Create word-for-word transcripts of legal proceedings using stenotype machines or voice methods.
You may also see this posted as: Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR), Court Stenographer, Official Court Reporter, Court Monitor, Court Recording Monitor, Deposition Reporter.
Courtrooms, law offices, and remote setups.
Full-time, with some freelance flexibility
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 25.6% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Certificate program
Training path: Certificate + certification.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
Many states require licensing or certification such as the RPR or a state CSR exam.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
A certificate-level path to solid pay, with steady demand from courts and captioning.
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Standard Occupational Classification 27-3092. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.