How much does a proofreader make?
Answer: A typical proofreader in the United States makes $51,120 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 5,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Proofreader pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $59,740 | about 1,000 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a proofreader do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and creating.
Did you know?
Some proofreaders check Braille, too: O*NET includes Braille proofreaders in this occupation.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Office and Administrative Support jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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