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Court Reporter

$67,310
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Create word-for-word transcripts of legal proceedings using stenotype machines or voice methods.

Where you work

Courtrooms, law offices, and remote setups.

The hours

Full-time, with some freelance flexibility

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$67,310
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~1,700
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
0%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
17,700
people, nationwide

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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Certificate program

Training path: Certificate + certification.

License or certification

Many states require licensing or certification such as the RPR or a state CSR exam.

What it takes

Fast transcriptionStenographyAttention to detailGrammar

The honest take

A certificate-level path to solid pay, with steady demand from courts and captioning.

Standard Occupational Classification 27-3092. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.