Court Reporter Salary in Cranston, RI: $73,520 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Cranston, RI earns a median $73,520/year (≈ $35.35/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Cranston's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.5), that paycheck buys what $73,154 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the Rhode Island state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Cranston, Rhode Island, the court reporter salary landscape shows both promise and variability, with a median annual income projected at $73,520 for 2026. Salaries for court reporters in this area can vary significantly, ranging from $44,572 at the 10th percentile to as high as $113,956 at the 90th percentile. These figures, drawn from estimates based on 2025 BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional cost variations, highlight the diverse earnings potential within the profession. With the growing demand for court reporting services, particularly in light of a nationwide shortage as identified by the NCRA, those entering or advancing in this field in Cranston may find increasing opportunities to command competitive wages.
About the Cranston Market
Salary estimated from Rhode Island average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,572 | $21.43 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $55,378 | $26.62 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $73,520 | $35.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $94,106 | $45.24 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $113,956 | $54.78 |
Median Salary Position
1.7% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cranston
In Cranston, RI, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,384 (2026 est.). At $73,520, the local median is 1.7% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cranston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cranston Court Reporter Pay Compares
Cranston median: $73,520/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cranston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Average | $75,174 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -1.70% less |
Court Reporters in Cranston, RI earn a median of $73,520 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.70% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 2.20% below the Rhode Island state average of $75,174.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cranston has a cost of living 0.50% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cranston, RI has a cost-of-living index of 100.5 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $73,520 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $73,154 — a 0.5% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,110
2025 BLS Actual
$71,192
2026 Current Est.
$73,520
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Cranston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,110 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,614 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,356 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,482 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,856 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,949 | Actual |
| 2025 | $71,192 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,520 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $75,924 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cranston metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $59,110 (2019) to $71,192 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $75,924 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,814 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cranston 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) | $44,572 – $55,378 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $55,378 – $73,520 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $73,520 – $94,106 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $94,106 – $113,956 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Cranston
Analyzing the local job market reveals that there are currently 12 court reporters employed in Cranston, RI, which indicates a stable employment environment. The cost-of-living index in this area is slightly above the national average at 100.5, which can affect the real purchasing power of take-home salaries. In Cranston, the highest pay typically comes from freelance court reporting, where professionals may earn between $3-$8 per page depending on urgency, although official court reporters and federal employees might receive fixed salaries based on civil service scales. The variance in earnings is influenced by the volume of depositions and specialty services like realtime reporting or CART, which can command hourly rates between $150-$300 for live captioning. For those looking to maximize their court reporter pay in Cranston, focusing on developing realtime and CART skills, while building a strong freelance client network, can lead to enhanced compensation opportunities.
More salary data for Cranston, RI:
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 $71,192 for court reportersin the Cranston 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 Cranston 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