"How long does it take to become a digital court reporter in Illinois?"

"Most paths into the digital court reporter field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do digital court reporters need a license in Illinois?"

"No statewide license is required for digital court reporters in Illinois. Most employers expect industry certifications such as AAERT Certification."

"What apprenticeships are available for digital court reporters in Illinois?"

"In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Digital Court Reporter in Illinois

Q: "How much do digital court reporters earn in Illinois?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), digital court reporters in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $75,890. Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.52 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in Illinois?"

"Illinois currently employs approximately 770 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn a median annual wage of $75,890 ($36.48/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 770 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.8% above the national median of $72,420 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $75,890 ($36.48/hr)
25th percentile: $31,200 per year
75th percentile: $95,990 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $122,390 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,200 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 770
Versus national median: 4.8% above the U.S. median of $72,420
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.52 - this occupation is more concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Illinois employs approximately 770 digital court reporters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $75,890 ¹. The state’s concentration of digital court reporter jobs is 1.52x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, digital court reporter employment is projected to grow -0.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a digital court reporter in Illinois, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Digital Court Reporter in Illinois

How do I become a digital court reporter in Illinois? Illinois does not require a state license for digital court reporters, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as AAERT Certification. Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Illinois? No state license is required, but certifications such as AAERT Certification are expected by most employers.

What do digital court reporters earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Illinois is $75,890 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $122,390 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Illinois): $75,890 per year ¹

Digital Court Reporter Certification Options in Illinois

Illinois does not require a state license to work as a digital court reporter. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for digital court reporters include:

AAERT Certification

For more information, visit the AAERT - American Association of Electronic Reporters ³. Contact training programs in Illinois for details on certification preparation courses.

Digital Court Reporter Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), court reporters and simultaneous captioners wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	510	$76,790	$77,220	$31,200	$129,320
St. Louis	130	$76,310	$77,860	$32,120	$103,190

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Digital court reporters in Illinois

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest digital court reporter employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	510	$76,790

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 770 digital court reporters ¹. Nationally, digital court reporter employment is projected to grow -0.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Illinois.

How much do digital court reporters earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Illinois is $75,890, which is $8,580 above the national median of $67,310 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
AAERT - American Association of Electronic Reporters: https://www.aaert.org/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)