Professional Salaries for Stenographers

The income potential for general stenography careers is continually on the rise. The reality is that the stenography field is widening so fast, it will take years (more likely decades) for the supply of labor to catch up with the ever-growing employment demand. The reason for this is the information revolution, sparked by the growth of new media and the internet. This has opened up more positions for professional stenographers than can possibly be filled. A traditional court reporter's salary has also been positively affected by the growing demand for general stenographers, because court reporters now have more options than just the courtroom to put their skills to use.

Top Income Potential for Court Reporters

A court reporter's salary is largely dependent on two major factors:

Level of Skill: A court reporter's salary is heavily dependent on the level of skill they bring when they enter the workforce. For example, if you are only able to perform the minimum requirement of transcribing 220 words per minute, you may only qualify for entry level pay. However, if you are able to transcribe at 240 words per minute and maintain the required 95% accuracy, you may qualify for a higher wage.

Geographic Area: The area you live in will determine the demand for your skills as a court reporter. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rural areas and large cities have the greatest need for court reporters.

If you have better than average skills and live in an area where there is steady demand, you can expect to earn an average income of around $62K per year.*

Top Income Potential for General Stenographers

Closed captioning specialists and general stenographers enjoy an earning potential that is similar to a court reporter's salary. Like with court reporting, the skill level plays an important role in determining the salary for stenographer jobs. Unlike court reporting, general stenographer careers are not limited to the legal field and can even be performed at home, so geographic location is not as important. A closed captioning specialist or general stenographer can expect an average income of around $62K per year.* Because many stenographers work on a freelance basis, the top income potential in this field can actually reach $100K per year or more.*

Get Started With The Stenotype Institute

As you can see, the earning potential as a certified court reporter or closed captioning specialist is well above the national average. However, it is important that you choose the best training program to take full advantage of this opportunity. At the Stenotype Institute, we train future court reporters and closed captioners to not only qualify, but to excel in their new occupation. We have an average 85% job placement in the state of Florida for the past 10 years.

Get in touch with us today and take your first step toward a brighter tomorrow at the Stenotype Institute, A Premier Court Reporting School.

* (Source: NCRA)