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Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure

What they do

Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $72,420 Median per year · $34.82/hr Most earn $42,130–$130,560

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Log and store exhibits from court proceedings.
  • File exhibits.
  • Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
  • Record depositions and other proceedings for attorneys.
  • File and store shorthand notes of court session.
  • Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 1,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)33.4%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals24.2%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals20.4%
  • Business support services19.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

Court reporting is an entry-level job you can start after a short training program, not a four-year degree. Most people spend roughly 1 to 3 years in a certificate program, then a few months of on-the-job experience, before working on their own.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build strong typing, English, and listening skills, since court reporters must type very fast and accurately. A diploma is usually required to enter a court reporting program.

  2. Court reporting certificate program (stenography training)

    1-3 years

    Learn to write on a stenotype machine and build speed and accuracy, along with legal terms and transcript formatting. Completing the program prepares you for the entry-level work and any required certification.

  3. Court Reporting Apprentice

    3-6 months

    Work alongside an experienced reporter or in a legal office to practice real transcription and learn courtroom or deposition routines. This hands-on time is what usually leads to working as a reporter.

  4. Court Reporter

    Ongoing

    Capture testimony word for word at trials, depositions, and other proceedings, then produce accurate transcripts. Some reporters also work as stenocaptioners, providing live captions for broadcasts.

Where it can lead

  1. Official Court Reporter

    Several years as a freelance or court reporter of experience first

    Work for a court system as a full-time reporter with a steady schedule and benefits, which usually requires a strong track record and passing the court's own tests.

  2. Senior Court Reporter

    3-5 years of experience first

    Take on the hardest cases, train newer reporters, and handle complex or high-volume assignments; this usually comes with proven accuracy and speed over time.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take typing or keyboarding classFast, accurate typing is the foundation for stenography and transcription later on.
  • Take English and writing classesStrong grammar, spelling, and punctuation are essential when producing official transcripts.
  • Join a debate or mock trial clubYou'll learn how courtroom proceedings work and practice listening closely to speakers.
  • Get a part-time office job or volunteer in an officeWorking with documents and computers builds the organization and attention to detail this career needs.

In college

  • Look into a court reporting or stenography programCertificate programs teach the exact skills employers look for, and many colleges offer them.
  • Take courses in English, public speaking, or law-related subjectsThese build the vocabulary and listening skills you'll use every day in court reporting.
  • Work a part-time job in a law office or court-related settingYou'll learn legal terms and office routines and may meet people who can give you advice.
  • Practice typing speed regularly and track your accuracyBuilding speed and accuracy steadily is key before and during training.
  • Join a pre-law or mock trial clubTaking part in courtroom-style activities helps you get comfortable with legal proceedings.

Tips for getting started

  • Practice typing and listening every day, since speed and accuracy are the core skills for this career. Even 15 minutes a day adds up.
  • Look up your state's requirements for court reporters early, because some states require specific certifications or exams and programs vary by location.
  • Ask a court reporter or stenocaptioner if you can shadow them or ask questions; hearing how their day works is a great way to decide if this path fits you.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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