, which allows for a different take-home purchasing power compared to national averages. Among employers, freelance work typically provides the highest earning potential, with per-page transcript fees ranging from $3 to $8, depending on turnaround requirements. In contrast, official court reporters employed by the state benefit from a set salary scale, while specialized roles like realtime captioning and CART providers command even higher rates, with earnings of $150 to $300 per hour for live services. Freelancers can maximize their income by prioritizing high-volume jobs and developing expertise in realtime reporting, an area currently seeing increased demand and fewer qualified professionals. As the Bismarck court reporting landscape evolves amidst technological advancements and changes in court practices, finding the right niche can significantly influence overall pay and job security.
More salary data for Bismarck, ND:
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 $65,672 for court reportersin the Bismarck 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 Bismarck 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