Broadcast captioners: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Broadcast captioners are court reporters who provide captions for television programs (called closed captions). These reporters transcribe dialogue onto television monitors to help deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers or others viewing television programs in public places. Some broadcast captioners may translate dialogue in real time during broadcasts; others may caption during the postproduction of a program.
- Education Required
- Many court reporters receive formal education at community colleges or technical institutes, which have different programs that lead to either a certificate or an associates degree in court reporting. Either degree will qualify applicants for many entry-level positions. Certification programs prepare students to pass the licensing exams and typing-speed tests required by most states and employers.
- Training Required
- After completing their formal program, court reporters must undergo a few weeks of on-the-job training. This typically includes training on the specific types of equipment and more technical terminology that may be used during complex medical or legal proceedings.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 3% (Slower than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Many states require court reporters who work in legal settings to be licensed or certified by a professional association. Licensing requirements vary by state and by method of court reporting.
- Median pay: How much do Court Reporters make?
- $51,320 Annual Salary
- $24.68 per hour
Careers for Court Reporters
- CART reporters
- Communication access real-time translation (CART) providers
- Communication access real-time translation reporters
- Court recording monitors
- Court stenographers
- Court transcribers
- Deposition reporters
- Stenocaptioners
- Voice writing reporters