Court Reporter Salary in Lake Stevens, WA: $77,685 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Lake Stevens, WA earns a median $77,685/year (≈ $37.35/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Lake Stevens's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $72,332 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Lake Stevens, Washington, the projected median annual salary for court reporters in 2026 is an attractive $77,685, which reflects a 3.87% increase over the national median of $74,788. This competitive salary ranges widely, spanning from $49,384 at the 10th percentile to as high as $120,412 at the 90th percentile. These figures are based on 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, which accounts for regional cost adjustments and helps paint a clearer picture of market expectations for court reporter pay in Lake Stevens, WA. For those with advanced credentials such as CRR or RPR, specializing in realtime or CART services can further elevate earnings, which is vital given the growing demand in a market experiencing a workforce shortage.
About the Lake Stevens Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,384 | $23.74 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,268 | $28.98 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $77,685 | $37.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,437 | $47.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $120,412 | $57.89 |
Median Salary Position
3.87% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lake Stevens
In Lake Stevens, WA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,028 (2026 est.). At $77,685, the local median is 3.87% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lake Stevens: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lake Stevens Court Reporter Pay Compares
Lake Stevens median: $77,685/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lake Stevens Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $80,336 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +3.87% more |
Court Reporters in Lake Stevens, WA earn a median of $77,685 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.87% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 3.30% below the Washington state average of $80,336.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lake Stevens has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lake Stevens, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $77,685 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $72,332 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,459
2025 BLS Actual
$75,225
2026 Current Est.
$77,685
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Lake Stevens (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,459 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,048 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,719 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,022 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,417 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,789 | Actual |
| 2025 | $75,225 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $77,685 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $80,225 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lake Stevens metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $62,459 (2019) to $75,225 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,225 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,766 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lake Stevens 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) | $49,384 – $60,268 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,268 – $77,685 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $77,685 – $99,437 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,437 – $120,412 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Lake Stevens
The local job market in Lake Stevens employs a modest nine court reporters, a number indicative of specialized roles and the nature of demand within the region. With a cost-of-living index of 107.4, the purchasing power for court reporters can be affected, potentially requiring careful financial planning. Among the routes to maximize court reporter pay in Lake Stevens, freelance engagement often presents the most lucrative opportunity, with per-page rates typically ranging from $3 to $8 based on turnaround speed. Official court reporters working with state and federal courts might see salaries determined by civil service standards, while broadcast captioners and CART providers could command significant per-minute rates during live events. Tapping into growth areas like realtime transcription can elevate earning potential further, making specialization key in this competitive field.
More salary data for Lake Stevens, 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 $75,225 for court reportersin the Lake Stevens 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 Lake Stevens 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