Court reporter salaries provide a good living for the person sitting in the courtroom and typing out the records for the legal proceedings. She adds every word and every detail to her copy. Fellow court reporters perform a valued service to the legal system and deserve the great pay they earn.
They go through a two and a half year course of studies before graduation. They sign a document confirming the accuracy of what they record during a trial. Fifty thousand a year is not too much for a smart new graduate. Dependent on location, size of the employer’s company or size of the court system, their salary is a very attractive one.
There are a variety of positions open to graduates of the court reporting course of study. In addition to those jobs performed in the court system, the court reporter can work for a lawyer taking depositions and recording other meetings as needed. Creating the closed captions for television shows is a highly paid profession. This may require extra education.
You might wonder how she can type fast enough to record all that is said. During her education she learned to use a special steno machine that types by word or phrase rather than by letter. Other things learned are how to pass the licensing exam and how to research carefully to make sure each detail is correctly documented. For example, medical terms must be checked.
The machine used to record testimony is called a steno machine. Unlike the keyboard, it has only twenty-two keys. Learning to use it is like learning a new language. At peak skill she can record 225 words per minute. Each sentence and each nuance of meaning must be clearly interpreted. Medical, legal, and scientific terms must be defined accurately. A court reporter signs a statement as to veracity of the report.
CNN reported in an article on salaries, that a freelancer who has excellent qualifications can earn a six figure salary. The freelancer with experience and the ability to be self-employed has expenses the court room reporter employee does not have. For one thing he has no benefits. For another he has expenses connected with carrying out his duties. He may need an agency to provide information on available jobs.
A forty hour per week job in the state or federal courtroom provides a salary and a wonderful array of benefits. Duties are recording accurately each word spoken by all participants in the courtroom. She takes home a salary of over $60,000 annually. The benefits package adds to that salary. The freelancer may earn a higher salary, but is also saddled with many expenses. The work is performed in attorney’s offices and corporate boardrooms.
The freelancer may also find work in large corporations. They have their own legal departments that may use her services. Or, she may sit in on board meetings, recording the official meetings. Those who qualify to work in closed captioning services for television programs are highly sought out and earn a powerful salary.
Court reporter salaries for beginners can be around fifty thousand. When five years experience is added to his resume, the pay goes up to seventy thousand. More experience equals pay up to ninety thousand. There are thousands of jobs currently filled by court reporters. The demand for additional such workers is expected to rise and be paid according to skill level and experience.
Do you need statistics about court reporters? Check-out the stats and facts available at http://www.courtreportersalarydata.com – Learn about the average salary court reporter.