Court Reporting Careers

Discover Court Reporting Careers

Court reporting careers offer a rewarding experience with a job that pays well and brings personal satisfaction. Those wishing to pursue the higher paying court reporting careers, however, must complete the proper training, certification, and education necessary to qualify for one of these court reporting careers.

There are many different types of court reporting careers that you may pursue. While most people think of a stenographer working within the judicial system when they think of court reporting careers, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, court reporting careers can involve transcribing information at business meetings, writing text for closed-captioning television, and more.

Although the setting for court reporting careers can vary according to the path you select, the basic concept remains the same. As a court reporter, your job will be to record spoken information quickly, efficiently, and accurately. This is because the information you transcribe is often considered to be a legal and binding document.

The methods used to record information can vary just as much as the setting. For example, you might use a special machine in order to type what has been spoken by using a special type of shorthand. You might also use a voice-writing method, which involves speaking what is being said and then transcribing it later.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, those pursuing court reporting careers can expect to earn a very respectable salary. In fact, the median annual salary for court reporters in 2004 was $42,920. Those on the upper end of the salary scale were earning a whopping $80,300 per year, though those on the lower end of the scale earned as little as $23,690 or less. The amount of education and training your receive, as well as the types of court reporting careers you pursue, will determine how much you earn in this profession.