How to Become a Digital Court Reporter in Indiana (2026)
Indiana employs about 890 digital court reporters earning a median $54,740 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Digital Court Reporter here means completing a digital court-reporting or captioning program plus AAERT. Certified shorthand reporter licenses are a different credential.
Compare Digital Court Reporter Schools in Indiana
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fox Valley Technical College | 67.6 | $5,040 - $16,862 | $55,857 | 63% | Yes* | 294 mi |
| 2 | Lakeshore Technical College | 63.9 | $4,844 - $14,599 | $50,985 | 46% | Yes* | 258 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
| 3 | Madison Area Technical College | 59.1 | Contact school for pricing | $55,207 | 28% | Yes* | 249 mi |
| 4 | Lake Land College | 53.4 | $4,415 - $14,301 | $48,594 | 56% | — | 134 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
| 5 | Black Hawk College | 52.4 | Contact school for pricing | $49,173 | 41% | Yes* | 235 mi |
| 6 | South Suburban College | 48.6 | Contact school for pricing | $45,069 | Not reported | Yes* | 114 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
| 7 | Cuyahoga Community College District | 47.6 | Contact school for pricing | $49,698 | 30% | Yes* | 247 mi |
| 8 | Clark State College | 46.3 | Contact school for pricing | $50,997 | 23% | Yes* | 130 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
| 9 | Stark State College | 46.3 | Contact school for pricing | $49,440 | 23% | Yes* | 251 mi |
| 10 | Community College of Allegheny County | 40.9 | Contact school for pricing | $54,519 | 24% | Yes* | 324 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.
Indiana employs approximately 890 digital court reporters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $54,740 1. The state’s concentration of digital court reporter jobs is 3.37x 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 Indiana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
At a Glance
- Training paths: digital court-reporting program (find programs)
- Typical timeline: a digital court-reporting or captioning program plus AAERT. Certified shorthand reporter licenses are a different credential
- Exam: AAERT
- Median wage (Indiana): $54,740 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Digital Court Reporter in Indiana
How to become a Digital Court Reporter in Indiana? Complete a digital court-reporting or captioning program plus AAERT. Certified shorthand reporter licenses are a different credential. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.
How long does it take? Most people finish a digital court-reporting or captioning program plus AAERT. Certified shorthand reporter licenses are a different credential. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.
Do I need a license in Indiana? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect AAERT. See the licensing section below.
What do digital court reporters earn in Indiana? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Indiana is $54,740 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,740 and experienced professionals can earn $77,320 or more 1.
How to Become a Digital Court Reporter in Indiana
- Complete a digital reporting program. Finish a digital court-reporting or captioning program. This is not a steno-machine apprenticeship.
- Earn AAERT. AAERT is the digital and electronic reporting path. Do not treat a certified shorthand reporter (CSR/CCR) row or a Board of Court Reporting as the digital-reporter credential.
- Most states do not license digital reporters as a separate occupation. Confirm employer and court-contract rules. Do not apply to a steno court-reporting board for a digital-only path.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.
Digital Court Reporter License Requirements in Indiana
Digital court reporters typically earn AAERT. Certified shorthand reporter licenses and Boards of Court Reporting are a related but different (steno) path, not the digital credential.
Typical path
Complete a digital reporting program.
Earn AAERT.
Do not treat a steno CSR license as the digital path.
Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.
Digital Court Reporter Wages by Metro Area in Indiana
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Wages by Metro Area in Indiana
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), court reporters and simultaneous captioners wages in Indiana 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 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | 200 | $50,720 | $57,400 | $37,240 | $77,180 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | 110 | $49,370 | $47,340 | $30,070 | $50,350 |
| Cincinnati | 70 | $85,690 | $79,190 | $49,190 | $102,240 |
| Bloomington | 50 | $60,340 | $59,370 | $47,140 | $73,280 |
| Terre Haute | 50 | $54,740 | $50,580 | $42,060 | $54,740 |
| Evansville | 40 | $59,740 | $57,700 | $48,990 | $75,220 |
| Fort Wayne | 40 | $66,160 | $65,590 | $50,840 | $74,880 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | 30 | $57,470 | $57,020 | $45,860 | $58,860 |
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 .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in Indiana? Indiana currently employs approximately 890 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 Indiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Indiana.
How much do digital court reporters earn in Indiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Indiana is $54,740, which is $12,570 below the national median of $67,310 according to BLS data 1.
Related guides
In Indiana
Top local programs
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Anderson, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Angola, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Auburn, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Avon, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Bedford, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Beech Grove, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Bloomington, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Bluffton, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Brownsburg, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Carmel, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Cedar Lake, Indiana (2026)
- Best Digital Court Reporter Programs in Chesterton, Indiana (2026)
Related trades & nearby areas
- Best Carpenter Schools in Indiana (2026)
- Best Electrician Schools in Indiana
- Best HVAC Schools in Indiana (2026)
- Best Plumber Schools in Indiana
- Best Plumbing Schools in Indiana (2026)
- Best Welder Schools in Indiana
Explore More Trades in Indiana
- Electrician in Indiana
- Plumber in Indiana
- HVAC Technician in Indiana
- Welder in Indiana
- Carpenter in Indiana
- Solar Installation Technician in Indiana
- Auto Mechanic in Indiana
- CNC Machinist in Indiana
- Certified Nursing Assistant in Indiana
- Medical Assistant in Indiana
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |