Court Reporter Salary in Roanoke, VA: $76,521 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Roanoke, VA earns a median $76,521/year (≈ $36.78/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Roanoke's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.2), that paycheck buys what $74,148 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the Virginia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Roanoke, Virginia, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $76,521, which reflects a competitive advantage over the national median of $74,788. The salary range for these professionals spans from $44,636 at the 10th percentile to as high as $118,608 at the 90th percentile. These projections, based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for local economic factors, suggest that the earning potential in Roanoke is bolstered by a healthy volume of depositions, which drives per-page transcript economics. This city’s court reporting landscape presents both opportunities and challenges, as the job market consists of various practice settings, influencing compensation based on emerging industries and the demand for specialized services.
About the Roanoke Market
Salary estimated from Virginia average ($64,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $44,636 | $21.46 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,489 | $27.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $76,521 | $36.78 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $97,946 | $47.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $118,608 | $57.03 |
Median Salary Position
2.32% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Roanoke
In Roanoke, VA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $73,972 (2026 est.). At $76,521, the local median is 2.32% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Roanoke: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Roanoke Court Reporter Pay Compares
Roanoke median: $76,521/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Roanoke Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $77,216 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +2.32% more |
Court Reporters in Roanoke, VA earn a median of $76,521 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.32% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 0.90% below the Virginia state average of $77,216.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Roanoke has a cost of living 3.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Roanoke, VA has a cost-of-living index of 103.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $76,521 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $74,148 — a 3.1% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$61,523
2025 BLS Actual
$74,098
2026 Current Est.
$76,521
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Roanoke (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,523 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,089 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,779 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,033 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,422 | Actual |
| 2024 | $65,484 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,098 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $76,521 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $79,023 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Roanoke metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $61,523 (2019) to $74,098 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $79,023 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,500 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Roanoke 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) | $44,636 – $56,489 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,489 – $76,521 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $76,521 – $97,946 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $97,946 – $118,608 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Roanoke
With 16 court reporters currently employed in Roanoke, the small market presents unique dynamics that can impact salary levels. The local cost of living index stands at 103.2, indicating that expenses are slightly above the national average, which can affect take-home pay. Freelance court reporters—who often command higher rates through firms such as Veritext—find that per-page transcript fees can range from $3 to $8, depending on turnaround times. Those specializing in realtime or CART services may earn premium rates of $150 to $300 per hour, reflecting the growing demand for accessibility in legal settings. Competition from digital recording technologies is reshaping the pay structure for official court reporters, typically linked to civil service salary scales. To maximize earnings in Roanoke's market, court reporters should focus on building strong relationships with local law firms and expanding their skillsets in specialized areas like realtime reporting, which significantly enhances earning potential.
More salary data for Roanoke, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Roanoke, VA in 2026?
Is Roanoke, VA a good place to work as a court reporter?
Can court reporters make $100K in Roanoke?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Roanoke?
How much does a court reporter make per hour in Roanoke?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Virginia
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 $74,098 for court reportersin the Roanoke 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 Roanoke 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