Court Reporter Careers

Attending a court reporting school can help you learn an exciting new career. Court reporting training can lead you to a variety of jobs, not just court reporting. Court reporters are used in every county of every state in the country. The job can be fun, diverse, and exciting.

What about online court reporting schools?
Online court reporting schools not only train you for court reporting, but also for broadcast closed captioned and Communications Across Real Time Translator. If you do choose to follow a career in court reporting, you can be freelance and work for yourself an set your own hours, or you can be an official court reporter.

What does the outlook look like for court reporting?
Court reporting is expected to grow in demand over the next few years. Because each court needs at least one reporter, there is always a variety of jobs available in every location in the United States. You can work from nearly anywhere you choose if you want to relocate. Or, if you want to stay in the area you are currently in, you can look for a job there. Not many careers offer the flexibility of a court reporting job.

Court reporting salary is dependent upon many factors such as location, hours, and how fast you are. The median salary is just above $50,000, but some court reporters can make much more than that per year. Freelance and part time court reporters may make less per year, but also work less hours.

What would I do as a court reporter?
Court reporters use a stenotype machine to type. There is either a two or four year program to learn how to become a court reporter. You will learn common terms and practices within the legal field as well as procedures used in the court room.

Court reporters work under immediate supervision and do not have the ability to make decisions for their job. They must adhere to strict, predetermined rules and guidelines to perform the job. A court reporter usually has a manager that they report to directly.

Financial aid may be available if the court reporting college is accredited. Schools must be accredited by a third party to be found that they are reputable and teach what is required. Schools with a physical campus as well as online schools can be accredited. Government financial aid such as the Pell Grant and federal student loans are only available for accredited schools.

A new career in court reporting can be exciting and fun. There are a variety of different jobs this type of training can lead to. You can live anywhere in the country and find a job in court reporting or closed captioned. Work as a freelancer and set your own hours, or be an official court reporter. Job rates are expected to rise making this a wise choice for a career.

Other types of criminal justice and legal careers :

• Judge
• Law Clerk
• Lawyer
• Legal
• Legal Assistant
• Mediator
• Paralegal

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The salary range for Court Reporter begins around $25,360 and usually tops out around $83,500, with a mean in the neighborhood of $54,430. This is about 25% higher than the national average for annual salaries.

In order to qualify for most Court Reporter positions, you typically need to have a Certification or higher.

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The growth outlook for Court Reporter careers is estimated at about 18% while the estimated growth for all career fields over that same span is at about 10.12%. Over the next six years, Court Reporter jobs are expected to grow at a 78% higher rate than the national average for annual salaries.