Court Reporter Salary in Charlottesville, VA: $73,976 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Charlottesville, VA earns a median $73,976/year (≈ $35.57/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Charlottesville's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.2), that paycheck buys what $71,682 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Virginia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Charlottesville, Virginia, earn a competitive median annual salary of $73,976 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $74,788. The salary range for this profession in the region varies significantly, from a lower threshold of $46,245 (P10) to as much as $114,664 (P90). These figures, derived from BLS state-level data adjusted for regional cost of living, reflect the distinct divide between freelance and official court reporting roles. While freelance court reporters may have the potential for varied income based on workload and specialty, official court reporters typically follow a more structured pay scale. This dynamic impacts compensation levels, as opportunities in Charlottesville's job market may be influenced by this disparity in reporting roles.
About the Charlottesville Market
Salary estimated from Virginia average ($64,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,245 | $22.23 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,584 | $27.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $73,976 | $35.57 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $94,690 | $45.52 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $114,664 | $55.13 |
Median Salary Position
1.09% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlottesville
In Charlottesville, VA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,419 (2026 est.). At $73,976, the local median is 1.09% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Charlottesville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Charlottesville Court Reporter Pay Compares
Charlottesville median: $73,976/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlottesville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $77,220 | -4.20% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -1.09% less |
Court Reporters in Charlottesville, VA earn a median of $73,976 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.09% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 4.20% below the Virginia state average of $77,220.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlottesville has a cost of living 3.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlottesville, VA has a cost-of-living index of 103.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $73,976 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $71,682 — a 3.1% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,477
2025 BLS Actual
$71,634
2026 Current Est.
$73,976
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Charlottesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,477 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,991 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,725 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,870 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,246 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,305 | Actual |
| 2025 | $71,634 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $73,976 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,395 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlottesville metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $59,477 (2019) to $71,634 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,395 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,918 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlottesville 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) | $46,245 – $56,584 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,584 – $73,976 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $73,976 – $94,690 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $94,690 – $114,664 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Charlottesville
Despite a modest employment figure of just 10 court reporters in Charlottesville, the local job market supports a unique landscape for pay implications. With a cost of living index at 103.2, the purchasing power of court reporters is slightly affected, meaning that effective budgeting is essential for residents. Freelancers operating through firms like Veritext or Esquire often command higher per-page rates, which can range from $3 to $8 depending on turnaround time, while realtime and CART providers focusing on immediate accessibility can earn between $150 and $300 per hour. In contrast, official state court reporters receive a steady salary that adheres to civil service scales. Factors influencing the variance in pay include the frequency of work, specialty services, and market demand. For those in Charlottesville looking to maximize their court reporter salary, developing niche skills in realtime captioning or tapping into high-demand areas like broadcast captioning may prove advantageous.
More salary data for Charlottesville, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can court reporters make $100K in Charlottesville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Charlottesville?
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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 $71,634 for court reportersin the Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville 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