Court Reporter Salary in River Falls, WI: $57,802 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in River Falls, WI earns a median $57,802/year (≈ $27.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in River Falls's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $61,887 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.8% below the Wisconsin state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In River Falls, Wisconsin, the projected court reporter salary in 2026 is $57,802, significantly below the national median of $74,788, reflecting a regional adjustment. Salary figures range from $33,778 at the lower end (P10) to $89,594 for top earners (P90). These estimates stem from 2025 BLS data localized by regional price parities, shedding light on the economic dynamics of the area. Given the relatively small number of five court reporters employed in River Falls, the market demands reliance on volume and per-page transcript economics, making deposition rates and workloads critical drivers of effective compensation in this niche sector.
About the River Falls Market
Salary estimated from Wisconsin average ($58,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,778 | $16.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44,632 | $21.46 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,802 | $27.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $73,987 | $35.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $89,594 | $43.07 |
Median Salary Position
22.71% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in River Falls
In River Falls, WI, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $55,816 (2026 est.). At $57,802, the local median is 22.71% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in River Falls: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How River Falls Court Reporter Pay Compares
River Falls median: $57,802/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | River Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $61,361 | -5.80% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -22.71% less |
Court Reporters in River Falls, WI earn a median of $57,802 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.71% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 5.80% below the Wisconsin state average of $61,361.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
River Falls 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.
River Falls, WI has a cost-of-living index of 93.4 (below the national average of 100). A court reporter earning $57,802 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $61,887 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.07% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$46,473
2025 BLS Actual
$55,972
2026 Current Est.
$57,802
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in River Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,473 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,656 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,667 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,124 | Actual |
| 2023 | $49,418 | Actual |
| 2024 | $51,046 | Actual |
| 2025 | $55,972 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,802 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $59,692 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the River Falls metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $46,473 (2019) to $55,972 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $59,692 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,219 (28.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the River Falls 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) | $33,778 – $44,632 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $44,632 – $57,802 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,802 – $73,987 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $73,987 – $89,594 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in River Falls
When considering how much do court reporters make in River Falls, it's significant to highlight the cost of living index at 93.4, meaning the area is more affordable than the national average. Such economic factors bolster take-home pay against rising expenses. Freelance reporters typically earn the most through diverse avenues such as deposition work, where pay varies by urgency, and realtime captioning services, which can yield higher hourly rates. Those entering the field should emphasize building strong relationships with regional firms like Veritext and Esquire, as well as specialize in realtime or CART services to maximize pay. Understanding the local job market and the nuances of employer compensation practices can lead to more advantageous opportunities in the court reporting landscape in River Falls, WI.
More salary data for River Falls, WI:
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 $55,972 for court reportersin the River Falls 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 River Falls 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