Court Reporter Salary in Spearfish, SD: $50,896 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Spearfish, SD earns a median $50,896/year (≈ $24.46/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Spearfish's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.8), that paycheck buys what $54,845 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.1% below the South Dakota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Spearfish, South Dakota, can expect to see a median annual salary of $50,896, significantly lower than the national median of $74,788. This local salary reflects a range that extends from $29,686 at the entry-level (10th percentile) to $78,888 for those at the top of their field (90th percentile). These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price parities, indicate a competitive yet constrained local market, influenced by factors like the availability of work and the localized demand for court reporting services. Notably, those with specialized realtime or CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) certifications can command a premium that boosts their earnings, making this specialization particularly lucrative in Spearfish's evolving job market.
About the Spearfish Market
Salary estimated from South Dakota average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $29,686 | $14.27 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,407 | $19.43 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $50,896 | $24.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,147 | $31.32 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $78,888 | $37.93 |
Median Salary Position
31.95% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Spearfish
In Spearfish, SD, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,202 (2026 est.). At $50,896, the local median is 31.95% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Spearfish: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Spearfish Court Reporter Pay Compares
Spearfish median: $50,896/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Spearfish Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $53,072 | -4.10% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -31.95% less |
Court Reporters in Spearfish, SD earn a median of $50,896 per year (2026 est.), which is 31.95% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 4.10% below the South Dakota state average of $53,072.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Spearfish has a cost of living 7.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Spearfish, SD has a cost-of-living index of 92.8 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $50,896 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $54,845 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$40,920
2025 BLS Actual
$49,284
2026 Current Est.
$50,896
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Spearfish (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $40,920 | Actual |
| 2020 | $41,961 | Actual |
| 2021 | $41,090 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,255 | Actual |
| 2023 | $43,513 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,490 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,284 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50,896 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,560 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Spearfish metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $40,920 (2019) to $49,284 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $52,560 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,640 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Spearfish 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) | $29,686 – $40,407 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,407 – $50,896 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $50,896 – $65,147 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,147 – $78,888 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Spearfish
The local court reporter job market is marked by a modest number of professionals, with only five active court reporters in the Spearfish area. With a cost-of-living index at 92.8, which is below the national average, court reporter salaries in Spearfish may stretch further for residents. Among various types of employers, freelance court reporting typically offers the most competitive pay, with rates often set based on per-page transcripts or live captioning fees for real-time services. The wide salary range reflects varying levels of experience and specialization; freelance court reporters, for instance, may see rates from $3 to $8 per page, while realtime captioners can charge between $150 and $300 per hour. For those aiming to maximize their court reporter pay in Spearfish, enhancing skills with additional certifications or focusing on high-demand services like CART can yield better compensation opportunities in an increasingly competitive field.
More salary data for Spearfish, SD:
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 $49,284 for court reportersin the Spearfish 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 Spearfish 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