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Court Reporting Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Court Reporter

Sacramento, CA ยท On-site

$51.31 - $62.38/hr

Principles and practices of court reporting; clerical and legal record keeping practices and procedures; legal terminology of court work and legal process forms; California statutes relating to court ...

Court Reporter

San Rafael, CA ยท On-site

$116K - $134K/yr

This class reports to the Court Operations Manager or designee. DUTIES Positions in this class may perform any or all of the below listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work ...

Reports and transcribes verbatim accounts of court proceedings in accordance with established policies, procedures, statutes, and standards using voice writing equipment. * Provides real-time ...

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Court Reporting information

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How much do court reporting jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for court reporting in the United States is $31.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.15 and $35.82 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is court reporting?

Court reporting is the process of creating a verbatim written record of spoken proceedings in a courtroom, during depositions, or other legal settings. Court reporters use specialized equipment, such as stenotype machines or voice writing technology, to accurately transcribe everything that is said. These transcripts are essential for legal documentation, appeals, and maintaining the official record of court cases. Court reporters may also provide real-time captioning services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The role requires attention to detail, speed, and a strong understanding of legal terminology.

What is the difference between Court Reporting vs Transcriptionist?

AspectCourt ReportingTranscriptionist
CredentialsCertification (e.g., CSR), specialized trainingNo formal certification required
Work EnvironmentCourts, legal proceedings, depositionsOffices, home, audio/video files
Industry UsageLegal, court systemsMedia, medical, business
Work FocusReal-time transcription of court proceedingsTranscribing pre-recorded audio/video files

While both Court Reporters and Transcriptionists convert spoken words into written form, Court Reporters typically work in legal settings, providing real-time transcription during court proceedings and requiring specialized certifications. Transcriptionists usually work with pre-recorded files across various industries and often do not need formal credentials. The roles differ mainly in work environment, certification requirements, and the immediacy of transcription.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Court Reporter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Court Reporter, you need excellent shorthand or stenography skills, a high level of accuracy, and typically a postsecondary certificate or associate degree in court reporting. Familiarity with stenotype machines, real-time transcription software, and relevant certification such as the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) credential are commonly required. Exceptional attention to detail, strong listening skills, and the ability to remain composed under pressure are vital soft skills. These competencies ensure accurate, timely, and impartial legal records, which are essential for justice and legal proceedings.

What are some common challenges court reporters face during live proceedings, and how can they manage them?

Court reporters often encounter challenges such as fast-talking speakers, multiple people speaking simultaneously, and technical jargon or unfamiliar terminology during live proceedings. To manage these situations, they may ask for clarification or request speakers to slow down when appropriate, and they continually update their dictionaries with new terms. Strong concentration, excellent listening skills, and professional communication with the courtroom team are essential for producing accurate and timely transcripts.
More about Court Reporting jobs
What cities are hiring for Court Reporting jobs? Cities with the most Court Reporting job openings:
What states have the most Court Reporting jobs? States with the most job openings for Court Reporting jobs include:
Infographic showing various Court Reporting job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 95% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,038 per year, or $31.3 per hour.

Court Reporter

Sacramento Superior Court

Sacramento, CA โ€ข On-site

$51.31 - $62.38/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Salary: $51.31 - $62.38 Hourly
Location : Court wide (Various Court locations), CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-CTRT-May
Department: Court Wide
Opening Date: 05/08/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Under general supervision, to make the verbatim official record of all testimony and activity in cases heard before the Superior Court and to perform related duties as assigned.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
This class is responsible for making verbatim official records of court proceedings in machine shorthand or by voice writing and providing readback of all or portions of the record upon request.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
1. Attends court sessions as assigned and makes verbatim official records of the
proceedings, often of a technical nature and at a high rate of speed.
2. Provides immediate readback of all or portions of the record upon request.
3. Prepares, or has prepared, verbatim transcripts of proceedings upon request; certifies the accuracy of court transcripts; files official transcripts.
4. Researches as necessary to verify case citations, spellings of legal, medical, and other specialized terms used in the case.
5. Prepares indices of witnesses and exhibits.
6. Operates a variety of office equipment, including transcription machines and/or voice writing equipment, computer terminals, printers and related equipment.
7. Responds to requests and inquiries from courtroom proceedings participants.
8. Provides Realtime captioning services and/or Realtime speech-to-text captioning.
Minimum Qualifications
Must be certified by the State of California as a Certified Shorthand Reporter.
Knowledge of:
Principles and practices of court reporting; clerical and legal record keeping practices and procedures; legal terminology of court work and legal process forms; California statutes relating to court procedures such as, Code of Civil Procedure, Probate Code, Welfare and Institutions Code, California Rules of Court; statutes relating to court reporting services; basic legal, medical, and other technical terminology required in court proceedings; proper English usage, spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.
Ability to:
Operate stenotype machine and/or voice writing equipment (closed-microphone voice dictation silencer, steno mask, or similar device using oral shorthand and voice notes) to record all court proceedings and prepare an accurate and complete official written record; understand, explain, and apply legal terminology, codes and procedures; exercise judgment in applying policies and procedures; establish and maintain effective working relations with judges, attorneys and court staff; respond professionally and courteously to the bar and the public; maintain confidential information where standards require; effectively communicate orally and in writing; organize and set priorities; work under pressure to produce accurate work under deadline; work independently in a courtroom environment.
Other Information
Typical Physical Requirements:
Hear and distinguish words of various tones and volumes; manual dexterity to operate and maintain court reporting equipment; sit and maintain sustained high-speed reporting for long periods of time; lift and move court reporting equipment of approximately 20-25 lbs. from place to place. Frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, scanner, copier and fax.
Typical Working Conditions:
Work is usually performed in an office environment; continuous contact with other staff and the public.
Must be able to pass a criminal history information background check.
To view the Sacramento Superior Court's Benefits Summary Sheet please click
The following is an explanation of the benefits, which apply to those employed in regular or limited-term positions:
Vacation: Vacation with pay varies depending upon the employee representation unit. New employees typically earn 10 days per year and accrual rates normally increase according to years of service.
Holidays: The Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento recognizes 14 holidays and 5 floating holidays per year.
Sick Leave: Employees accrue 5.0 hours per bi-weekly pay period.
Parental Leave: Employees with at least 1 year of service are eligible for paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
Retirement: Employees are covered by the Sacramento County Employee's Retirement System (SCERS) and Social Security.
Group Health Insurance: The Court offers several choices of employee and dependent health insurance coverage, with a significant portion paid by the employer.
Dental and Vision Services Plan: Employee and dependent dental and vision insurance plans are provided at no cost.
Life Insurance: Basic employee life insurance is provided at no cost to the employee with additional optional life insurance available at the employee's cost.
Medical and Childcare Flexible Spending Accounts: The ability to deduct a portion of your salary before taxes to apply toward medical expenses and/or child care expenses.
Deferred Compensation: The Court offers a Deferred Compensation Program.
Sacramento Credit Union: The credit union offers loan facilities and systematic savings plans through payroll deduction.
Tuition Reimbursement: The Court reimburses up to $3,000.00 dollars of an employee's educational expenses as outlined in its Tuition Reimbursement policy.
Long Term Disability: A Long Term Disability (LTD) plan is provided at no cost to employees.
Transit Subsidy: The Court provides a transit subsidy to eligible employees based on current policy.
01
Are you a Certified Shorthand Reporter for the State of California? If yes, please provide your license number.
02
Please list any court reporting certificates that you currently hold from any recognized state or local organization (i.e. National Court Reporters Association, Deposition Reporters Association, California Court Reporters Association, etc.)
03
What experience do you have as it pertains to CAT software? What system are you currently using and for how long?
04
What experience do you have as it pertains to real-time reporting? Please detail your experience(s) providing real time to judges, attorney, etc.
05
Have you ever had any disciplinary action (including citations or fines) taken against you by the CSR Board or an Order to Show Cause hearing before a court regarding your court reporter duties? If yes, please explain the circumstances.
06
Have you ever been delinquent on an appeal transcript or other time-sensitive transcripts? If yes, please explain the circumstances, the court, the number of times and dates.
07
Have you ever worked in a setting where you coordinated with other reporters with scheduling, transcript preparation, pagination, etc.? If so, please describe.
Required Question