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 $67,310 per year, ranking in the top 36% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.3% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. 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 $67,310. That puts court reporters and simultaneous captioners at #288 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 -0.3%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 17K positions in 2024 to 17K in 2034, a net change of 0K. 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 do court reporters and simultaneous captioners do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working court reporters and simultaneous captioners, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Proofread transcripts for correct spelling of words.
2. 2.Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.
3. 3.Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public.
4. 4.File and store shorthand notes of court session.
5. 5.Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
6. 6.Log and store exhibits from court proceedings.
7. 7.Verify accuracy of transcripts by checking copies against original records of proceedings and accuracy of rulings by checking with judges.
8. 8.Transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats.

Top skills for court reporters and simultaneous captioners

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

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

• Art Directors
  $111,040 median
• Special Effects Artists and Animators
  $99,800 median
• Technical Writers
  $91,670 median
• Producers and Directors
  $83,480 median
• Fashion Designers
  $80,690 median
• Commercial and Industrial Designers
  $79,450 median

Common questions parents ask about court reporters and simultaneous captioners