Court Reporter Salary in Kingsport, TN: $56,873 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Kingsport, TN earns a median $56,873/year (≈ $27.35/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Kingsport's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $61,953 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% below the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Kingsport, Tennessee, court reporters earn a median annual salary of $56,873, significantly lagging behind the national median of $74,788. This disparity in pay reflects a broader trend within the profession, where many court reporters work as freelancers rather than being employed within the official court system. The salary range for court reporters in the area spans from $34,225 at the lower end (P10) to $88,153 at the upper end (P90), indicating that experience and the specific nature of employment—whether freelance or official—greatly influence earnings. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional economic conditions, emphasizing the nuanced compensation landscape court reporters face in Kingsport.
About the Kingsport Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($54,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $34,225 | $16.45 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $42,691 | $20.52 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,873 | $27.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72,797 | $35.00 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $88,153 | $42.38 |
Median Salary Position
23.95% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kingsport
In Kingsport, TN, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $53,928 (2026 est.). At $56,873, the local median is 23.95% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kingsport: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kingsport Court Reporter Pay Compares
Kingsport median: $56,873/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kingsport Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $57,216 | -0.60% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -23.95% less |
Court Reporters in Kingsport, TN earn a median of $56,873 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.95% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 0.60% below the Tennessee state average of $57,216.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kingsport has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kingsport, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $56,873 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $61,953 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$45,726
2025 BLS Actual
$55,072
2026 Current Est.
$56,873
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kingsport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45,726 | Actual |
| 2020 | $46,890 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,916 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,334 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,623 | Actual |
| 2024 | $49,278 | Actual |
| 2025 | $55,072 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,873 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,733 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kingsport metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $45,726 (2019) to $55,072 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,733 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,007 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kingsport 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) | $34,225 – $42,691 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $42,691 – $56,873 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,873 – $72,797 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $72,797 – $88,153 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Kingsport
The local market hosts about eight court reporters, a limited yet indicative number that highlights the ongoing workforce shortage in the field as noted by the NCRA. With a cost of living index of 91.8, salaries in Kingsport offer decent purchasing power, but they still represent a challenge for those just starting in their careers. Freelance reporters, who often secure work through firms like Veritext or Esquire, can increase their earnings by focusing on specialized areas such as realtime or CART services, which command premium rates ranging from $150 to $300 per hour. Factors setting the pay spectrum include per-page rates for transcripts, which vary based on urgency, as well as the official salary scale for state court reporters. Those seeking to maximize their income should consider developing skills in these high-demand niches while also staying aware of the evolving landscape shaped by advancements in digital recording versus traditional stenographic methods.
More salary data for Kingsport, TN:
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 $55,072 for court reportersin the Kingsport 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 Kingsport 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