Arts, Design, Media, and Sports · Career brief

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$72,420

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

-0.1%

Projected employment decline

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

1,800

Relatively fewer openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Certificate / award

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

Postsecondary nondegree award. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Structured / detail

Accuracy, process, and organized information matter

Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines…

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if structured, detail-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a certificate or nondegree award. Main tradeoff: BLS projects employment to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

Before choosing, compare:Audio and Video Technicians Interpreters and Translators Public Relations Specialists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners with another field Explore rankings in Arts, Design, Media, and Sports Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$72,420

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

-0.1%employment growth1,800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Postsecondary nondegree award; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

19,900

A small national occupation; local availability may be uneven.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Court reporters and simultaneous captioners (27-3092).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
Proofread transcripts for correct spelling of words.
Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.
Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.
Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.
Some core tasks take place on ladders, scaffolds, roofs, or other elevated work areas.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Documenting/Recording Information4.8
Working with Computers4.6
Getting Information4.3
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.2
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.9

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Conventional5.6
Artistic2.9
Social2.9
Enterprising2.6
Realistic2.2
Investigative2.1

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Computers and Electronics Law and Government Communications and Media Public Safety and Security

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Complete a creative brief for someone else, meet the deadline, invite blunt criticism, and revise the work once.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Court reporters and simultaneous captioners nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Writing, Reading Comprehension among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options