Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners fall under the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media category in the U.S. occupational classification. Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners earn a median salary of $72,420 per year, ranking in the top 36% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.1% job growth through 2035, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn?

The median annual wage for court reporters and simultaneous captioners is $72,420. That puts court reporters and simultaneous captioners at #301 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is court reporters and simultaneous captioners a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for court reporters and simultaneous captioners is -0.1%, projected to lose jobs through 2035. Employment is projected to move from approximately 19K positions in 2024 to 19K in 2034, a net change of <1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What education does my child need to become court reporters and simultaneous captioner?

The standard path into court reporters and simultaneous captioners begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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Common questions parents ask about court reporters and simultaneous captioners