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The differences between copy editors and proofreaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a copy editor and a proofreader. Additionally, a copy editor has an average salary of $62,599, which is higher than the $49,392 average annual salary of a proofreader.
The top three skills for a copy editor include proofreading, house style and digital publishing. The most important skills for a proofreader are proofreading, english language, and powerpoint.
| Copy Editor | Proofreader | |
| Yearly salary | $62,599 | $49,392 |
| Hourly rate | $30.10 | $23.75 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 4,866 | 574 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The primary job of copy editors is to check for misspellings, incorrect punctuation, and consistency in typography, words, and style. They also act as fact-checkers, proofreaders, and project managers, overseeing the workflow and communicating with other departments. A copy editor's other duties and responsibilities include checking content for readability and compliance with editorial policies, rewriting text to improve readability and clarity, and arranging page layouts of articles, photos, and advertisements. Formal training is not required for this role, but copy editors generally have a firm grasp and love for the English language's proper usage.
A proofreader is an individual who is responsible for carefully checking simple and complex errors in a document before it is published or shared. As a member of the publishing team, proofreaders must make sure that errors such as spelling mistakes and grammar errors are checked to avoid bad publications. They are required to work closely with writers and other proofreaders to ensure that every word and paragraph is formatted correctly and free of errors. Proofreaders are usually self-employed, however, some are employed by publishers and are required to work standard office hours.
Copy editors and proofreaders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Copy Editor | Proofreader | |
| Average salary | $62,599 | $49,392 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $98,000 | Between $31,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Mateo, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | PayPal | WLRK |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a copy editor and a proofreader in terms of educational background:
| Copy Editor | Proofreader | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | English | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between copy editors' and proofreaders' demographics:
| Copy Editor | Proofreader | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 3.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 76.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 18% |