Law
Court Reporter
Create verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings. Strong pay with no degree — freelance reporters can clear $100k.
no-degree-requiredhigh-pay
43
ROI · Moderate
Investment vs return
Cost · time · demand normalized 0–100
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$48k
$65k
$105k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+3%
+3% (Average)
Open positions
1,700
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Certification Hybrid
RPR / state court reporter cert
Time
2–3 years
Cost
$5,000 – $25,000
Stenography is hard — 95%+ accuracy at 225 wpm needed.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
2–3 years
You'd spend (avg)
$15,000
Starting salary
$48,000
Mid-career
$65,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · NCRA