Official Court Reporter

Salary : $119,330.00 - $137,229.00 Annually
Location : San Francisco Oakland or San Jose, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: FY27-01
Department: Operations Department
Division: Court Reporter
Opening Date: 10/01/2026

Example of Duties
Being an official court reporter involves:

• Working as part of a team of reporters for the judges of the court.
• Verbatim shorth and reporting of courtroom proceedings and reading back portions of the record when required.
• Producing transcripts at a high volume, including expedited and daily transcripts.
• For some criminal proceedings, creating and storing audio recordings alongside shorth and notes. Adhering to the policies and administrative procedures outlined in the Court Reporter Management Plan, the Court Reporter Manual, and the Guide to Judiciary Policy.
• Performing administrative tasks including transcripts billing, and docketing

financial tracking, responding to requests, and submitting required reports to the Administrative Office.
Typical Qualifications

• Level 1 ($119,330) must have at least one year of court reporting experience (freelance, courts or a combination); RPR (or equivalent); and excellent Realtime skills. (Those hired without Realtime certification must pass the test within two years.)
• Level 2 ($125,296) additionally requires Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) certification and ability to provide Realtime writing in the courtroom (must become Realtime certified within two years of hire date).
• Level 3 ($131,263) additionally requires Realtime certification.
• Level 4 ($137,229) additionally requires Realtime and RMR certification.
• Level 5 ($143,197) for transferring Federal Official Court Reporters appointed before October 11,2009, with CRR or FCRR, RMR and ten years 'reporting experience in the federal courts

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three or more years of court reporting experience (freelance ,courts or a combination) and experience directly invoicing clients
• Experience e-filing transcripts on a court docket
• Previous federal court experience
• Realtime Certification
• Certificate of Merit from NCRA

Physical Requirements: Successful candidates must be able to (with or without accommodation): (1) bend, (2) pull, push, and lift up to 20 pounds, (3) reach ,(4) walk, and (5) sit for extended periods.

Supplemental Information
We offer a competitive salary along with full federal benefits, and new reporters are immediately included in the courts trial rotation, ensuring consistent opportunities for additional transcript income.

For more information about federal court benefits, please visit: .
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement without prior written or other notice.

The successful candidate for this position is subject to a FBI fingerprint check and background investigation (employment will be provisional and contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the required background investigation), will be required to adhere to a , and is subject to mandatory direct deposit of federal wages. The court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews or relocations.

Interviewing Non-Citizens and Making Offers of Future Employment: Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for employment, but employment offers will only be made to individuals who qualify under one of the exceptions in 8 U.S.C. a7 1324b(a)(3)(B). In most cases, this means that an offer of employment cannot be made unless the candidate is a lawful permanent resident who is seeking U.S. citizenship as explained below.

Under 8 U.S.C. a71324b (a)(3)(B), a lawful permanent resident seeking citizenship may not apply for citizenship until he or she has been a permanent resident for at least five years (three years if seeking naturalization as a spouse of a citizen), at which point he or she must apply for citizenship within six months of becoming eligible, and must complete the process within two years of applying (unless there is a delay caused by the processors of the application).

Judicial Branch employees are "at will" employees and are not subject to the employment regulations of competitive service. However, full-time judiciary employees are entitled to:

• A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid annual leave in the amount of 13 days per year for the first three years, 20 days per year after 3 years, and 26 days per year after fifteen years.
• Paid sick leave in the amount of 13 days per year
• Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS)
• Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan (with up to 5% employer matching contributions), the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Flexible Benefits Program, the Commuter Benefit Program, (Public Transportation subsidy up to $130 per month), Long-Term Care Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work Life Services