"How long does digital court reporter in Washington training take?"

"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 Washington?"

"Yes. Washington requires state-level licensing or registration for digital court reporters, administered by the Department of Licensing. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Washington, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Washington State of Labor and Industry - 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 Washington

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), digital court reporters in Washington earned a median annual wage of approximately $107,670. Employment concentration in Washington is roughly 0.27 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Washington currently employs approximately 80 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

Washington court reporters and simultaneous captioners earn a median annual wage of $107,670 ($51.77/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 80 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 48.7% above the national median of $72,420 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $107,670 ($51.77/hr)
25th percentile: $85,060 per year
75th percentile: $113,200 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $113,880 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $82,220 per year
Workers employed in Washington: 80
Versus national median: 48.7% above the U.S. median of $72,420
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.27 - this occupation is less concentrated in Washington than the national average

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

Washington employs approximately 80 digital court reporters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $107,670 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 Washington, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become a Digital Court Reporter in Washington

How to become a digital court reporter in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Court Reporter. The licensing authority is the Department of Licensing 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 Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for digital court reporters. The Department of Licensing oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do digital court reporters earn in Washington? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Washington is $107,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $82,220 and experienced professionals can earn $113,880 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: Department of Licensing
Median wage (Washington): $107,670 per year ¹

Digital Court Reporter License Requirements in Washington

The Department of Licensing oversees digital court reporter licensing in Washington ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Court Reporter	Individuals must pass the state court reporter examination, fill out the required application and pay the required fee.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Digital Court Reporter Wages by Metro Area in Washington

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	180	$51,880	$61,130	$43,850	$85,290
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	40	$113,200	$112,060	$107,670	$113,200

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 Washington

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	40	$113,200

Explore More Trades in Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for digital court reporters in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 80 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Licensing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do digital court reporters earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for digital court reporters in Washington is $107,670, which is $40,360 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Licensing - Licensing Information: https://dol.wa.gov/about/contact-us/business-and-professional-licensing-contact-information ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)