Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Professionals in this field focus on documenting and recording information with extreme accuracy. They use computers and specialized stenographic equipment to capture spoken dialogue verbatim, which requires strong skills in active listening, reading comprehension, and writing. Day-to-day tasks involve gathering information, processing data, and performing administrative duties.

This role is highly conventional, demanding a strong attention to detail, dependability, and self-control. Workers must possess a deep knowledge of the English language, administrative procedures, and law and government. Because they often work in high-pressure legal environments or live broadcast settings, maintaining stress tolerance, cooperation, and integrity is essential for success.

To enter this career, candidates typically need a postsecondary certificate. This level of preparation often involves vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience. Common college majors that prepare students for this field include legal support services and audiovisual communications technologies.

Depending on the employer and location, professionals can pursue several industry certifications to demonstrate their expertise. These include credentials from the National Court Reporters Association, such as the Certified Realtime Reporter, Certified Reporting Instructor, Registered Merit Reporter, and Registered Diplomate Reporter. The National Verbatim Reporters Association also offers the Certificate of Merit and the Certified Verbatim Reporter credential. Additionally, some states list a license for this work.

In 2025, the median annual pay for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $72,420. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% of workers earning less than $42,130 and the highest 10% earning more than $130,560.

There are 12,870 people employed in this occupation. From 2025 to 2035, employment is projected to experience little or no change, with a growth rate of -0.1%. Despite this flat growth, about 1,800 job openings are still projected to become available each year.