Career comparison
Court Clerk vs. Court Reporter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Court reporters earn more at the median ($72,420 vs. $48,700), while court clerks usually get to work faster (1+ year on the job of training). Court clerks keep court, city and license records running for the public. Court reporters create word-for-word records of court proceedings and live captions.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Court Clerk | Court Reporter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $48,700 ($23.41/hr) | $72,420 ($34.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,300 – $73,820 | $42,130 – $130,560 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.4% (about as fast as average) | -0.1% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 17,100 | 1,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 1+ year on the job | 2–4 years |
| Key credential | Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) | Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) |
| Work setting | Clerks work in courthouses, city halls and licensing offices, serving the public at counters and in courtrooms.. | Reporters work in courtrooms, law offices and remotely; captioners often work from home.. |
What each job does
Court Clerk
- Process filings and records
- Schedule hearings and prepare dockets
- Record court actions and rulings
- Collect fees and fines
- Issue licenses and permits
Court Reporter
- Record legal proceedings word for word
- Produce official transcripts
- Read back testimony on request
- Provide live captioning
- Prepare and maintain dictionaries
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work and working with information. They sit in different fields, community, social & government services and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as accuracy and concentration.
Which should you choose?
Choose court clerk if…
- I’m detail-oriented
- I like order and records
- I want a stable government job
Choose court reporter if…
- I can concentrate for long periods
- I’m fast and accurate
- I like legal settings
Still torn? Take the Court Clerk fit quiz and the Court Reporter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, court clerk or court reporter?
Court Reporters earn more at the median: $72,420 versus $48,700 for court clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Court Clerks typically train faster (1+ year on the job) than court reporters (2–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects court clerks to grow +3.4% from 2025–35, compared with -0.1% for court reporters.