Court Reporter Salary in Bellingham, WA: $80,254 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Bellingham, WA earns a median $80,254/year (≈ $38.58/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Bellingham's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $74,724 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Bellingham, Washington, are expected to earn a median annual salary of $80,254, which is approximately 7.31% higher than the national median of $74,788. Local salaries reflect a wide range from $46,548 at the 10th percentile to $124,394 at the 90th percentile, indicating substantial variability in earnings based on experience, specialization, and employment type. These figures derive from estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for local economic factors. The divide between freelance court reporters and those working officially under the state or federal systems plays a significant role in this salary structure, as freelance opportunities can often yield higher per-project fees compared to more stable, salary-based positions.
About the Bellingham Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,548 | $22.38 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,783 | $27.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $80,254 | $38.58 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,726 | $49.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $124,394 | $59.80 |
Median Salary Position
7.31% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bellingham
In Bellingham, WA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,846 (2026 est.). At $80,254, the local median is 7.31% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bellingham: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bellingham Court Reporter Pay Compares
Bellingham median: $80,254/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bellingham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $80,335 | -0.10% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +7.31% more |
Court Reporters in Bellingham, WA earn a median of $80,254 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.31% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 0.10% below the Washington state average of $80,335.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bellingham has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bellingham, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $80,254 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $74,724 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,525
2025 BLS Actual
$77,713
2026 Current Est.
$80,254
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Bellingham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,525 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,167 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,793 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,205 | Actual |
| 2023 | $68,613 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,262 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,713 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $80,254 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $82,879 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bellingham metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $64,525 (2019) to $77,713 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $82,879 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,354 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bellingham 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) | $46,548 – $57,783 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,783 – $80,254 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $80,254 – $102,726 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,726 – $124,394 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Bellingham
The job market for court reporters in Bellingham is relatively stable, with only 13 individuals currently employed in this field. However, the cost of living index stands at 107.4, indicating that living expenses in the area are above the national average, which can impact take-home pay. Freelance court reporters, who dominate this market, find that their earnings can vary significantly depending on the speed and complexity of the assignments they accept—per-page rates can fluctuate from $3 to $8, especially for expedited work. Comparatively, those in specialized roles—such as realtime captioners or CART providers—often command higher fees, ranging from $150 to $300 per hour. To maximize earnings in Bellingham, court reporters should seek diverse job opportunities, including freelance projects, and enhance their qualifications with RPR or CRR certifications, which are increasingly valued in today’s highly competitive reporting environment.
More salary data for Bellingham, WA:
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 $77,713 for court reportersin the Bellingham 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 Bellingham 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