Court reporting is one of ‘Best Jobs That Don’t Require College Degree’
National Court Reporting and Captioning Week is winding down, but that doesn't mean that the profession deserves any less attention in the months to come.
A Milwaukee court reporting job not only comes with prestige – they are official keepers of the record – it also is one of the best positions for individuals who have not earned a college degree.
Last year, job search provider CareerCast named court reporting as No. 4 on its list of the "20 Great Jobs Without a College Degree," trailing only dental hygienist, online advertising manager, Web developer, medical secretary and paralegal assistant.
According to CareerCast, the average starting salary for a court reporter is $26,000, although income growth is on a steep 250 percent incline. That salary is far less than the $51,000 average salary that comes with earning a four-year degree, but it's still competitive when you consider the costs of college and the years of debt that are wracked up in the process.
"A modest education – a Bachelor's degree from a public university or college – will cost at least $50,000," according to CareerCast. "That expense can quadruple if you attend a top-level private university. Add to this the 'opportunity cost,' meaning what you could earn over four years of working at a job instead of studying full-time, and you're talking real money!"
As long as aspiring court reporters have the skill sets to succeed – an attention to detail, excellent communication skills and a willingness to be challenged each day by difficult and diverse court cases – they will thrive.
For more information about this week's recognition of court reporters and about the field in general, go to the National Court Reporters Association's website.
