How much does a proofreader make?
a year · about $25 an hour
A typical proofreader in the United States makes $51,120 a year, about $25 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They scan printed or digital proofs for misspellings, punctuation, layout, and mismatched details, marking each fix. Then they reread corrected proofs and send remaining changes to editors or printers.
Did you know? Some proofreaders check Braille, too: O*NET includes Braille proofreaders in this occupation.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $34,510 and $79,290How do you become one?
In the U.S., aim for a bachelor’s degree and build strong grammar and careful-reading skills. BLS lists no related work experience or on-the-job training as typical entry requirements.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like keeping things organized and creating
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, skills or credentials, the kind of employer or industry, and location. Hours worked also matter, and checking complex or specialized material may call for extra expertise.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($68,120), lowest in Michigan ($35,530).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $34,510 | $51,120 | $79,290 | about 5,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,120 | about 50 |
| New York | $59,740 | about 1,000 |
| California | $57,490 | about 300 |
| Massachusetts | $57,160 | about 190 |
| New Jersey | $56,700 | about 160 |
Official definition: Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-9081.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes439081.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY