Court Reporter Salary in Kennewick, WA: $79,687 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Kennewick, WA earns a median $79,687/year (≈ $38.31/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Kennewick's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $74,196 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Kennewick, Washington, can anticipate a median annual salary of $79,687, which is notably higher than the national median of $74,788. The salary spectrum for these professionals ranges from $46,218 at the 10th percentile to $123,515 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diverse opportunities available in this field. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, showcases a robust job market for court reporters despite competition from digital recording in some contexts. It is essential for both official court reporters and freelancers to understand local pay dynamics, particularly considering the demand for services that provide realtime and CART reporting, which typically offer higher compensation as a result of specialized skills.
About the Kennewick Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46,218 | $22.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,369 | $29.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,687 | $38.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,000 | $49.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $123,515 | $59.38 |
Median Salary Position
6.55% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kennewick
In Kennewick, WA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,297 (2026 est.). At $79,687, the local median is 6.55% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kennewick: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kennewick Court Reporter Pay Compares
Kennewick median: $79,687/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kennewick Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $80,330 | -0.80% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +6.55% more |
Court Reporters in Kennewick, WA earn a median of $79,687 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.55% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 0.80% below the Washington state average of $80,330.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kennewick has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kennewick, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $79,687 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $74,196 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$64,069
2025 BLS Actual
$77,164
2026 Current Est.
$79,687
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Kennewick (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64,069 | Actual |
| 2020 | $65,699 | Actual |
| 2021 | $64,335 | Actual |
| 2022 | $67,724 | Actual |
| 2023 | $68,129 | Actual |
| 2024 | $76,717 | Actual |
| 2025 | $77,164 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,687 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $82,293 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kennewick metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $64,069 (2019) to $77,164 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $82,293 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,224 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kennewick 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) | $46,218 – $61,369 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,369 – $79,687 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,687 – $102,000 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,000 – $123,515 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Kennewick
The local employment landscape in Kennewick includes 19 court reporters serving various sectors, demonstrating a modest yet steady demand for their expertise. However, Kennewick's cost of living index of 107.4 indicates that living expenses are above the national average, which can affect the purchasing power of court reporter salaries. Freelance and independent reporting roles, often contracted through firms such as Veritext and US Legal Support, typically command rates based on per-page transcripts, with the potential earnings significantly influenced by turnaround times. Opportunities with federal and state courts tend to offer more stable salaries through structured pay scales. To maximize earnings in Kennewick, aspiring court reporters should develop proficiency in realtime writing and pursue certifications like RPR or CRR, enhancing their marketability and aligning their skills with higher-paying opportunities in CART and broadcast captioning.
More salary data for Kennewick, 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 $77,164 for court reportersin the Kennewick 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 Kennewick 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