How to Become A Digital Court Reporter in New Jersey
New Jersey employs approximately 200 digital court reporters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 1. 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 New Jersey, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Digital Court Reporter in New Jersey
How do I become a digital court reporter in New Jersey? New Jersey requires credentials such as COURT REPORTER. The licensing authority is the Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Shorthand Reporting 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 New Jersey? Yes. New Jersey has licensing or registration requirements for digital court reporters. The Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Shorthand Reporting oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Shorthand Reporting
Digital Court Reporter License Requirements in New Jersey
The Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Shorthand Reporting oversees digital court reporter licensing in New Jersey 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| COURT REPORTER |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Digital Court Reporter Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), court reporters and simultaneous captioners wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | 1,060 | $90,230 | $94,850 | $53,760 | $143,790 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 240 | $74,760 | $74,460 | $43,390 | $106,630 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | 50 | $64,230 | $62,840 | $47,710 | $86,690 |
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 200 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 New Jersey with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Shorthand Reporting for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Jersey.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Law and Public Safety - Board of Shorthand Reporting - Licensing Information: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/cou/Pages/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |