Court Reporters Job Description, Duties & Salary

Earnings

Earnings vary according to the skill, speed, and experience of the court reporter, as well as geographic location. Those who are employed by large court systems generally earn more than their counterparts in smaller communities. The median annual income for all court reporters was $63,940 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Court reporters who worked for local government agencies and court systems earned mean annual salaries of $70,970, while those were employed at the state level made $69,940. The lowest 10 percent of all court reporters were paid less than $35,890 annually, and the top 10 percent had annual earnings of more than $126,440. Incomes can be even higher depending on the reporter's skill level, length of service, and the amount of time the reporter works. Official court reporters not only earn a salary, but also a per-page fee for transcripts. Freelance court reporters are paid by the job and also per page for transcripts.

Benefits for court reporters depend on the employer; however, they usually include such items as health insurance, retirement or 401(k) plans, and paid vacation days. Self-employed court reporters must provide their own benefits.

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