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From CNN Money. Surprising 6-figure jobs. (See more interesting links at the bottom of this page.)

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, court reporters can expect excellent job prospects, and the demand for broadcast captioning will spur employment growth. Court reporters enjoy comfortable work environments such as attorneys’ offices, courtrooms, legislatures and conventions. Many court reporters even work as independent contractors or freelancers in home-based offices. During their education, court reporters develop excellent speed and accuracy. Court reporters also possess several of these skills:

  • Excellent listening and hearing
  • Good English grammar, vocabulary and punctuation skills
  • Awareness of business practices and current events
  • Correct spelling of names of people, places and events that may be mentioned in a broadcast or court proceedings
  • An expert knowledge of legal terminology and criminal and appellate procedure that is essential for those who work in courtroom settings
  • Knowledge of computer hardware and software applications

In 2006, court reporters held about 30,000 jobs. Nearly half of these professionals worked for state and local governments, many in settings such as courts, legislatures and various agencies. Most other wage and salary workers were employed by court reporting agencies, and about 8 percent of court reporters were self-employed. As the demand for realtime broadcast captioners increases, employment in the court reporting field is expected to grow much faster than the average. Well-trained and certified court reporters can expect excellent job opportunities. Well-educated and knowledgeable court reporters are rewarded for their expertise with very competitive salaries. In 2006, salaried court reporters had median annual earnings of $45,610. Compensation for court reporters varies by the type of reporting job, an individual reporter’s experience level, any certifications he or she has earned, and the region of the country. According to the National Court Reporters Association, the median income for court reporters is about $62,000.

The Demand of Court Reporting Jobs is Increasing - ezine article

U.S. News and World Report: Court Reporter as one of the 50 best careers for 2010 with strong growth over the next decade. Learn More!

Best Careers in 2010. View video on FOXDC.com.