Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Salary

The median court reporters and simultaneous captioners salary in the United States is $72,420 per year ($34.82/hour). Salaries range from $42,130 at the entry level to $130,560+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 12,870 court reporters and simultaneous captioners jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 0.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asCourt ReporterStenographer
Median Salary
$72,420
per year
Hourly Rate
$34.82
per hour
Employment
12,870
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$42,130
25th percentile
$53,760
Median
$72,420
75th percentile
$100,780
90th percentile
$130,560

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-0.3%
Decline

Annual Openings

1,700
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award

Training Needed

Short-term on-the-job training

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for court reporters and simultaneous captionerss.

Court reporters and simultaneous captioners create verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings, live broadcasts, and CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) services. Entry reporters/captioners earn $52-72k; established freelance and official court reporters earn $75-125k; senior freelance reporters in major markets (NYC, LA, DC) earn $115-215k+; realtime-certified reporters at high-profile depositions and captioning at national broadcasters (ESPN, CNN, live congressional captioning) reach $145-265k+. The field is undergoing a major shortage β€” pay is rising and remote/hybrid work is common.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Stenography (steno machine, 225+ WPM at 95%+ accuracy)
Master a stenotype machine (Stentura, Passport, LightSpeed). Achieve 225 WPM literary, 200 WPM jury charge, 180 WPM Q&A at 95%+ per NCRA RPR. Realtime rate is 200+ WPM with 96% accuracy.
CAT software (Case CATalyst, Eclipse, StenoCAT)
Build and maintain personal dictionaries, manage briefs, and produce clean transcripts. Realtime output configuration for CART and broadcast captioning.
Legal terminology and procedure
Deposition, trial, and grand jury procedure. Familiarity with medical, technical, and industry-specific vocabulary in litigation-heavy specialty areas (patent, medical malpractice, construction defect).
Realtime writing
Deliver clean text stream to attorneys, judges, or captioning viewers in real time. Requires deep dictionary preparation and error-recovery skill mid-stream.
Broadcast captioning (offline and realtime)
TV networks, live sports, congressional captioning. FCC quality standards. Different flow than court reporting β€” no read-back option, more forgiving on style but zero tolerance for offensive errors on live air.
Business management (freelance)
Most working court reporters are 1099 or run their own agencies. Manage scheduling, billing, page rates, expedite fees, and receivables. Freelance income tracks directly to hustle and reputation.
Voice writing (alternative to steno)
Voice writers use a stenomask and speech-recognition software as an alternate credential path. Slightly lower ceiling in some jurisdictions but valid at NVRA-certified level.

How to Become a Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

  1. 1
    Complete an NCRA-approved court reporting program (typically 24-36 months)
    Programs at community colleges and specialty schools (College of Court Reporting, South Coast, Sage). Most students take 2-4 years to reach 225 WPM. Attrition is high β€” persistence beats talent.
  2. 2
    Pass the RPR (Registered Professional Reporter) or state licensing exam
    NCRA RPR is the industry standard. Some states (California, Texas) also require state-specific CSR / TCRR exams. Voice writers pursue NVRA CVR.
  3. 3
    Start as a freelance court reporter or official/entry captioner
    $52-78k. Depositions in insurance defense or general civil, court proceedings as an intern/relief reporter, or entry captioning shifts. Build speed under pressure.
  4. 4
    Earn RMR / CRR / CBC certifications and specialize
    RMR (Merit) = 260 WPM. CRR (Realtime) = 200 WPM at 96%. CBC (Broadcast Captioner) or CCP (CART Provider) for captioning specialty. These separate reporters at the top of the fee scale.
  5. 5
    Move into high-value work: complex litigation, official reporter, or broadcast captioning
    $115-265k+. Complex-litigation freelancers charge $6-10/page plus expedites and realtime fees. Officials at federal district courts earn $110-155k base plus transcript income. Broadcast captioners at networks are salaried plus specialty premiums.

Career Progression

New Reporter / Junior Freelance / Entry Captioner
0-3 yrs$52-78k
  • β€’Cover routine depositions and hearings
  • β€’Produce clean transcripts on 10-14 day turnaround
  • β€’Build dictionary and specialty vocabulary
  • β€’Complete RPR
Next: Full freelance / official / broadcast captioner at 2-4 years.
Established Freelance Reporter / Official Reporter
3-10 yrs$75-135k (top freelance $155k+ with expedites)
  • β€’Cover higher-stakes depositions and trials
  • β€’Realtime capable for premium jobs
  • β€’Multi-attorney or multi-day case management
  • β€’Client and agency relationships
Next: RMR/CRR-certified specialist at 8-15 years.
RMR / CRR Specialist / Broadcast Captioner
8-18 yrs$115-215k+ (broadcast $95-165k salaried)
  • β€’Complex litigation (patent, class action, medical malpractice)
  • β€’Realtime feeds for judges and attorneys
  • β€’National-broadcast captioning (news, sports, live events)
  • β€’CART for university, government, and congressional settings
Next: Agency ownership, chief reporter, or specialty firm principal.
Agency Owner / Chief Reporter / Captioning Firm Principal
15+ yrs$155-315k+ (top agency owners with strong book $315-565k)
  • β€’Own reporting or captioning firm; 5-40 reporters/captioners
  • β€’Client and law-firm relationships
  • β€’Scheduling, billing, and quality control
  • β€’Industry association and standards work
Next: Sale of practice, merger with a national firm, or transition to expert/consultant work.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. What speeds are you consistently achieving?technical
Direct answer: current test speeds and how you know. 'I'm holding 225 WPM Q&A at 96%, 200 WPM realtime at 96.5%, and I passed the RPR six months ago. I'm building toward RMR speeds now with weekly dictation practice.' Agencies and firms want proof, not aspiration.
Q2. Describe your dictionary and prep process.technical
Personal dictionary of 62,000+ entries built over training and 4 years of practice. Before each job I load witness names, attorney names, exhibits, and industry terms specific to the case. For medmal I load anatomy, drug names, and procedure terms. For patent I load technical vocabulary. Dictionary prep is where realtime accuracy is won or lost.
Q3. How do you handle a witness who talks over the attorney?situational
Interject respectfully and immediately: 'Excuse me, one at a time please for the record.' Never wait for the judge or attorney to intervene. That's my responsibility as the officer of the court. If it happens repeatedly, I ask for a brief recess to re-read a passage and re-set the pace.
Q4. Tell me about a difficult transcript.behavioral
STAR: 6-day patent trial with 4 expert witnesses using specialized semiconductor terminology. I built a 900-entry case-specific dictionary before day 1. Delivered daily rough drafts each night; final certified transcript in 14 days with 99.8% accuracy per attorney check. Complex-lit transcripts test dictionary discipline and stamina; interviewers want both.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
RMR + CRR certified, specialized in complex litigation (patent or medical), and either running my own practice or serving as chief reporter at a national agency. Long-term, I want to build a book of law-firm clients and possibly transition to expert-witness or transcript-review consulting.

Resume Template β€” Established Freelance Reporter (3-10 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Established Freelance Reporter (3-10 yrs)
  • β–ΈFreelance court reporter covering 180+ depositions per year for a book of 22 law-firm clients in the metro.
  • β–ΈRPR + RMR certified, holding 225 WPM Q&A at 96% and 260 WPM literary at 96.5%.
  • β–ΈSpecialty in medical malpractice; 45,000-entry medical dictionary built over 4 years.
  • β–Έ$115k gross via $5.75 base page rate + $2.25 expedite premium; 92% client renewal rate.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Speed and accuracy claims that don't match test records or references.
  • βœ—Sloppy dictionary discipline β€” realtime feeds full of errors and mis-strokes.
  • βœ—Weak on-record demeanor β€” interrupts, argues, or shows fatigue.
  • βœ—Poor turnaround time on transcripts β€” agencies fire late reporters quickly.
  • βœ—Cannot maintain composure in high-stakes settings (murder trials, high-profile deps).
  • βœ—No investment in continuing education past initial certification.
  • βœ—Bad receivables management (freelance) β€” reporters go under fast without collection discipline.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Page rates negotiable per client β€” new-hire agencies often start at market minimum, but experienced reporters negotiate premium.
  • βœ“Expedite fees ($2-5+/page premium) for daily, overnight, or same-day turnaround.
  • βœ“Realtime fees ($1-3/page premium for realtime; sometimes flat hourly).
  • βœ“Rough draft fees ($0.75-1.50/page for uncertified rough).
  • βœ“Travel and cancellation fees β€” negotiate the minimum before you accept the calendar hold.
  • βœ“Broadcast captioners: shift differentials, hazard pay for live events, and captioning-quality bonus.
  • βœ“Official reporter positions: salary + transcript income (often $20-60k/yr additional).
  • βœ“1099 vs W-2 tax treatment β€” most freelance is 1099; understand equipment write-offs and quarterly estimated taxes.

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired court reporters and simultaneous captionerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

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  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

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  • βœ“ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
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  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
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Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$45K
$116Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

California
$116K
+60%
Texas
$110K
+52%
Washington
$108K
+49%
New York
$102K
+41%
Iowa
$94K
+30%
Rhode Island
$92K
+27%
Minnesota
$84K
+16%
Colorado
$83K
+15%
Massachusetts
$80K
+10%
Arizona
$78K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
California$116,020+60.2%
Texas$110,080+52.0%
Washington$107,670+48.7%
New York$101,990+40.8%
Iowa$93,810+29.5%
Rhode Island$92,250+27.4%
Minnesota$83,680+15.5%
Colorado$83,010+14.6%
Massachusetts$79,940+10.4%
Arizona$77,770+7.4%
1–10 of 38

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$143,170+97.7%
Stockton-Lodi, CA$138,340+91.0%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$133,900+84.9%
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$130,730+80.5%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$129,380+78.7%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$129,270+78.5%
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$125,970+73.9%
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX$123,900+71.1%
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$123,230+70.2%
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$118,200+63.2%
1–10 of 68
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A court reporters and simultaneous captioners earning $72,420/year would need 823 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 884 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how court reporters and simultaneous captioners salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners salary trend (2011–2024) β†’