Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Using computers, software, digital systems, and technology to complete work and solve problems.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
Many community colleges and technical institutes offer postsecondary certificate programs for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. These workers typically receive on-the-job training that varies by type of reporting or captioning. Many states require court reporters and simultaneous captioners who work in legal settings to have a state license or a certification from a professional association. PayThe median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $72,420 in May 2025. Job Outlook Employment of court reporters and simultaneous captioners is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. Despite limited employment growth, about 1,800 openings for court reporters and simultaneous captioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of court reporters and simultaneous captioners with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Your Next Step
Explore shorter-term education and training pathways that may prepare you for this type of work.
Pay
The median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $72,420 in May 2025. Job Outlook Employment of court reporters and simultaneous captioners is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. Despite limited employment growth, about 1,800 openings for court reporters and simultaneous captioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of court reporters and simultaneous captioners with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Job Outlook
Employment of court reporters and simultaneous captioners is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. Despite limited employment growth, about 1,800 openings for court reporters and simultaneous captioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. State & Area Data Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. Similar Occupations Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of court reporters and simultaneous captioners with similar occupations. More Information, Including Links to O*NET Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
What They Do
Court reporters create word-for-word transcriptions at trials, depositions, and other legal proceedings. Simultaneous captioners provide similar transcriptions for television or for presentations in other settings, such as press conferences and business meetings, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Work Environment
Most court reporters work in courts or legislatures; simultaneous captioners may work from their home or a central office. Some court reporters and simultaneous captioners travel to other locations, such as meeting sites or public events.
How to Become a Court Reporter or Simultaneous Captioner
Many community colleges and technical institutes offer postsecondary certificate programs for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. These workers typically receive on-the-job training that varies by type of reporting or captioning. Many states require court reporters and simultaneous captioners who work in legal settings to have a state license or a certification from a professional association.
Pay
The median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $72,420 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Employment of court reporters and simultaneous captioners is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 1,800 openings for court reporters and simultaneous captioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for court reporters and simultaneous captioners.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of court reporters and simultaneous captioners with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Work Environment
Most court reporters work in courts or legislatures; simultaneous captioners may work from their home or a central office. Some court reporters and simultaneous captioners travel to other locations, such as meeting sites or public events.
How to Become a Court Reporter or Simultaneous Captioner
Many community colleges and technical institutes offer postsecondary certificate programs for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. These workers typically receive on-the-job training that varies by type of reporting or captioning. Many states require court reporters and simultaneous captioners who work in legal settings to have a state license or a certification from a professional association.
Pay
The median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners was $72,420 in May 2025.
Job Outlook
Employment of court reporters and simultaneous captioners is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 1,800 openings for court reporters and simultaneous captioners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for court reporters and simultaneous captioners.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of court reporters and simultaneous captioners with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for court reporters and simultaneous captioners.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of court reporters and simultaneous captioners with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
More Information
Learn more about court reporters and simultaneous captioners by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.