How to Become A Digital Court Reporter in New York

New York employs approximately 1,400 digital court reporters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $101,990 1. The state’s concentration of digital court reporter jobs is 1.75x 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 New York, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Digital Court Reporter in New York

How to become a digital court reporter in New York? New York 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 New York? No state license is required, but certifications such as AAERT Certification are expected by most employers.

What do digital court reporters earn in New York? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in New York is $101,990 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $60,360 and experienced professionals can earn $143,790 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 (New York): $101,990 per year 1

Digital Court Reporter Certification Options in New York

New York 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 New York for details on certification preparation courses.

Digital Court Reporter Wages by Metro Area in New York

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City1,060$90,230$94,850$53,760$143,790
Buffalo-Cheektowaga60$99,620$93,220$51,960$132,430

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 .

Top Metros for Digital court reporters in New York

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City1,060$90,230
Buffalo-Cheektowaga60$99,620

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in New York? New York currently employs approximately 1,400 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 New York? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New York.

How much do digital court reporters earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in New York is $101,990, which is $34,680 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


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)