SIGNAL: Captionist

Abundance Mindset: Signal

You’re currently reading the “Signal” edition of Abundance Mindset. It’s our career spotlight series designed to expand your career vocabulary. Each issue highlights one fascinating career path you might not know exists (or never thought about pursuing).

CAREER SPOTLIGHT

BEHIND THE SCREENS: WHAT IS A CAPTIONIST ?

In a world increasingly shaped by online learning and accessibility standards, one role stands out for its quiet, essential impact: the captionist.

Whether working live in a lecture hall or behind the scenes on recorded content, captionists ensure that students who are deaf or hard of hearing get equal access to information.

In this edition of Signal, we're decoding the role, from what they really do to where the opportunities lie.

This job breakdown is inspired by Kaylee M., Captioner @ Texas State University


CAPTIONIST JOB DESCRIPTION

Captionists provide real-time and post-production speech-to-text transcription to support students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captionists work in classrooms, lectures, events, and with video content to ensure information accessibility. The primary goal is to remove communication barriers in educational settings.

KEY SKILLS

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Fast and accurate typing speed (typically 180+ WPM for real-time)

• Experience with captioning software (e.g., CART, TypeWell, Dragon, or StreamText)

• Familiarity with educational platforms (e.g., Zoom, Blackboard, Canvas) (if captioning for education institutions)

• Strong grasp of grammar, punctuation, and spelling

• Familiarity with AI transcription tools (Otter.ai, Descript, Trint) [emerging skill]

• Accessibility compliance knowledge (e.g., WCAG, ADA) [emerging skill]

• Multilingual captioning or ESL/transcription experience [emerging skill]

SOFT SKILLS

• Attention to detail under time pressure

• Strong listening and comprehension across various accents and speaking speeds

• Discretion and professionalism in confidential settings

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments

CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

CAREER PROGRESSION

• Senior Captionist

• Accessibility Coordinator

• Instructional Designer with accessibility focus

• ADA/504 Compliance Officer

• Technical Writer or Media Specialist

• Accessibility Analyst [emerging shift]

• Digital Content Quality Assurance [emerging shift]

• User Experience roles [emerging shift]

EMERGING NICHES

• Captioning for AI and voice tech companies

• Work in media production, podcasting, or livestream industries

• Specialized support for legal and medical transcription

• Strong demand in public institutions, universities, and media companies due to legal accessibility requirements (ADA, Section 508).

ESTIMATED SALARY RANGES

• 💰 Entry-level: $35,000–$45,000

• 💰 Mid-level (3–5 years): $50,000–$65,000

• 💰 Specialized/real-time/CART: $70,000–$90,000+

*based on technical education rates

ALTERNATIVE JOB TITLES

If you like this job, here are other "job titles" to be on the lookout for:

• Real-Time Captionist

• CART Provider (Communication Access Realtime Translation)

• Transcriptionist (with accessibility specialization)

• Media Accessibility Specialist

• Speech-to-Text Technician

• Communication Facilitator for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing

VIDEO

HOW LIVE CAPTIONING WORKS

This video offers a behind-the-scenes look at how live television captioning is done in Canada, from rapid speech-to-text conversion to real-time display for viewers.
watch now →

RESOURCES

YOUR THRIVE ESSENTIALS

Until next time,
DEJA WHITE | BREAKROOM BUDDHA