Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners create written records of spoken communication for courts, live events, and other settings where accurate transcripts are required. This career combines strong language abilities with technical and fine motor skills. Nationally, the median annual salary is $67,310, with about 18,000 people employed in this occupation. While overall projected employment growth is slightly negative at -0.3%, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. Opportunities vary by location, with some states and metro areas offering notably higher median salaries and distinct opportunity scores. The role relies on postsecondary nondegree training and a broad mix of strengths, from computers and information technology to speaking, listening, and customer service. For individuals who are detail oriented, adaptable, and comfortable working closely with others, this can be a specialized career path that blends technical capability with strong communication skills.
Court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn a national median salary of $67,310, but pay can vary widely across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, California and New York stand out with median salaries of $116,020 and $101,990, while Washington also offers a six-figure median of $107,670. Massachusetts and Colorado provide median salaries of $79,940 and $83,010. At the metro level, several areas report even higher pay. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro has a median salary of $143,170, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA area reaches $129,270. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro shows a median of $90,230. Other major metros such as Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH have median salaries of $51,880 and $65,850. This range highlights the importance of location in shaping earning potential.
Nationwide, court reporters and simultaneous captioners account for about 18,000 jobs. Projected employment growth is -0.3%, indicating a very slight overall decline rather than expansion. Despite this small negative growth rate, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings in the field. These openings suggest ongoing demand driven by turnover, retirements, and other typical workforce changes. The projected growth rate of -0.3% is consistent across the listed top states and metro areas, appearing in California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and each of the highlighted metropolitan regions. For job seekers, this means that while the total number of positions may not be rising, there are recurring opportunities to enter the field as current workers leave or change roles. Combining this steady flow of openings with targeted location choices can help align career plans with the available job market.
Location plays a significant role in shaping opportunities for court reporters and simultaneous captioners. Among states, California and New York both employ about 1,400 workers in this occupation and offer high median salaries of $116,020 and $101,990, with opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.78. Washington has a high median salary of $107,670 but relatively low employment at 80. Massachusetts and Colorado show more moderate employment levels at 50 and 260, with median salaries of $79,940 and $83,010 and opportunity scores of 65.87 and 56.97. At the metro level, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area leads in opportunity score at 77.42 and has the highest median salary at $143,170, though employment there is 50. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro combines a strong opportunity score of 77.27 with 1,060 employed. Other metros like San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH present varying mixes of salary, employment, and opportunity score.
The typical educational requirement for court reporters and simultaneous captioners is a postsecondary nondegree award. This indicates that focused training beyond high school is standard, but a full college degree is not listed as the typical entry requirement. Success in this field draws on a mix of technical and interpersonal skills. Important strengths include computers and information technology, reflecting the role of specialized equipment and software. Being detail oriented and adaptable is also central, as is having strong fine motor ability. Communication skills are emphasized through speaking and listening, as well as writing and reading. The occupation also values customer service and interpersonal skills, signaling close interaction with clients or other stakeholders. Mechanical abilities and physical strength and stamina round out the profile, supporting the practical, hands-on aspects of the work. Together, these skills align with the specialized training provided in postsecondary nondegree programs for this career.
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