Stenographers
Overview
Introduction
Stenographers take dictation using either shorthand notation or a stenotype machine, then later transcribe their notes into business documents. They may record people's remarks at meetings or other proceedings and later give a summary report or a word-for-word transcript of what was said. General stenographers may also perform other office tasks such as typing, filing, answering phones, and operating office machines. There are approximately 14,530 court reporters, including stenographers, employed in the United States, according to ...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries for stenographers vary widely, depending on their skill, experience, level of responsibility, and geographic location. According to Salary.com, stenographers earned average salaries of $40,431 in July 2020; salaries ranged from $26,450 or less to $58,617 or more. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in May 2019, court reporters (stenographers who have advanced training) earned an...
Work Environment
Relatively few office stenographers work in the evenings or on weekends. (This is not true of court reporters, real-time captioners, or those who freelance their services, as they often work long and irregular hours.) Some stenographers take on part-time or temporary work during peak business periods.
The physical work environment is usually pleasant and comfortable, although stenographe...
Outlook
Audio recording equipment and the use of personal computers by managers and other professionals has greatly reduced the demand for stenographers in office settings. Continued technological advances, such as computer-aided equipment that can print out what is being said by a spoken voice, will limit demand for basic stenographers without specialized skills and training.
Employment for cou...