Court Reporter Salary in Yankton, SD: $51,024 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Yankton, SD earns a median $51,024/year (≈ $24.53/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Yankton's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.8), that paycheck buys what $54,983 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.9% below the South Dakota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Yankton, South Dakota, the 2026 projected median annual salary for court reporters is $51,024, a figure that reflects the city's unique position in the regional job market. This compensation contrasts significantly with the national median of $74,788, highlighting a notable disparity of approximately 31.78%. Within the local market, salaries range from $31,567 at the lower end (P10) to $79,086 at the upper end (P90), with freelancers often earning more per job compared to official court reporters employed by the state or federal systems. These figures are estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost of living considerations, illustrating the dynamics of job opportunities and earnings available to stenographers and transcription specialists in Yankton.
About the Yankton Market
Salary estimated from South Dakota average ($50,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,567 | $15.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,665 | $18.59 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $51,024 | $24.53 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,310 | $31.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $79,086 | $38.02 |
Median Salary Position
31.78% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Yankton
In Yankton, SD, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,519 (2026 est.). At $51,024, the local median is 31.78% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Yankton: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Yankton Court Reporter Pay Compares
Yankton median: $51,024/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Yankton Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $53,094 | -3.90% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -31.78% less |
Court Reporters in Yankton, SD earn a median of $51,024 per year (2026 est.), which is 31.78% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 3.90% below the South Dakota state average of $53,094.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Yankton 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.
Yankton, SD has a cost-of-living index of 92.8 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $51,024 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $54,983 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$41,023
2025 BLS Actual
$49,408
2026 Current Est.
$51,024
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Yankton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $41,023 | Actual |
| 2020 | $42,067 | Actual |
| 2021 | $41,194 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,363 | Actual |
| 2023 | $43,623 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,602 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,408 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $51,024 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,692 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Yankton metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $41,023 (2019) to $49,408 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $52,692 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,669 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Yankton 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) | $31,567 – $38,665 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,665 – $51,024 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $51,024 – $65,310 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,310 – $79,086 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Yankton
The court reporter landscape in Yankton is characterized by a limited workforce of just four employed professionals. The local cost of living index sits at 92.8, indicating that court reporter salaries in Yankton may stretch further than in higher-cost areas, allowing for a more comfortable lifestyle despite lower pay compared to national averages. The highest compensatory potential often resides with freelance or independent court reporters, who have the flexibility to charge varying rates per-page, typically ranging from $3 to $8 depending on urgency. Those specializing in realtime or CART services can command premium rates of $150 to $300 per hour, especially for live captioning roles. With official court salary scales usually more rigid, pursuing freelance work and diversifying skill sets can enhance earning potential in this niche market. The ongoing shortage of court reporters, estimated by the NCRA to exceed 5,500 nationwide, suggests a bright outlook for those entering this profession.
More salary data for Yankton, 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 $49,408 for court reportersin the Yankton 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 Yankton 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