Although voluntary, the RPR designation is recognized as a mark of distinction in this field. Stenographic skills are taught in high schools, vocational schools, community colleges and proprietary business schools. For stenographer jobs, employers prefer to hire high school graduates, and seldom have a preference among the many different shorthand methods. To qualify for jobs in the Federal Government, stenographers must be able to take dictation at a minimum of 80 words per minute and type at least 40 words per minute. Workers must achieve higher rates to advance to more responsible positions.
Some stenographers complete the necessary education to become court reporters.
Court reporters generally earn higher salaries than stenographers, and many supplement their income by doing additional freelance work. Regardless of specialty, earnings depend on education, experience and geographic location. More than 1 in 4 were self-employed. Of those who worked for a wage or salary, about one-third worked for State and local governments, a reflection of the large number of court reporters working in courts, legislatures and various agencies. About one-fourth worked for hospitals and physicians' offices.