Court reporters are the people who make the transcripts of the court proceeding, depositions, and other legal proceedings. They work for state, local, and federal government agencies and courts as well as for television stations that provide close captioning. To become a court reporter, a person much have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete a community college course of study in court reporting. Most states also require court reporters to pass a certification test.
Advantages of being a court reporter
1. Earnings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a court reporter is $49,500 or about $23.80 per hour. That's approximately equal to the median individual income in the United States. However, that salary is just the average. You can earn more as you gain more experience and/or if you work in high demand markets, such as New York City and Los Angeles.
2. Flexibility. When you work as a court reporter, you can choose which jobs to accept and how much you want to work. That's a big advantage for individuals with lots of family, civic, and church obligations.
3. Growth and job security. Courts and legal issues are not likely to go away any time soon, so there will always be a need for court reporters. According to the BLS, the number of court reporting jobs is expected to grow by two percent over the next ten years.
4. No expensive and time-consuming schooling required. Since training for becoming a court reporter is just two years at a community college, you won't amass large student loan obligations, and you can start earning a professional salary more quickly.
5. Variety. Unlike many other jobs, court reporting offers a different experience most every day, since every case is different, and you never know what a witness is going to say. It's much less likely to get boring when you work as a court reporter than when working at many other jobs.
While a job as a court reporter isn't necessarily the right choice for everyone, this growing profession offers a good salary, gives you the opportunity to choose how often and where you work, and doesn't require lengthy and expensive schooling.
In addition to working full time as a court reporter, you can find work "virtually" via a computer and monitor. To learn more, contact a company like Farrell Court Reporting.
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