1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
What is a Court Stenographer?
The average court stenographer salary is $54,961. The most common degree is a associate degree degree with an legal support services major. It usually takes zero years of experience to become a court stenographer. Court stenographers with a Master of Court Security Certification certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 7% and produce 1,100 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does a Court Stenographer Do
There are certain skills that many court stenographers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed detail oriented, listening skills and writing skills.
How To Become a Court Stenographer
If you're interested in becoming a court stenographer, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 26.7% of court stenographers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 5.0% of court stenographers have master's degrees. Even though some court stenographers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Average Salary for a Court Stenographer
Court Stenographers in America make an average salary of $54,961 per year or $26 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $104,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $28,000 per year.
Average Court Stenographer Salary
$54,961 Yearly$26.42 hourly
What Am I Worth?
Roles and Types of Court Stenographer
There are several types of court stenographer, including:
Court Reporter
Role:
It is fair to state that any court gathering is incomplete without a court reporter. A court reporter's job is to transcribe spoken or recorded speech into written form. Most court reporters use a stenotype (keyboard machine that records) or steno mask to produce an official transcript of court hearings, descriptions, and other proceedings. A court reporter is sometimes called a stenographer. A court reporter does not have to be a graduate of law, but they must have completed an internship in a court of law to get accustomed to legal terms. They must also have excellent writing skills.
The judicial system relies on court reporters to maintain its integrity by providing reliable trials, court hearings, and legislative meetings, which serve as judicial precedent. A court reporter must be competent, since they determine the dignity of the judicial system to a large extent.
The judicial system relies on court reporters to maintain its integrity by providing reliable trials, court hearings, and legislative meetings, which serve as judicial precedent. A court reporter must be competent, since they determine the dignity of the judicial system to a large extent.
- Average Salary: $76,080
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Official Court Reporter
Role:
Court reporters attend court sessions and create documentation of court proceedings, recording jury arguments related to evidence, rulings, and every other aspect of court cases. They also document files with court exhibits as well.
You will be responsible for holding on to the notes you take for the prescribed amount of time. You will create transcripts of recorded material to be used in future legal procedures.
You will function as a mediator between lawyers, judges, and other court officials and provide them with necessary information related to cases. You might be asked to take care of witness depositions, commissions, issue certificates, and many more.
You will be responsible for holding on to the notes you take for the prescribed amount of time. You will create transcripts of recorded material to be used in future legal procedures.
You will function as a mediator between lawyers, judges, and other court officials and provide them with necessary information related to cases. You might be asked to take care of witness depositions, commissions, issue certificates, and many more.
- Average Salary: $68,354
- Degree: Associate Degree
Digital Court Reporter
Role:
All information that happens during a court hearing must be recorded accurately. This helps increase transparency and may even be useful during a proceeding when playback is required to clarify what was said. A digital court reporter is someone who uses modern technology to record court hearings.
In the old days, the court was recorded by court stenographers and sketch artists. While these professions are still in use, many courts also rely on digital court reporters, who use electronic recording equipment and transcribers to record a hearing. They set up equipment, annotate recordings with any relevant information, and store recordings properly. They also field media requests and may release recordings if appropriate.
To become a digital court reporter, it is more important that someone has practical experience with court proceedings, such as working as a stenographer. That's probably more important than any formal education. In fact, most employers require only a high school degree and some familiarity with electronic recording technology.
In the old days, the court was recorded by court stenographers and sketch artists. While these professions are still in use, many courts also rely on digital court reporters, who use electronic recording equipment and transcribers to record a hearing. They set up equipment, annotate recordings with any relevant information, and store recordings properly. They also field media requests and may release recordings if appropriate.
To become a digital court reporter, it is more important that someone has practical experience with court proceedings, such as working as a stenographer. That's probably more important than any formal education. In fact, most employers require only a high school degree and some familiarity with electronic recording technology.
- Average Salary: $44,643
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree
States With The Most Court Stenographer Jobs
Number Of Court Stenographer Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 49 | $65,612 |
| 2 | Texas | 18 | $51,064 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 18 | $46,381 |
| 4 | Florida | 17 | $45,022 |
| 5 | New York | 15 | $73,164 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 15 | $65,236 |
| 7 | Hawaii | 15 | $50,459 |
| 8 | Washington | 13 | $44,527 |
| 9 | Michigan | 12 | $56,393 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 12 | $45,069 |
| 11 | Montana | 11 | $44,298 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 8 | $51,984 |
| 13 | Georgia | 8 | $46,852 |
| 14 | Idaho | 8 | $39,592 |
| 15 | Arizona | 5 | $52,308 |
| 16 | New Jersey | 4 | $77,012 |
| 17 | Kansas | 4 | $54,259 |
| 18 | Colorado | 4 | $42,544 |
| 19 | Nevada | 3 | $60,488 |
| 20 | Iowa | 3 | $57,149 |
| 21 | Oregon | 3 | $44,048 |
| 22 | Alaska | 2 | $82,078 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | 2 | $66,580 |
| 24 | Delaware | 2 | $66,209 |
| 25 | Ohio | 2 | $58,837 |
| 26 | Illinois | 2 | $62,853 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | 2 | $58,308 |
| 28 | Louisiana | 2 | $53,335 |
| 29 | Virginia | 2 | $54,447 |
| 30 | Utah | 2 | $47,887 |
| 31 | North Carolina | 2 | $48,442 |
| 32 | Wyoming | 2 | $38,650 |
| 33 | Indiana | 2 | $43,996 |
| 34 | Connecticut | 1 | $67,445 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | 1 | $63,373 |
| 36 | Vermont | 1 | $59,903 |
| 37 | North Dakota | 1 | $50,208 |
| 38 | Kentucky | 1 | $49,889 |
| 39 | Missouri | 1 | $49,789 |
| 40 | Tennessee | 1 | $46,797 |
| 41 | Alabama | 1 | $44,228 |
| 42 | Maryland | 0 | $64,604 |
| 43 | West Virginia | 0 | $55,324 |
| 44 | Maine | 0 | $54,432 |
| 45 | Mississippi | 0 | $51,677 |
| 46 | New Mexico | 0 | $51,582 |
| 47 | Nebraska | 0 | $47,723 |
| 48 | South Dakota | 0 | $47,026 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 0 | $45,448 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | 0 | $45,005 |
Top Colleges for Court Stenographers
2. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
3. Maria College of Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,140
Enrollment
876
4. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$39,216
Enrollment
1,303
7. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
8. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
Top Skills For a Court Stenographer
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 29.2% of court stenographers listed court proceedings on their resume, but soft skills such as detail oriented and listening skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Court Stenographer Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Court Stenographer templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Court Stenographer resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Court Stenographer Demographics
Court Stenographer Gender Distribution
Female
92%
Male
8%
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among court stenographers, 91.8% of them are women, while 8.2% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among court stenographers is White, which makes up 85.0% of all court stenographers.
- The most common foreign language among court stenographers is Tagalog at 100.0%.
Online Courses For Court Stenographer That You May Like
Advertising Disclosure
1. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague
International Law in Action explains the functions of each international court and tribunal present in The Hague, and it looks at how these institutions address contemporary problems. On the basis of selected cases, and through interviews with judges and lawyers, you will explore the role of these courts and tribunals and their potential to contribute to global justice. The first module of the course will investigate how judicial settlement is different from other more political forms of...
See More on Coursera2. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law
The digital revolution changed the way we communicate and trade. Now, it is coming into the world of law. This program will give you a broad overview of the main trends that are affecting the legal industry: - The birth of the legal tech market and the application of technology in law. - The role of artificial intelligence in the automation of the work of lawyers. - Blockchain technology and its impact on the way we sign and execute contracts. - Initiatives to ensure access to justice through...
See More on Coursera3. U.S. Health Law Fundamentals
This course explores how statutes, regulations, common law, and market forces help or hinder three major goals of policy makers: increasing access, reducing cost, and improving quality. We will examine the Supreme Court’s rulings on the ACA and other legal aspects of modern health care reform. Learners who successfully complete this course will be able to describe the laws, regulations, common law and market forces that shape our health care system and identify areas where ideas and innovation...
See More on CourseraJob type you want
Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary
How Do Court Stenographer Rate Their Jobs?
Top Court Stenographer Employers
Most Common Employers For Court Stenographer
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany Medical Center | $81,096 | $38.99 | 1 |
| 2 | Independent Contractor | $73,597 | $35.38 | 1 |
| 3 | Knovos | $71,588 | $34.42 | 1 |
| 4 | New Jersey Courts | $69,165 | $33.25 | 1 |
| 5 | American Services | $64,262 | $30.90 | 2 |
| 6 | Supreme Court | $64,032 | $30.78 | 1 |
| 7 | Delaware County | $61,160 | $29.40 | 1 |
| 8 | Power International Holding | $57,340 | $27.57 | 1 |
| 9 | Gila County | $55,246 | $26.56 | 2 |
| 10 | Long Island Association | $55,053 | $26.47 | 1 |