"The field is still growing and it will continue to grow as long as the
FCC [Federal Communications Commission] continues to demand that TV be captioned,"
says Chris Leininger. He is a closed captioning supervisor.
"Probably the biggest crunch is going to come in real-time captioning --
simply because it requires a very highly trained and specifically trained
individual."
Jack Boenau owns a captioning company in Florida. He also sees the profession's
prospects as good.
"Right now, the field is very good," he says. "There is a demand right
now for real-time captioners who are able to use their skills on broadcast
television and in college classrooms for deaf and hard of hearing students."
Boenau, a former court reporter, says captioners' salaries vary, depending
on the company and the type and amount of work involved. He puts the range
between $35,000 and $75,000 a year. But it's not just about salaries, he's
quick to add. "There's a great deal of personal satisfaction in this kind
of work."
Earnings and employment information from the U.S. Department of Labor is
not available for this field at this time.