How Much Does a Stenography Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$72,420
Court reporters and stenographers in the U.S. earn a median of $72,420 a year, or $34.82 an hour. Half of court reporters and stenographers earn more than $72,420 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $130,560.
Pay percentiles for court reporters and stenographers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.26 | $42,130 |
| 25th | $25.85 | $53,760 |
| 50th (median) | $34.82 | $72,420 |
| 75th | $48.45 | $100,780 |
| 90th | $62.77 | $130,560 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners (SOC 27-3092). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for court reporters and stenographers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $116,020 | $55.78 | +60% |
| Texas | $110,080 | $52.92 | +52% |
| Washington | $107,670 | $51.77 | +49% |
| New York | $101,990 | $49.03 | +41% |
| Iowa | $93,810 | $45.10 | +30% |
| Rhode Island | $92,250 | $44.35 | +27% |
| Minnesota | $83,680 | $40.23 | +16% |
| Colorado | $83,010 | $39.91 | +15% |
| Massachusetts | $79,940 | $38.44 | +10% |
| Arizona | $77,770 | $37.39 | +7% |
| United States | $72,420 | $34.82 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many court reporters and stenographers are there?
BLS counts about 12,870 court reporters and stenographers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners”. The most jobs are in California (1,400), New York (1,400) and Texas (1,270).
The mean (average) annual wage is $78,760, higher than the median of $72,420.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,035
- Biweekly
- $2,785
- Weekly
- $1,393
- Daily (8 hours)
- $279
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do court reporters and stenographers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for court reporters and stenographers is $34.82. The middle 50% earn between $25.85 and $48.45 an hour.
Which state pays court reporters and stenographers the most?
California has the highest median wage for court reporters and stenographers at $116,020, +60% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for court reporters and stenographers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of court reporters and stenographers earn less than $42,130 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.