Becoming A Court Reporter Offers Tangible Benefits

A precise, accurate record of legal proceedings is a vital part of the justice system. Although electronic court reporting technology is making headway, there is still a need for court reporters to ensure those records exist.

court reporters
Court reporters are in demand in what can be a great career.

However, projections indicate that the shortage represents nearly 5,500 qualified reporters. That means current court reporters will experience an increased demand for their services. Court reporting firms and freelance reporters will likely encounter more and more opportunities for business. Some experienced professionals may even find themselves caught up in bidding wars for their expertise.

Some of the benefits of pursuing court reporting include:

Less demanding education requirements — An expensive, four-year college education financed by loans is not necessary to become a court reporter. You can become a certified voice reporter in as little as six months by studying online.

High earning potential — The earning potential for a verbatim court reporter right out of school is an average of $40,000 nationwide, and wages increase with experience.

Freelance options — With the variety of industries in need of court reporters, professionals can create freelance careers, choosing their own hours and creating a flexible.

Stable career, growing demand and increased opportunities

Since a growing number of fields including business, politics, medicine, professional sports and television need real-time court reporters and transcriptions of conferences, seminars and video, the need for people with these skills will continue to grow.

The median age of working court reporters is 51 years old, which is almost 10 years older than the median age of workers in all occupations, 42 years old. More than 70 percent of the court reporting population is 46 years or older.

And who will replace all of the retiring workers? Again, technology is progressing at a rapid rate, but court reporters are still needed for the time being. But court reporting schools across the nation have reported a steady decrease in enrollment over the last two decades.