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

"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 Louisiana?"

"Yes. Louisiana requires state-level licensing or registration for digital court reporters, administered by the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division, 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 Louisiana

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), digital court reporters in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $63,380. Employment concentration in Louisiana is about 1.70 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Louisiana currently employs approximately 270 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

Louisiana court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn a median annual wage of $63,380 ($30.47/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -12.5% below the national median of $72,420 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $63,380 ($30.47/hr)
25th percentile: $37,220 per year
75th percentile: $79,190 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $97,360 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $26,650 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 270
Versus national median: -12.5% below the U.S. median of $72,420
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.70 - this occupation is more concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

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

Louisiana employs approximately 270 digital court reporters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,380 ¹. The state’s concentration of digital court reporter jobs is 1.70x 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 Louisiana, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Digital Court Reporter in Louisiana

How do I become a digital court reporter in Louisiana? Louisiana requires credentials such as Court Reporter (Shorthand). The licensing authority is the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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 Louisiana? Yes. Louisiana has licensing or registration requirements for digital court reporters. The Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do digital court reporters earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Louisiana is $63,380 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,650 and experienced professionals can earn $97,360 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters
Median wage (Louisiana): $63,380 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Digital Court Reporter License Requirements in Louisiana

The Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters oversees digital court reporter licensing in Louisiana ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Court Reporter (Shorthand)	Applicants must pass a qualifying examination done prior to the full main examination. Applications and information on examinations are available from the office listed above.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Any conviction is prohibited
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Affidavit or referral required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Digital Court Reporter Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New Orleans-Metairie	90	$75,980	$75,910	$40,260	$107,710
Baton Rouge	50	$74,630	$66,110	$29,240	$97,360

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 Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New Orleans-Metairie	90	$75,980
Baton Rouge	50	$74,630

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 270 digital court reporters ¹. Nationally, digital court reporter employment is projected to grow -0.3% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a digital court reporter in Louisiana with an out-of-state license? Contact the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do digital court reporters earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Louisiana is $63,380, which is $3,930 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Louisiana Board of Examiners of Certified Shorthand Reporters - Licensing Information: https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/boardsandcommissions/viewBoard.cfm?board=4 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)