1

Reporter Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Hearing Reporter BOE

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$7.2K - $9.0K/mo

The Hearing Reporter takes a verbatim transcript of Board meetings using a stenography machine. Prepares verbatim transcripts promptly to meet processing standards. Responsible for maintaining ...

Court Reporter

San Rafael, CA · 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 ...

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 candidates years of qualifying ...

Reporter

Salinas, CA

$50K - $55K/yr

We are looking for a strong, take-charge reporter who hits the ground running every day. We value strong enterprise reporting and we're looking for someone who finds the stories that lead newscasts.

Reporter

Salinas, CA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

We are looking for a strong, take-charge reporter who hits the ground running every day. We value strong enterprise reporting and we're looking for someone who finds the stories that lead newscasts.

next page

Showing results 1-20

Reporter information

See California salary details

$11

$27

$36

How much do reporter jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for reporter in California is $27.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.27 and $31.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is 30 too old to become a journalist?

There is no age limit to becoming a reporter, and many journalists start their careers later in life. Success in journalism depends on skills such as writing, research, and adaptability, which can be developed at any age.

What qualifications do I need to be a reporter?

To become a reporter, a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field is typically required. Strong writing, research, and communication skills are essential, along with proficiency in digital tools and the ability to work under tight deadlines.

How do you become a reporter?

To become a reporter, individuals typically pursue a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships, developing strong writing and interviewing skills, and building a portfolio are important steps; proficiency with digital tools and understanding media ethics are also valuable.

What Does a Reporter Do?

A reporter—or journalist—writes and delivers news stories to the public via print, TV, internet, or radio. As a reporter, your responsibilities include investigating leads, gathering facts, speaking with eyewitnesses, and writing compelling news articles using Associated Press (AP) guidelines. You may also deliver these reports through the media broadcast television or radio, website hosting, or social media. Your job is to ensure that your story is relevant, truthful, and informative for the readers, listeners, or viewers you are trying to inform.

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

To thrive as a Reporter, you need strong writing, research, and interviewing skills, typically supported by a degree in journalism or communications. Familiarity with content management systems, digital publishing tools, and multimedia equipment is often required. Exceptional curiosity, ethical judgment, and the ability to work under tight deadlines are crucial soft skills for success. These abilities ensure accurate, timely, and engaging news coverage that informs the public and maintains credibility.

What are some common challenges reporters face when working on tight deadlines?

Reporters frequently work under tight deadlines, which can make it challenging to verify facts thoroughly, secure interviews with key sources, and craft clear, engaging stories in a limited timeframe. Balancing speed with accuracy is essential, as mistakes can affect credibility and require corrections. Effective reporters develop strong organizational skills, maintain reliable contacts, and become adept at quickly identifying the most newsworthy angles to ensure their reporting remains both timely and trustworthy.

What is the difference between Reporter vs Journalist?

AspectReporterJournalist
CredentialsTypically a degree in journalism, communications, or related fieldOften similar; may include degrees in journalism, media, or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentNewsrooms, on-location reporting, media outletsMedia organizations, newspapers, online platforms, broadcast stations
Industry UsageCommonly used in news reporting and media outletsBroader term encompassing all media-related writing and reporting

While both reporters and journalists work in the media industry and often share similar credentials, reporters primarily focus on gathering and delivering news stories, often on the ground or in the field. Journalists have a broader role that includes research, analysis, and storytelling across various media formats. Essentially, all reporters are journalists, but not all journalists are limited to reporting; some may specialize in features, opinion pieces, or investigative work.

Do reporters make a lot of money?

Reporters' salaries vary based on experience, location, and the employer, with median annual wages around $45,000 to $50,000. Experienced reporters working for major outlets or in large markets can earn higher salaries, while entry-level positions tend to pay less. Skills in investigative reporting, multimedia, and digital tools can also influence earning potential.

What does a reporter do?

A reporter is a professional who gathers information, investigates stories, and writes or delivers news for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, or online media. Their main responsibilities include researching topics, conducting interviews, fact-checking, and presenting accurate and timely information to the public. Reporters play a crucial role in keeping society informed about local, national, and global events. They often work in fast-paced environments and must adhere to ethical journalism standards.
What are the most commonly searched types of Reporter jobs in California? The most popular types of Reporter jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Reporter jobs? Cities in California with the most Reporter job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Reporter jobs in CA? For Reporter jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Reporter job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,294 per year, or $27.1 per hour.

$129K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

Salary : $129,491.00 - $149,899.00 Annually
Location : Superior Court of CA, County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 21/2200JUL
Department: Court Services
Opening Date: 11/05/2021
Closing Date: Continuous
Definition/Description
**New Hires will receive $20,000 SIGNING BONUS**
SALARY INCREASES: Salary steps are presented as a range from lowest to highest and are allocated into four (4) steps. Progression from a step is after completing a year of service in the current step.
SIGNING INCENTIVE:
*Upon hire, a sign-on bonus of $20,000 shall be offered to all new bargaining unit employees, to be paid out as follows: $7,000 upon beginning work for the Court; $5,000 at the first anniversary of employment; $4,000 at the second anniversary of employment; and $4,000 at the third anniversary of employment.
VOICE WRITERS: Now accepting applications for voice writers.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE: FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND EXTRA HELP
Extra Help: Positions that are used by the Court to handle peak workload and vacancies. These positions are not eligible for most Court benefits.
BENEFITS:
The Superior Court offers an excellent benefit package, summarized as follows:
  • CalPERs Retirement Plan: Specific benefit formula determined per California Public Employees Retirement System regulations.
  • Health Benefits: The Court offers health insurance plans currently through Kaiser, HealthNet, and Valley Health Plan. The Court currently fully pays for medical coverage for employee and dependents when selecting Kaiser. In addition, the Court fully covers the premium for dental and vision insurance.
  • Holidays and Leave Benefits: Employees in these positions will be entitled to 14 paid holidays, 15 days of vacation earned during the first year of service, 4 days of personal leave, a day off on their birthday, and sick leave accrued at the rate of 100 hours per year.
  • Longevity Pay: After completing five (5) years of continuous service, the Court provides $175 per pay period as a longevity payment. Payment increases depending on continuous years of service.
  • Deferred compensation plans: Employees will have access to deferred compensation plans.
  • CART Court Reporting Certification Differential: Court Reporters who use specialized equipment shall receive a 5% pay differential.
  • Lead Pay: 7.5% pay differential
  • Employee Referral Incentive: $1,500 as one-time payment once new hire passes probation, for any unit member who makes a successful referral for a new Court Reporter hire.
  • Realtime Education Incentive: Court Reporters who hold a state or national Realtime certification (CRR, CRP, CCRR, CRG, RVR-M and RVR-M-S, or FCRR) shall receive a 20% pay differential.
  • Typing Premium: Court Reporters who have successfully completed the Court administered Realtime certification test shall receive a 10% pay differential.
Benefits are prorated for Part-Time employees and Extra Help are eligible for limited benefits. Please reach out to the HR representative for more information.
COURT REPORTERS are responsible for making verbatim official records of court proceedings in machine shorthand and providing read back of all or portions of the record upon request.
Under direction, this specialized classification stenographically records and maintains an official record of court proceedings, reads notes as requested, prepares transcripts, and performs other related duties as required.
Typical Tasks/Representative Duties
  • Attends court sessions as assigned and makes verbatim stenographic records of the proceedings, often of a technical nature and at a high rate of speed;
  • Provides immediate read back of all or portions of the record upon request;
  • Prepares printed or magnetic media transcripts of court proceedings;
  • Reviews, certifies, and files printed transcripts of court proceedings and provides daily transcripts as needed;
  • Qualified incumbents may process court information/proceedings by use of realtime technology;
  • Incumbents provide, at own expense, all necessary equipment and materials to produce the verbatim record, pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 810;
  • Maintains a variety of paper and electronic files;
  • Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards/Typical Qualifications
Certification by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Certified Shorthand Reporters Board is required.
  • Realtime reporting is highly desirable. In order to receive the differential, incumbents must be Realtime-certified by either the National Court Reporters Association, or the Deposition Reporters Association, or have successfully passed a Realtime test administered by the Court.
  • Incumbents provide and maintain the necessary equipment for the transcription of court proceedings.
Employees will be eligible for reimbursements up to $2000 from the Court for limited equipment.
A California Driver's license may be required. Employees in this classification may be required to use their own vehicle to travel between facilities.
Knowledge Of:
  • Legal terminology; basic medical and other specialized and technical terminology required for court proceedings and protocol;
  • English usage, grammar, punctuation, and spelling; transcript production procedures and practices; office procedures and practices;
  • Office management principles, methods, and procedures;
  • Court procedures and protocol.
Ability To:
  • Record shorthand at a minimum of 200 words per minute with 97.5% accuracy;
  • Plan and organize work to meet deadlines;
  • Establish and maintain working relationships with judges, court staff, attorneys, and the public;
  • Ability to comprehend and process varying dialects, accents, and speech peculiarities of the English language;
  • Ability to converse and respond appropriately to inquiries and requests;
  • Ability to work alone and independently as well as working closely with others is required.

Supplemental Information
Working Conditions:
The work environment is generally clean, inside buildings, with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Incumbents will be working under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions, with frequent deadlines and the expectation to produce high quality work under limited time constraints.
Essential Functions:
Specific tasks and duties may vary between assignments, however, the following are considered essential functions expected of the Court Reporter classification:
  • Frequent and ongoing use of stenographic equipment to record verbatim proceedings;
  • Frequent and ongoing use of electronic equipment to produce transcripts and other documents;
  • Read back court proceedings in a clear concise manner in a courtroom or other setting;
Physical Demands:
  • Requires sitting at a keyboard and using fine hand coordination and with continuous high frequency repetitive motion, for extended periods of time, on a daily basis;
  • Occasional lifting, pushing, carrying of objects up to 15 pounds;
  • Requires walking, some bending, stooping, and squatting;
  • Continuous need for verbal comprehension and retention.
Examination:
  • A screening panel will be convened to select those applicants deemed most qualified to participate in a written and/or oral examination.
  • The examination process will include one or more of the following: application appraisal; written examination; oral examination.
Please note: The Superior Court is establishing an eligibility list from this recruitment which may be used to fill both temporary and permanent vacancies. Please mark your interest clearly on your employment application as to your desire for temporary or permanent employment or both.
Application Requirements:
  • This recruitment requires the submission of an on-line application. No paper applications will be accepted.
  • An electronic copy of your Resume and your Certification by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Certified Shorthand Reporters Board must also be submitted as an attachment to this application submission.
The Court is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status. The Court provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you are disabled as defined by the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act or the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and will be requesting an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at or call (408) 882-2700, to discuss your request. TDD communication is available by calling (408) 882-2787.
The Court must verify the identity and employment authorization of all new employees to comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act. This verification is required only after an offer of employment has been made. For further information regarding the required verification, please contact Human Resources at (408) 882-2747.
The Court offers a benefits package that includes life insurance, a choice of health and dental plans, a vision plan, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
01
I understand that for my application to be considered, I must complete required supplemental questionnaires as part of the application screening and selection process. The information I provide will be reviewed and used to determine my eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process.
  • Yes
  • No

02
I understand that for my application to be considered, I must thoroughly complete the work experience and education portions of the application form, as well as provide a resume as an attachment, to demonstrate my qualifications for this job.
  • Yes
  • No

03
Authorization and Release. I have applied for employment with the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara ("Court") and have provided information about my current and/or previous employment. I authorize the Court to investigate all statements made in my application for employment and to obtain any and all information concerning my former/current employment. This includes my job performance appraisals/evaluations, wage history, disciplinary action(s) if any, and all other matters pertaining to my employment history.I authorize my former and current employers and references to release contents of my employment record with their organizations and to provide any additional information that may be necessary for my application for employment with the Court, whether the information is positive or negative. I hereby release all such agencies and/or individuals who furnish such information, and the Court, from liability for damages, which may result from furnishing or receiving the information requested.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question