careers
Find out more about the rewarding and lucrative field of court reporting.
What is a court reporter?
Court reporters, whether stenographers or voice reporters, are professionals that are tasked with the critical job of being the “keeper of record.” They capture everything said during a proceeding and create a written transcript in real time.
Qualities of a good court reporting candidate
- Proficiency in English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- An above-average knowledge of legal and medical terms or a resourceful nature to find the information you need.
- An affinity for learning.
- A high level of professionalism and attention to detail.
Career paths
The court reporting field offers a wide variety of opportunities. Court reporters can be “Official” court reporters and work primarily in court rooms across their state. Alternatively, reporters may serve as freelance reporters and cover depositions, examinations under oath, meetings, and hearings, typically working in conference rooms or board rooms at various corporate offices. Additionally, those trained in stenography or voice reporting can opt to work as closed captioners or CART providers (Communication Access Realtime Translation). Closed captioners often work from their own home but may also provide captioning services for live events. CART providers assist deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in various personal situations, such as doctor’s appointments, meetings, or school courses.
Why become a court reporter?
Today, court reporters are more in demand than ever, as there is a severe reporter shortage. Reporting is a very accessible career; training for stenographic reporters can be completed in just two years and in less than one year for voice reporters. Once in the field, freelance reporters set their own schedule, choosing how often they wish to work. The average US court reporter earns $60,000 per year, and it is not unusual for a motivated reporter to earn six figures yearly.
Interested in learning more?
NCRA's A to Z Program
Free 6 to 8-week hands-on stenotype program
Project Steno's "Basic Training" Program
Free intro to steno course
International Realtime Court Reporting Institute
Online voice reporting trainers since 2005
College of Court Reporting
Court reporting training since 1984