What Does A Court Reporter Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Court Reporters

Court Reporters use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

Salary
$57890
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Post-secondary certificate
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Court Reporters use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.

  • Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
  • Take notes in shorthand or use a stenotype or shorthand machine that prints letters on a paper tape.
  • Record symbols on computer storage media and use computer-aided transcription to translate and display them as text.
  • Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Court Reporters file and store shorthand notes of court sessions. They transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats.

A typical day for a Court Reporter will also include:

  • Record symbols on computer storage media and use computer-aided transcription to translate and display them as text.
  • Take notes in shorthand or use a stenotype or shorthand machine that prints letters on a paper tape.
  • Record depositions and other proceedings for attorneys.
  • Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
  • Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Court Reporters also provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public. They may also file a legible transcript of records of a court case with the court clerk’s office.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Court Reporters respond to requests during court sessions to read portions of the proceedings already recorded. They might also ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.

In addition, they verify the accuracy of transcripts by checking copies against original records of proceedings and accuracy of rulings by checking with judges.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them record depositions and other proceedings for attorneys.

To some Court Reporters, it is also their responsibility to record symbols on computer storage media and use computer-aided transcription to translate and display them as text.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

High

Is this job meaningful

Average

72% said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they found their job meaningful.


Rick Wallace

I was a court reporter for several years largely covering murder trials for major news organizations. It is a great job – interesting with lots of variety and no day is like any other. The main skills you need are great comprehension, intelligence, judgement, and the ability to write good, clear, and interesting copy very fast in order to meet deadlines.

Shorthand is also an asset as it helps you record comments precisely at speed and many courts bar the use of recording devices during hearings and trials. Having a basic knowledge of the law surrounding contempt of court and what is subjudice is really useful too as is an ability to relate to prosecutors, attorneys, and police to get intel on which cases to cover and to clarify details while a case is in progress.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to follow routines.

Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Demand for this career is growing fast.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

How much do they make

Average salary

$57890 per year

Average hourly wage

$28 per hour

Entry-level Court Reporters with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $32,610 to $40,420 per year or $16 to $19 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $90,080 $43
Senior (Top 25%) $68,000 $33
Median $52,960 $25
Junior (Bottom 25%) $40,420 $19
No experience (Bottom 10%) $32,610 $16

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Court Reporters based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $107050 $51.47
State Government $74520 $35.83
Local Government $70020 $33.66
Federal Executive Branch $63340 $30.45
Junior Colleges $60080 $28.89
Business Support Services $52280 $25.13

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Court Reporters work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Court Reporters including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Local Government 4700 $70020 $33.66
Business Support Services 4300 $52280 $25.13
State Government 4140 $74520 $35.83
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 390 $107050 $51.47
Federal Executive Branch 40 $63340 $30.45
Junior Colleges 30 $60080 $28.89

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
23%

40 hours
43%

More than 40 hours
34%

Working schedule

78%

19%

3%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
34%

Every day
44%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
49%

Every day
33%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
32%

Every day
63%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
62%

Once a year
8%

Once a month
10%

Once a week
20%

Every day
1%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
13%

Slightly competitive
21%

Moderately competitive
43%

Highly competitive
11%

Extremely competitive
11%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
3%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
19%

Every day
71%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
81%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
7%

Once a week or more
11%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
100%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
0%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
5%

Post-Secondary Certificate
41%

Some College Courses
10%

Associate’s Degree or similar
34%

Bachelor’s Degree
9%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Court Reporting and Captioning/Court Reporter

A program that prepares individuals to record and transcribe examinations, testimony, judicial orders and instructions, legal opinions, and other formal proceedings via print or electronic methods. Includes instruction in legal terminology, legal transcription, shorthand, verbatim recording, equipment operation and procedures, applicable regulations, and professional standards and ethics.

Court Interpreter

A program of study that prepares individuals to provide accurate translation and interpretation between two or more languages for parties involved in a legal proceeding. Includes instruction in courtroom standards and procedures, court interpreting, legal terminology, consecutive interpretation, simultaneous interpretation, and sight translation.

Scopist

An instructional program that prepares individuals to perform editing and word processing on a court reporter transcript to ensure the accuracy of the transcripts. Includes instruction in legal terminology, legal transcriptioning, machine shorthand, and computer-aided transcription software.


Voice Writing Technology

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to use voice writing computer software and speak a verbal shorthand language to create transcripts and screen captioning of live or recorded events intended for the public or a specific audience in a variety of media (e.g., digital, film, print, television) as well as for conferences, conversations, interviews, and meetings. Includes instruction in screen captioning, speed building, spoken shorthand, transcription, and voice input writing.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
46%

1 month
3%

1 to 3 months
8%

3 to 6 months
4%

6 months to 1 year
15%

1 to 2 years
7%

2 to 4 years
16%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
2%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
13%

1 month
46%

1 to 3 months
20%

3 to 6 months
8%

6 months to 1 year
9%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Organizer

People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.

The Builder
19%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
24%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
33%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
38%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
48%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
90%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
57%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
48%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
43%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
57%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
52%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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