Career comparison
Court Reporter vs. Paralegal
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. $62,890), while paralegals usually get to work faster (6 months to 2 years of training). Court reporters create word-for-word records of court proceedings and live captions. Paralegals research, draft and organize legal work that supports attorneys and their clients.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Court Reporter | Paralegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $72,420 ($34.82/hr) | $62,890 ($30.24/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $42,130 – $130,560 | $44,740 – $101,500 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.1% (little or no change) | -0.3% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 1,800 | 40,800 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 2–4 years | 6 months to 2 years |
| Key credential | Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) | Certified Paralegal (NALA CP) |
| Work setting | Reporters work in courtrooms, law offices and remotely; captioners often work from home.. | Paralegals work in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies and nonprofits. |
What each job does
Court Reporter
- Record legal proceedings word for word
- Produce official transcripts
- Read back testimony on request
- Provide live captioning
- Prepare and maintain dictionaries
Paralegal
- Conduct legal and factual research
- Draft pleadings, motions, correspondence and contracts for attorney review
- Organize and manage case files and discovery documents
- Track deadlines and maintain the case calendar
- Prepare exhibits, trial binders and closing documents
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, working with information, working independently, and remote-friendly work. They sit in different fields, arts, media & design and business & office, but share transferable skills such as concentration and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose court reporter if…
- I can concentrate for long periods
- I’m fast and accurate
- I like legal settings
Choose paralegal if…
- I like research and writing
- I’m extremely detail-oriented
- I’m interested in law but don’t want law school (yet)
Still torn? Take the Court Reporter fit quiz and the Paralegal fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, court reporter or paralegal?
Court Reporters earn more at the median: $72,420 versus $62,890 for paralegals, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Paralegals typically train faster (6 months to 2 years) than court reporters (2–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects court reporters to grow -0.1% from 2025–35, compared with -0.3% for paralegals.