Court Reporter

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Work Tasks

• Type an exact record of court meetings, statements, and other official court events
• Record each word exactly without making any errors
• Reporters use Computer Aided Transcription (CAT) to change the shorthand notes to English
• Work for court systems, law firms, state and local government, or for themselves
• Work with stenotype machines, personal computers, transcripts, notes, and files

Salary, Size & Growth

• $48,500 average per year ($23.25 per hour)
• A small occupation (18,400 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.8% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: At least a year of training in typing from a recording
• Employers Prefer: Able to use a stenotype machine and type 225 words per minute (3-4 years of training)
• Skills/Courses: Use of a stenotype machine and other computer-aided devices requires technical skills. Speed and accuracy are very important.
• Certification/Licensing: A notary public license and/or certification may be required.