2026-CLK-21 - Official Court Reporter

NOTICE OF VACANCY

Main: 400 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128

Website: www.flsd.uscourts.gov

Phone: (305) 523-5980 – Human Resources

Email: flsd_hrmail@flsd.uscourts.gov

Position: Official Court Reporter
Announcement No: 2026-CLK-21

Duty Station: Miami, Florida
Multiple positions may be filled from this vacancy Important Dates

Salary: Refer to Pay Rates & Certifications as listed Opening: 7/2/2026
in this announcement Closing: Open Until Filled

Position Overview
Official court reporters record each session of the Court and every other U.S. District Court,
proceeding designated by rule or order of the Court or by a district court Southern District of
judge, magistrate judge, or land commissioner. All proceedings are Florida
reported using electronic machine shorthand equipment and electronic
storage media capable of translation and printing by computer-assisted There are eighteen authorized
transcription equipment. Electronic sound recording equipment may be United States District Judges in the
used to augment this primary source of reporting cases. Court reporters Southern District of Florida. The
are generally required to travel occasionally within the district. Court Court is comprised of United States
reporters are guided by and responsible for following the policies and District Judges, Senior United States District Judges, and United States
administrative procedures contained in the Court Reporter Management Magistrate Judges. The district spans
Plan for the Southern District of Florida. a geographical area that
encompasses nine counties - its
Qualifications Requirements: southernmost includes Monroe
Must have at least one year of prime court reporting experience in the County and its northernmost
freelance field of service or in other courts, or a combination thereof. Must includes Indian River County. The
have qualified by testing for listing on the registry of professional Clerk’s Office maintains its headquarters in downtown Miami
reporters (RPR) of the National Court Reporter Association (NCRA) or and includes four divisional
passed an equivalent qualifying examination. All Official Court Reporters courthouses.
employed in this Court are required to utilize Computer-Aided
Transcription (C.A.T.).

Preferred Qualifications
Real-time reporting and a Certificate of Merit are highly desired.

Desirable Characteristics
The successful candidate should be a self-starter, mature, highly organized, possess tact, good judgment, poise,
initiative (the average reporter produces more than 15,000 pages per year), and always maintain a
professional appearance and demeanor. Must work harmoniously with others in a team-based organization,
and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Official Court Reporter – Announcement No. 2026-CLK-21

Pay Rates
Pay rates are determined by certification(s), hire date, and any prior
service in the federal courts. The recommendation of the Court is a
prerequisite for any increase or combination of increases after hire.

Certifications
• Registered Professional Reporter (RPR): Has attained an RPR

credential by passing the qualifying exam and is listed on the registry
of the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)

• Merit certification: Registered merit reporter certificate from the

National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)

• Real-time Certification: Successful completion of a certified real-time

examination by NCRA or equivalent exam. Certificate must be
presented at the time of appointment; transcripts are not accepted. How to Apply

o Either merit certification
o Or at least ten (10) years of service in the federal courts AO78 and Court Reporter addendum can

• Level 3: $111,825 - Starting salary plus 10% - Requires: be found on our web site under the employment tab/how to apply.

o Either real-time certification
o Or merit certification and at least ten (10) years of Please note: A Court Reporter who is

o Either real-time certification and at least ten (10) their Judge.
years of service in the federal courts

o Or real-time certification and at least ten (10) years of service in the federal courts merit
certification

• Level 5: $121,992 - Starting salary plus 20% - Requires real-time certification, merit certification,

and at least ten (10) years of service in the federal courts.

Probationary Selection
Candidates with 4 or more years of prime court reporter experience who do not possess the RPR may apply
for this position and could be selected. Candidate must demonstrate that he/she has taken the RPR

Official Court Reporter – Announcement No. 2026-CLK-21

certification test each (every) time it is offered until the certification is obtained. Any selected court reporter
who does not meet RPR qualification is on probation until the requirement is fulfilled.

Transcript Fees
In addition to salary set by the Judicial Conference, an official court reporter is entitled to transcript fees from
any party who has contracted with the court reporter for transcript services. For more information on the
transcript fees – Link: Federal Court Reporting Program | United States Courts (uscourts.gov)

Organizational Relationship
This position is assigned to the Clerk's Office and reports to the Administrative Manager or another designee
of the Clerk's Office.

Benefits
Employees of the United States District Court are Excepted Appointments and considered At-Will judicial
employees. Federal Government Civil Service classifications or regulations do not apply. Electronic direct
deposit of salary payments is mandatory. Full-time employees are eligible for a full range of benefits such as
paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, retirement benefits that include the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). TSP
is a 401(k) equivalent program that includes matching contributions. Additional benefits include health and
life insurance, dental and vision insurance, and a Flexible Benefits Program which includes medical and
dependent care reimbursement.

Background Investigation & Fair Chance to Compete Act
This is a Sensitive position within the Judiciary. The selected candidate will be subject to a technical fingerprint
check through the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division database as a condition of employment.
Employment will be considered provisional until the background check is completed. This position is covered
under the FCA. Only those candidates who receive a conditional job offer will be asked to provide verbal
or written statements about criminal history.

Employment eligibility
Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or eligible to work for the judiciary as outlined here: Citizenship
Requirements for Employment in the Judiciary

The court will screen all applications, and the best-qualified applicants will be invited for personal interviews.

The court provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need reasonable
accommodation, please notify human resources. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be
made on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on working for the federal courts, please visit http://www.uscourts.gov/Careers.aspx

United States District Court – Human Resources

400 North Miami Avenue, Room 08S72, Miami, FL 33128-7717
General Information: (305) 523-5980

District Court Website: www.flsd.uscourts.gov

The Federal Courthouse has been designated a non-smoking area.
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER