Court Reporter Salary in Racine, WI: $60,522 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Racine, WI earns a median $60,522/year (≈ $29.10/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Racine's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $64,799 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% below the Wisconsin state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Court reporters in Racine, Wisconsin, can expect a median annual salary of $60,522 in 2026, which reflects a significant gap of approximately 19.08% when compared to the national median of $74,788. This salary figure ranges from $37,521 at the lowest end (P10) to a high of $93,809 (P90). The financial landscape for court reporters here is affected by the divide between freelance reporters and those employed as official court reporters, with freelancers often commanding varying rates based on demand and turnaround time. Local estimates derived from BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional pricing suggest that while Racine has modest earnings relative to the national average, the area's current employment of 13 court reporters indicates a niche market that continues to sustain itself amidst competitive pressures.
About the Racine Market
Salary estimated from Wisconsin average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,521 | $18.04 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,209 | $22.21 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $60,522 | $29.10 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $77,469 | $37.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $93,809 | $45.10 |
Median Salary Position
19.08% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Racine
In Racine, WI, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,288 (2026 est.). At $60,522, the local median is 19.08% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Racine: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Racine Court Reporter Pay Compares
Racine median: $60,522/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Racine Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $61,320 | -1.30% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -19.08% less |
Court Reporters in Racine, WI earn a median of $60,522 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.08% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 1.30% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,320.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Racine has a cost of living 6.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Racine, WI has a cost-of-living index of 93.4 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $60,522 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,799 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.07% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$48,660
2025 BLS Actual
$58,606
2026 Current Est.
$60,522
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Racine (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,660 | Actual |
| 2020 | $49,898 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,863 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,436 | Actual |
| 2023 | $51,744 | Actual |
| 2024 | $53,448 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,606 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $60,522 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,501 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Racine metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $48,660 (2019) to $58,606 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,501 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,841 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Racine 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) | $37,521 – $46,209 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,209 – $60,522 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $60,522 – $77,469 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $77,469 – $93,809 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Racine
In Racine, the cost-of-living index stands at 93.4, indicating that life here is generally more affordable than in many parts of the country, which can enhance the take-home pay of court reporters. Among the various employment options, freelance work through firms like Veritext and US Legal Support tends to pay higher rates, especially for realtime creation and CART services, reflecting a growing demand for these specialty skills. Factors contributing to the wide salary range include the per-page rates that freelancers charge—often fluctuating between $3 and $8—while official court reporters may receive a more stable income dictated by state or federal civil service pay scales. To optimize earnings in Racine, court reporters should focus on building their skills in realtime reporting, which typically commands premium rates for live captioning services, thus aligning their expertise with market needs in an area where capturing accurate and instantaneous dialogue remains crucial.
More salary data for Racine, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do court reporters make in Racine, WI in 2026?
Is Racine, WI a good place to work as a court reporter?
Can court reporters make $100K in Racine?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted court reporter salary in Racine?
How much does a court reporter make per hour in Racine?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Wisconsin
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 $58,606 for court reportersin the Racine 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 Racine 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