The median annual wage for court reporters was $47,700 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,710, and the top 10 percent earned more than $91,280.
Freelance court reporters are paid for their time but can also sell their transcripts per page for an additional profit.
Court reporters generally work full time recording events and preparing transcripts. Freelance reporters have more flexibility to set their schedule.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition