Court Reporter Salary in Dickinson, ND: $67,277 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Dickinson, ND earns a median $67,277/year (≈ $32.34/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Dickinson's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $73,127 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the North Dakota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Dickinson, North Dakota, the dynamics of court reporter compensation are driven significantly by the per-page transcript economics typical in the profession. For 2026, the median annual salary is projected to be $67,277, which places local pay approximately 10.04% below the national median of $74,788. The salary range for court reporters in Dickinson extends from $39,021 at the 10th percentile to as high as $104,280 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price variations, illustrate how deposition volumes can impact earnings. The small number of four court reporters employed in the area suggests a local market that may be limited but remains essential in supporting the judicial process.
About the Dickinson Market
Salary estimated from North Dakota average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,021 | $18.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,994 | $23.56 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,277 | $32.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $86,115 | $41.40 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104,280 | $50.14 |
Median Salary Position
10.04% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Dickinson
In Dickinson, ND, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $65,259 (2026 est.). At $67,277, the local median is 10.04% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Dickinson: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Dickinson Court Reporter Pay Compares
Dickinson median: $67,277/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Dickinson Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Average | $68,791 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -10.04% less |
Court Reporters in Dickinson, ND earn a median of $67,277 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.04% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.20% below the North Dakota state average of $68,791.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Dickinson 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.
Dickinson, ND has a cost-of-living index of 92 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $67,277 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,127 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.7% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,091
2025 BLS Actual
$65,147
2026 Current Est.
$67,277
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Dickinson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,091 | Actual |
| 2020 | $55,468 | Actual |
| 2021 | $54,316 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,177 | Actual |
| 2023 | $57,519 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,577 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,147 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,277 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $69,477 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Dickinson metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $54,091 (2019) to $65,147 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $69,477 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,386 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Dickinson 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) | $39,021 – $48,994 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,994 – $67,277 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,277 – $86,115 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $86,115 – $104,280 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Dickinson
Understanding the financial landscape for court reporters in Dickinson involves looking closely at the local cost of living and the competitive pay structures amongst various roles. The cost of living index stands at 92, indicating that it is below the national average, which can enhance the purchasing power of those earning in this field. Court reporters here can pursue opportunities via freelance engagements—often facilitated through firms like Veritext or US Legal Support—where the pay tends to fluctuate based on deposition volume and urgency. Freelancers may charge between $3 and $8 per page for transcript services, while realtime and CART providers find lucrative niches, commanding hourly rates that can range from $150 to $300 for live captioning. To maximize earnings, aspiring court reporters should focus on building relationships with local law firms and becoming adept in realtime skills, as this specialty commands the highest compensation and positions them favorably against evolving digital recording technologies.
More salary data for Dickinson, 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 $65,147 for court reportersin the Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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