Court Reporter Salary in Tumwater, WA: $78,627 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Tumwater, WA earns a median $78,627/year (≈ $37.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Tumwater's price level (7% above national, BEA RPP 107.4), that paycheck buys what $73,209 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.1% below the Washington state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Tumwater, Washington, the compensation for court reporters reflects structural differences between freelance and official roles. The projected median annual court reporter salary in Tumwater for 2026 is $78,627, surpassing the national figure of $74,788 by 5.13%. Salaries in this region exhibit a significant range, with entry-level positions earning around $45,603 and seasoned professionals commanding upward of $121,871. These estimates, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost considerations, reveal a dynamic pay scale influenced by various employment contexts. The local court reporting market is characterized by a fundamental split: freelance court reporters usually earn per-page rates, while official court reporters receive steady salaries within the state’s court system, revealing pay implications shaped by the nature of their employment.
About the Tumwater Market
Salary estimated from Washington average ($72,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $45,603 | $21.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60,409 | $29.04 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $78,627 | $37.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $100,642 | $48.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $121,871 | $58.60 |
Median Salary Position
5.13% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tumwater
In Tumwater, WA, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $76,268 (2026 est.). At $78,627, the local median is 5.13% above the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Tumwater: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Tumwater Court Reporter Pay Compares
Tumwater median: $78,627/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tumwater Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $80,313 | -2.10% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | +5.13% more |
Court Reporters in Tumwater, WA earn a median of $78,627 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.13% higher than the national median of $74,788 and 2.10% below the Washington state average of $80,313.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tumwater has a cost of living 7.40% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tumwater, WA has a cost-of-living index of 107.4 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $78,627 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $73,209 — a 6.89% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,216
2025 BLS Actual
$76,137
2026 Current Est.
$78,627
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Tumwater (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,216 | Actual |
| 2020 | $64,825 | Actual |
| 2021 | $63,479 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,822 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,222 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,695 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,137 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,627 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $81,198 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tumwater metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $63,216 (2019) to $76,137 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $81,198 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,982 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tumwater 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) | $45,603 – $60,409 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $60,409 – $78,627 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $78,627 – $100,642 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $100,642 – $121,871 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Tumwater
The job market in Tumwater features a small cadre of six employed court reporters, indicating a niche but potentially lucrative field. The area's cost-of-living index stands at 107.4, slightly above the national average, affecting overall purchasing power and further complicating the financial picture for court reporters. Freelance opportunities, particularly with firms like Veritext and US Legal Support, often offer the highest earning potential, especially for those specializing in realtime captioning and CART services. The divergence in pay stems primarily from the variety of work performed; while recording depositions often pays around $3 to $8 per page, realtime and CART services command rates from $150 to $300 per hour. Court reporters in Tumwater can strategically enhance their income by pursuing advanced credentials, such as the RPR, and focusing on high-demand specialties, ensuring their skills remain competitive in a market poised for growth amid an emerging shortage of skilled professionals.
More salary data for Tumwater, 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 $76,137 for court reportersin the Tumwater 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 Tumwater 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