Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners salary in the U.S.
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners in the U.S. earn a median of $72,420 a year ($34.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,560 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $78,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for court reporters and simultaneous captioners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,130 | $20.26 |
| 25th percentile | $53,760 | $25.85 |
| Median | $72,420 | $34.82 |
| 75th percentile | $100,780 | $48.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,560 | $62.77 |
| Average (mean) | $78,760 | $37.86 |
Half of court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,035 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,017.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,785.38 |
| Weekly | $1,392.69 |
| Hourly | $34.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $72,420 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $116,020 | 1,400 |
| Texas | $110,080 | 1,270 |
| Washington | $107,670 | 80 |
| New York | $101,990 | 1,400 |
| Iowa | $93,810 | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $92,250 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $83,680 | 320 |
| Colorado | $83,010 | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $79,940 | 50 |
| Arizona | $77,770 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $76,480 | 60 |
| Illinois | $75,890 | 770 |
| South Dakota | $75,210 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $73,510 | 110 |
| Missouri | $72,500 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $70,540 | 60 |
| Idaho | $69,330 | 40 |
| Alabama | $67,340 | 350 |
| Ohio | $67,330 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $67,300 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $65,640 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,100 | 670 |
| Louisiana | $63,380 | 270 |
| Montana | $62,730 | 50 |
| Nevada | $62,030 | 70 |
| Michigan | $61,600 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $61,100 | 140 |
| Oklahoma | $60,800 | 180 |
| Connecticut | $59,390 | 210 |
| Maryland | $59,300 | n/a |
| Arkansas | $59,180 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $56,790 | 90 |
| Virginia | $55,210 | 320 |
| Indiana | $54,740 | 890 |
| Kentucky | $50,350 | 80 |
| Florida | $49,240 | 1,110 |
| Maine | $49,110 | 30 |
| Delaware | $44,760 | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,300 | 110 |
Best-paying metro areas for court reporters and simultaneous captioners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $143,170 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,340 | 30 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,900 | 230 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $130,730 | 130 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $129,380 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $129,270 | 260 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $125,970 | 220 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $123,900 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $123,230 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $118,200 | 110 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $113,200 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $108,790 | 30 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $108,230 | 30 |
| El Paso, TX | $106,010 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $102,900 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most court reporters and simultaneous captioners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,060 | $90,230 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 510 | $76,790 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 440 | $48,430 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 290 | $86,510 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 260 | $80,000 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 260 | $129,380 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 260 | $129,270 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 240 | $74,760 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 230 | $133,900 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 220 | $125,970 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 200 | $50,720 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 190 | $83,000 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 180 | $51,880 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 160 | $86,900 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 150 | $60,640 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $60,170 | $28.93 |
| Writers and Authors | $76,910 | $36.98 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | $43.46 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $62,200 | $29.91 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-3092. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a court reporters and simultaneous captioners make in the U.S.?
The median salary for court reporters and simultaneous captioners in the U.S. is $72,420 a year, or $34.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid court reporters and simultaneous captioners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of court reporters and simultaneous captioners in the U.S. earn at least $130,560 a year. The top 25% earn $100,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for court reporters and simultaneous captioners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,130 a year, and a quarter of court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn $53,760 or less.
How many court reporters and simultaneous captioners work in the U.S.?
About 12,870 court reporters and simultaneous captioners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.