Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $72,420/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$42,130$130,560

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: -0.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.

About 1,700 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Active ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionMonitoringSpeakingTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingActive LearningComplex Problem Solving

Top knowledge areas

English LanguageAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementCommunications and MediaPublic Safety and Security

Core tasks

• Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.

• Proofread transcripts for correct spelling of words.

• Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.

• Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.

• Transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats.

• Log and store exhibits from court proceedings.

• File and store shorthand notes of court session.

• File a legible transcript of records of a court case with the court clerk's office.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners?

The median pay for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners is $72,420 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners?

Employment for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners is projected to change -0.3% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.

What education is typically required for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners?

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

How many job openings are there each year for Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners?

About 1,700 openings per year, on average, over the decade.