Court Reporters Job Description, Duties & Salary

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment of court reporters will grow by 2 percent through 2033, slower than the average for all careers. Budget cuts have reduced the number of positions with federal and state court systems, although employment at the local level is expected to remain steady. Despite these cuts, there will still be a need for court reporters. The increasing number of criminal court cases and civil lawsuits, coupled with the continuing need for court and pretrial depositions will ensure the continued need for court reporters in both state and federal court systems. Job opportunities should be greatest in and around large metropolitan areas, but qualified court reporters should be able to find work in most parts of the country. Court reporters who are certified—especially with the highest level of certification—will have the most opportunities to choose from.

In the future, job opportunities for court reporters may decline because of the increasing use of digital audio recording technology in courtrooms. Even if more state and local court systems adopt this technology, court reporters will still be needed to oversee the equipment and verify the accuracy of the transcripts after proceedings have been recorded.

Court reporters will also have job opportunities outside of the legal system. Companies that provide transcription services to court systems, law firms, and other government agencies and companies will need reporters' services.

Additionally, court reporters will find good work opportunities using their skills to produce captioning for television programs, which is a federal requirement for all television programming, and creating real-time translations for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in legal and academic settings, as well as on the Internet. In addition, the DOL reports that the "growth of the elderly population also will increase demand for court reporters who are communication access real-time translation (CART) providers or who can accompany their clients to doctor’s appointments, town hall meetings, and religious services. In addition, movie theaters and sports stadiums will provide closed captioning for deaf or hard-of-hearing customers."

Related Professions

Featured Companies