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Court Reporters Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Court Reporter

San Rafael, CA ยท On-site

$116K - $134K/yr

In addition, court reporters are required to provide their own equipment, computer and supplies, and are paid separately for transcripts. This class reports to the Court Operations Manager or ...

Court Reporter

Madera, CA ยท On-site

$7.1K - $8.6K/mo

Experienced Court Reporters are encouraged to apply. The Court Executive Officer may authorize hiring above the entry step of the salary range above, depending on a candidate's years of qualifying ...

Showing results 21-40

Court Reporters information

See California salary details

$33.1K

$79.5K

$122.4K

How much do court reporters jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for court reporters in California is $79,496.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $61,700.00 and $98,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Court Reporters vs Transcriptionists?

AspectCourt ReportersTranscriptionists
CredentialsCertification or licensing often requiredNo formal certification typically required
Work EnvironmentCourts, government agencies, legal settingsOffices, remote work, transcription services
Industry UsageLegal proceedings, depositions, hearingsAudio/video transcription, dictation
Work FocusReal-time capturing of spoken words in legal settingsConverting audio recordings into written documents

While both Court Reporters and Transcriptionists convert spoken words into written form, Court Reporters primarily work in legal environments capturing proceedings in real-time, often requiring certification. Transcriptionists typically work in more varied settings, focusing on transcribing pre-recorded audio without the need for specialized credentials. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify the right career path based on work environment and certification requirements.

Can I be a court reporter with no experience?

Court reporters can enter the profession with little or no prior experience by completing specialized training and certification programs. Most states require passing a licensing exam and developing skills in shorthand, transcription, and the use of stenotype machines. On-the-job training is often provided, and strong attention to detail and good listening skills are essential for success.

How much do court reporters make?

Court reporters typically earn a median annual salary of around $60,000, with salaries ranging from approximately $40,000 to over $100,000 depending on experience, location, and certification. Experienced court reporters who work in high-demand areas or specialize in certain types of reporting can earn higher wages, and many work flexible schedules or freelance.

Is becoming a court reporter hard?

Becoming a court reporter requires completing specialized training or a certification program, and developing strong listening, typing, and shorthand skills. The job can be demanding due to the need for high accuracy and speed, often requiring certification and ongoing practice to maintain proficiency.

What are the requirements for being a court reporter?

To become a court reporter, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by completion of a court reporting program or certification. Certification from a recognized organization, such as the National Court Reporters Association, is often required or preferred, and strong typing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are essential.

What are the most commonly searched types of Court Reporters jobs in California?

The most popular types of Court Reporters jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Court Reporters jobs in California?

For Court Reporters jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for Court Reporters jobs?

Cities in California with the most Court Reporters job openings:

Infographic showing various Court Reporters job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,496 per year, or $38.2 per hour.

$80K - $98K/yr

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Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Salary : $80,974.40 - $98,425.60 Annually
Location : Oroville/Chico, CA
Job Type: Multiple Types Available
Job Number: 202500022
Department: Court Reporters
Opening Date: 07/02/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Position Description
The Superior Court of California, County of Butte
is now accepting applications for:
Court Reporter
APPLY NOW FOR A CHANCE TO RECEIVE UP TO A $5,000 HIRING INCENTIVE AND UP TO $25,000 OF STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENT FOR ELIGIBLE NEW HIRES!
**Open Until Filled**

About the Community:
Butte County Superior Court is located in beautiful Northern California, where the valley floor meets the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains, approximately 1.5 hours north of Sacramento. At over 1,600 square miles and with a population of approximately 225,000, Butte County is full of natural beauty and provides endless recreational opportunities. It is home to one of the largest municipal parks in the country, Bidwell Park, which boasts over 3,600 acres of hiking and mountain bike trails, swimming holes, picnic areas, golf and disc golf courses, and more! Outdoor adventures also await in places like Lake Oroville, Feather Falls, Table Mountain, and Lassen and Plumas National Forests which border the county to the east. In the county's urban center of Chico, you'll find a vibrant downtown, art, culture, unique restaurants, music, and weekly farmers' markets. Right in the center of it all is the CSU, Chico campus, which provides a stunning backdrop and a variety of events and activities throughout the year.
About the Court: Butte County Superior Court is a unified superior court operating two facilities, one courthouse in Chico, and another courthouse in the county seat of Oroville. All legal, operational, and administrative functions of the court are governed by the Presiding Judge and the Court Executive Officer. The court has thirteen judicial officers, or eleven judges and two commissioners, and approximately 135 support staff. Despite its size, Butte is recognized throughout the state as a leader in many court collaborations, including self-help services, case management system consortiums, our highly acclaimed and model civic outreach program, and numerous multi-court employee education events. Butte County is home to a community with diverse needs, and the court continually adapts to provide effective and reliable access to justice.
About the Position:Court Reporters stenotype or voice write a verbatim record of courtroom proceedings and provide general support to the assigned judge related to the official record. The ideal candidate for the Court Reporter position has experience transcribing proceedings, is familiar with real time reporting, and possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills.
SALARYFull-Time: $80,974.40 to $98,425.60 per year
Part-Time: $38.93 to $47.32 per hour
Daily (Pro Tem)*: $500 per day
*Daily (Pro Tem) Court Reporters are considered extra-help employees and paid as an employee of the Court rather than as an independent contractor.
Essential Job Functions
The following duties are typical of those performed by the incumbent in this classification; however, other duties may also be required.
  • Attends Superior Court sessions and provides computer aided reporting and transcription of proceedings through the use of specialized equipment including stenography machines or voice writing systems.
  • Reads back testimony to courts and juries.
  • Prepares transcripts within prescribed deadlines.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
  • Computer aided transcription systems
  • Legal procedures and specific rules and precedents
  • Legal terminology, phraseology, documents, forms, and procedures
  • Medical terminology
  • Business English including vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation
  • Common office machines and their operation

ABILITY TO:
  • Operate a computer aided transcription system
  • Perform difficult, responsible, and complex legal court reporting duties with speed and accuracy and within deadlines
  • Identify, use, and correct a wide variety of legal forms, documents, and terminology
  • Make verbatim records of court proceedings
  • Interpret and apply laws, rules, and written and oral directions to specific situations requiring the use of good judgment and minimal supervision
  • Use good judgment in recognizing the scope and limit of authority delegated
  • Follow oral and written directions
  • Work cooperatively with those contacted in the course of work

Typical Qualifications
Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
  • Must possess a computer aided transcription system
  • Must possess a California License to practice as a certified shorthand reporter issued by the Certified Shorthand Reporters Board.
  • May be required to possess or obtain by appointment date a valid California operator's license issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Supplemental Information
Additional Information
Criminal History Requirement: Candidates are required to pass a criminal history background check.
License Requirement: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license may be required or the ability to provide alternate transportation that meets job requirements.
Physical Requirements: The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be available to a qualified individual with a disability that will enable him/her to perform the essential functions of the Court Reporter classification.
Ability to sit for extended periods of time; dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper; frequent lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling of objects weighing up to 50 pounds; strength, dexterity and coordination and/or ability to use a computer keyboard and read a video display terminal on a daily basis; vision which can be corrected to a level sufficient to read handwritten, typed and computer generated information and data; hearing and speech ability sufficient to enable communication by telephone and in-person; ability to frequently reach for and/or twist for items above and below desk level, sometimes with the assistance of a ladder or stepstool; frequently moves from place to place within the office; frequently walks short distances; and vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus to enable incumbent to decipher color coded files, forms, complete data entry and read operating instructions and procedures.
Work Environment: While performing the responsibilities of the Court Reporter, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment an employee will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Work is performed in an office environment with little exposure to outdoor temperatures, dirt, or dust. The incumbent's working conditions are typically quiet, but may be loud at times at some locations. The noise level and traffic level in the work environment are similar to a busy office. This role routinely uses standard office equipment. Travel to visit other branches within the county and travel to attend professional meetings and trainings in and outside of the county may be required on a frequent basis.
Normal court business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position may require occasional long hours or weekend work, however. Alternate work shifts may occur.
Disclaimer: This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an incumbent assigned to this job classification. It is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of incumbents so classified.
Application Process
Please submit a complete online application, including responses to the required supplemental questions, at . Applications will not be accepted by other means. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and qualified applicants will be invited to interview.
New Hire Incentives - Court Reporters:
  • Each full-time Court Reporter that is hired by Butte Superior Court will be eligible to receive up to a $5,000.00 hiring incentive to be paid in increments of $1,250.00 for every three months of continuous employment for a maximum of $5,000.00 after 12 months of employment.
  • Each part-time Court Reporter, employed in a half-time or greater capacity, that is hired by Butte Superior Court will be eligible to receive up to a $2,500.00 hiring incentive to be paid in increments of $650.00 for every three months of continuous employment for a maximum of $5,000.00 after 12 months of employment.

Court Reporter School Student Loan Forgiveness:
  • Eligible new hires will receive loan repayments until the maximum amount of $25,000.00 is distributed to the employee or the loan reaches maturity, whichever comes first.
  • Maximum annual loan repayment will be $5,000.00, which will be distributed evenly across twenty-six pay periods and only issued for each full pay period the employee is on payroll as an official court reporter. Loan repayments are subject to applicable taxes and withholdings.
Salary:
Full-Time: $72,716.80 to $88,400 per year
Part-Time: $34.96 to $42.50 per hour
Daily (Pro Tem)*: $500 per day
Longevity Pay: The Court adds a 3% pay differential above base salary at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service.
Holidays: Employees receive 14 paid Court holidays, including one floating holiday per year
Sick Leave: Employees accrue paid sick leave based on hours worked. Accrual at full-time is 12 days per year.
Vacation Leave: Employees accrue paid vacation leave based on hours worked and years of service. Accrual at full-time starts at 15 days per year.
Retirement System: Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The benefit formula is determined by CalPERS regulations and is 2% at age 55 for classic members and 2% at age 62 for new members. Employees pay 100% of the employee contribution and the Court pays 100% of the employer contribution.
Insurance Plans: The Court makes available multiple health insurance plans (HMO and PPO plans), including options for employees and their dependents that are 100% employer-paid under current court contributions, or a cash-in-lieu benefit for opting out. The Court also makes available dental and vision insurance plans, which may also be 100% employer-paid for the employee under current Court contributions.
Life Insurance: The Court provides a group term life insurance policy of $25,000. Additional coverage for the employee, the employee's spouse, and/or the employee's dependents may be elected at the employee's cost.
Deferred Compensation Plan: The Court makes available a tax-deferred long-term savings plan (457) that employees may elect to make contributions to.
Employee Assistance Program: The Court makes available a no-cost employee assistance program that offers a wide range of confidential services to employees.
Flexible Spending Accounts: The Court makes available a flexible spending account that allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for out-of-pocket medical and/or dependent care expenses to reduce taxable gross wages.
01
Do you have a current Certified Shorthand Reporters license issued by the Court Reporters Board of California that is required for the Court Reporter position?
  • Yes
  • No

02
Do you have a computer aided transcription system that is required for the Court Reporter position?
  • Yes
  • No

03
Please select all that apply. I am interested in the following employment opportunity(ies):
  • Full-Time
  • Part-Time
  • Daily

04
Were you referred to this job by a current Butte Superior Court employee?
  • Yes
  • No

05
If you were referred to this position by a current Butte Superior Court employee, please provide the first and last name of that employee in the space provided below.
Required Question