Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner Salary
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners earn a median $72,420 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
What court reporters and simultaneous captioners do
Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.1% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 1,800
- Self-employed
- 33%
Employment of court reporters and simultaneous captioners is projected to shrink 0.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,102
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,490
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,050
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$59,777
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,130 | $20.25 | $36,031 |
| 25th percentile | $53,760 | $25.85 | $45,376 |
| Median (50th) | $72,420 | $34.82 | $59,777 |
| 75th percentile | $100,780 | $48.45 | $79,729 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,560 | $62.77 | $100,504 |
Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $116,020 | +11.9% | $82,382 | $55,280 – $142,930 | 1,400 |
| Texas | $110,080 | +4.3% | $86,271 | $54,520 – $137,410 | 1,270 |
| Washington | $107,670 | +4.9% | $84,576 | $82,220 – $113,880 | 80 |
| New York | $101,990 | −6.6% | $75,603 | $60,360 – $143,790 | 1,400 |
| Iowa | $93,810 | +5.1% | $71,912 | $63,560 – $104,490 | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $92,250 | — | $70,885 | $61,670 – $107,310 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $83,680 | +24.2% | $63,532 | $64,150 – $97,410 | 320 |
| Colorado | $83,010 | — | $64,283 | $65,960 – $110,700 | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $79,940 | −3.0% | $61,291 | $46,080 – $91,350 | 50 |
| Arizona | $77,770 | +16.3% | $61,806 | $61,510 – $90,020 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $76,480 | +4.9% | $60,033 | $60,910 – $87,080 | 60 |
| Illinois | $75,890 | −0.2% | $58,607 | $31,200 – $122,390 | 770 |
| South Dakota | $75,210 | +4.0% | $61,740 | $63,610 – $78,960 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $73,510 | +7.9% | $58,120 | $57,910 – $91,710 | 110 |
| Missouri | $72,500 | +3.2% | $57,364 | $56,000 – $97,480 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $70,540 | +4.0% | $58,339 | $56,030 – $81,130 | 60 |
| Idaho | $69,330 | +3.0% | $55,037 | $66,290 – $75,460 | 40 |
| Alabama | $67,340 | +24.1% | $53,102 | $37,700 – $84,270 | 350 |
| Ohio | $67,330 | +11.1% | $55,127 | $49,750 – $94,740 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $67,300 | +3.4% | $54,216 | $47,720 – $75,000 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $65,640 | +2.0% | $52,815 | $38,560 – $121,260 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,100 | +1.0% | $52,489 | $40,130 – $90,330 | 670 |
| Louisiana | $63,380 | +2.3% | $51,591 | $26,650 – $97,360 | 270 |
| Montana | $62,730 | +21.3% | $50,392 | $50,870 – $78,890 | 50 |
| Nevada | $62,030 | +7.5% | $52,021 | $46,750 – $78,430 | 70 |
| Michigan | $61,600 | +2.6% | $49,308 | $41,040 – $79,780 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $61,100 | +3.2% | $48,765 | $45,190 – $76,300 | 140 |
| Oklahoma | $60,800 | −3.2% | $48,842 | $53,000 – $68,000 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $59,390 | −0.7% | $48,152 | $43,370 – $74,680 | 210 |
| Maryland | $59,300 | −8.8% | $47,374 | $41,620 – $90,360 | — |
| Arkansas | $59,180 | +8.1% | $47,636 | $53,200 – $80,090 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $56,790 | +8.7% | $45,989 | $44,550 – $70,890 | 90 |
| Virginia | $55,210 | +5.2% | $44,181 | $37,840 – $78,360 | 320 |
| Indiana | $54,740 | +7.5% | $44,578 | $42,740 – $77,320 | 890 |
| Kentucky | $50,350 | +4.9% | $40,992 | $29,610 – $50,350 | 80 |
| Florida | $49,240 | −2.6% | $41,744 | $35,320 – $81,370 | 1,110 |
| Maine | $49,110 | — | $39,507 | $48,370 – $89,670 | 30 |
| Delaware | $44,760 | −40.8% | $36,337 | $40,350 – $86,130 | 40 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Interpreter and Translator | $60,170 | Bachelor's degree | +2.0% |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | Bachelor's degree | +1.8% |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 | Bachelor's degree | -0.3% |
| Editor | $77,920 | Bachelor's degree | -1.1% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | Bachelor's degree | -5.9% |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | Bachelor's degree | +0.8% |
| Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey | $47,340 | Bachelor's degree | -7.6% |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -3.1% |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | No formal educational credential | +2.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a court reporter and simultaneous captioner make?
The national median salary for court reporters and simultaneous captioners is $72,420 a year ($34.82 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,130 and the top 10% earn over $130,560. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays court reporters and simultaneous captioners the most?
California has the highest median pay at $116,020.
How many court reporters and simultaneous captioners are there in the U.S.?
About 12,870 people work as court reporters and simultaneous captioners nationwide.