Court Reporter Salary in Mountlake Terrace, WA: $74,359 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Mountlake Terrace, WA earns a median $74,359/year (≈ $35.75/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Mountlake Terrace's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $69,236 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.4% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, court reporters in Mountlake Terrace can expect a median annual salary of $74,359, slightly below the national median of $74,788. The local salary range illustrates the variability within the profession, from $47,553 at the 10th percentile to $115,256 at the 90th percentile, reflecting differences between freelance and official court reporting roles. Estimates derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional price parity indicate that while the pay is competitive, the growing trend towards digital recording may further influence compensation structures, especially for official court reporters. With only four active court reporters in the area, the job market here represents a small yet potentially lucrative niche for professionals in this field.
About the Mountlake Terrace Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $47,553 | $22.86 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $57,475 | $27.64 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $74,359 | $35.75 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,179 | $45.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $115,256 | $55.41 |
Median Salary Position
0.57% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Mountlake Terrace
In Mountlake Terrace, WA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,703 (2026 est.). At $74,359, the local median is 0.57% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Mountlake Terrace: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Mountlake Terrace Court Reporter Pay Compares
Mountlake Terrace median: $74,359/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Mountlake Terrace Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $80,301 | -7.40% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -0.57% less |
Court Reporters in Mountlake Terrace, WA earn a median of $74,359 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.57% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 7.40% below the Washington state average of $80,301.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Mountlake Terrace has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Mountlake Terrace, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $74,359 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $69,236 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,785
2025 BLS Actual
$72,004
2026 Current Est.
$74,359
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Mountlake Terrace (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,785 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,306 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,033 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,195 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,573 | Actual |
| 2024 | $71,586 | Actual |
| 2025 | $72,004 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,359 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,790 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Mountlake Terrace metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $59,785 (2019) to $72,004 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $76,790 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,005 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Mountlake Terrace 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) | $47,553 – $57,475 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $57,475 – $74,359 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $74,359 – $95,179 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,179 – $115,256 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Mountlake Terrace
The court reporter pay in Mountlake Terrace, WA, faces challenges posed by the local cost of living index, which stands at 107.4—indicating that expenses are above the national average. This variable can significantly impact purchasing power for court reporters, particularly those relying on freelance opportunities. Freelance court reporters, often employed by firms like Veritext and US Legal Support, may benefit from diverse pay structures, earning between $3 to $8 per page based on turnaround time and volume. Meanwhile, the most lucrative opportunities tend to arise in specialized roles, such as broadcast captioners and realtime/CART providers, who can command premium rates ranging from $150 to $300 per hour for live services. To enhance earning potential in this market, aspiring court reporters should focus on acquiring their RPR, RMR, or CRR credentials, as well as gaining expertise in realtime transcription, positioning themselves favorably to tap into high-demand sectors of the industry.
More salary data for Mountlake Terrace, 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 $72,004 for court reportersin the Mountlake Terrace 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 Mountlake Terrace 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