Copy editor/proofreader demographics and statistics in the US
Copy editor/proofreader demographics research summary. Zippia estimates copy editor/proofreader demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our copy editor/proofreader estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about copy editor/proofreaders after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,327 copy editor/proofreaders currently employed in the United States.
- 66.8% of all copy editor/proofreaders are women, while 33.2% are men.
- The average copy editor/proofreader age is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of copy editor/proofreaders is White (76.6%), followed by Black or African American (10.0%), Asian (5.9%) and Hispanic or Latino (3.9%).
- In 2022, women earned 84% of what men earned.
- 18% of all copy editor/proofreaders are LGBT.
- Copy editor/proofreaders are 68% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Copy editor/proofreader demographics by:
Copy editor/proofreader gender statistics
66.8% of copy editor/proofreaders are women and 33.2% of copy editor/proofreaders are men.
- Female, 66.8%
- Male, 33.2%
Copy editor/proofreader gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 66.8% |
| Male | 33.2% |
Copy editor/proofreader gender pay gap
Women earn 84¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$86,495
Female income
$72,914
Copy editor/proofreader gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in copy editor/proofreader positions over time. Currently, 66.8% of copy editor/proofreaders are female.
Copy editor/proofreader gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 28.39% | 71.61% |
| 2011 | 35.63% | 64.37% |
| 2012 | 32.63% | 67.37% |
| 2013 | 46.30% | 53.70% |
| 2014 | 32.21% | 67.79% |
| 2015 | 50.82% | 49.18% |
| 2016 | 48.42% | 51.58% |
| 2017 | 43.04% | 56.96% |
| 2018 | 47.36% | 52.64% |
| 2019 | 42.84% | 57.16% |
| 2020 | 56.24% | 43.76% |
| 2021 | 33.17% | 66.83% |
Copy editor/proofreader related jobs gender ratio
We compared copy editor/proofreaders with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, blueprint reader and recovery operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical Typist | 6% | 94% |
| Medical Typist | 7% | 93% |
| Insurance Biller | 7% | 93% |
| Copy Editor/Proofreader | 33% | 67% |
| High Speed Printer Operator | 85% | 15% |
| Recovery Operator | 88% | 12% |
| Blueprint Reader | 95% | 5% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Copy editor/proofreader demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among copy editor/proofreaders is White, which makes up 76.6% of all copy editor/proofreaders. Comparatively, 10.0% of copy editor/proofreaders are Black or African American and 5.9% of copy editor/proofreaders are Asian.
- White, 76.6%
- Black or African American, 10.0%
- Asian, 5.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 3.9%
- Unknown, 2.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Copy editor/proofreader race
| Copy editor/proofreader race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 76.6% |
| Black or African American | 10.0% |
| Asian | 5.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.9% |
| Unknown | 2.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Copy editor/proofreader race and ethnicity over time
See how copy editor/proofreader racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Copy editor/proofreader race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.24% | 10.57% | 5.37% | 5.02% |
| 2011 | 75.69% | 10.01% | 5.66% | 5.68% |
| 2012 | 80.24% | 8.33% | 4.04% | 5.49% |
| 2013 | 74.09% | 15.13% | 3.30% | 3.51% |
| 2014 | 79.10% | 10.58% | 6.31% | 1.96% |
| 2015 | 78.54% | 8.39% | 4.80% | 4.97% |
| 2016 | 80.99% | 8.22% | 2.83% | 4.79% |
| 2017 | 80.00% | 6.91% | 3.83% | 5.65% |
| 2018 | 80.74% | 6.83% | 5.57% | 3.41% |
| 2019 | 75.82% | 12.01% | 2.16% | 7.02% |
| 2020 | 75.99% | 8.72% | 4.74% | 5.30% |
| 2021 | 76.59% | 10.02% | 5.89% | 3.94% |
Copy editor/proofreader wage gap by race
According to our data, asian copy editor/proofreaders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american copy editor/proofreaders have the lowest average salary at $83,187.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $85,104 |
| White | $86,064 |
| Black or African American | $83,187 |
| Asian | $94,512 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $84,070 |
Copy editor/proofreader age breakdown
The average age of copy editor/proofreaders is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the copy editor/proofreader population.
Copy editor/proofreader age breakdown
| Copy Editor/Proofreader Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 15% |
Copy editor/proofreader educational attainment
The most common degree for copy editor/proofreaders is bachelor's degree, with 78% of copy editor/proofreaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 12% and master's degree degree at 6%.
- Bachelor's, 78%
- Master's, 12%
- Associate, 6%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Copy editor/proofreaders by degree level
| Copy editor/proofreader degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 78% |
| Master's | 12% |
| Associate | 6% |
| Doctorate | 1% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Copy editor/proofreader jobs you might like
Copy editor/proofreader wage gap by degree level
According to the data, copy editor/proofreaders with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $110,562 annually. With a Doctorate degree, copy editor/proofreaders earn a median annual income of $104,270 compared to $91,630 for copy editor/proofreaders with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $110,562 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $74,419 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $91,630 |
| Doctorate Degree | $104,270 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $78,515 |
Copy editor/proofreader employment statistics
Most copy editor/proofreaders work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where copy editor/proofreaders work
Below, you can see the size of companies where copy editor/proofreaders work.
Copy editor/proofreader jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 25% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 15% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 21% |
| > 10,000 employees | 15% |
Copy editor/proofreader jobs by company type
Employees with the copy editor/proofreader job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most copy editor/proofreaders prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Copy editor/proofreader jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 12% |
| Public | 18% |
| Private | 68% |
| Government | 1% |
Copy editor/proofreader jobs by industry
The most common industries for copy editor/proofreaders are media, professional and education.
Copy editor/proofreader industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 28% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Education | 10% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Internet | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Copy editor/proofreader turnover and employment statistics
Copy editor/proofreader unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for copy editor/proofreaders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Copy editor/proofreader unemployment rate by year
| Year | Copy editor/proofreader unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 10.00% |
| 2011 | 10.00% |
| 2012 | 7.81% |
| 2013 | 7.52% |
| 2014 | 4.88% |
| 2015 | 8.89% |
| 2016 | 10.64% |
| 2017 | 5.07% |
| 2018 | 3.64% |
| 2019 | 5.63% |
| 2020 | 13.27% |
| 2021 | 4.41% |
Average copy editor/proofreader tenure
The average copy editor/proofreader stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,570 copy editor/proofreaders resumes in Zippia's database.
Copy editor/proofreader tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 17% |
| 1-2 years | 27% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 20% |
Copy editor/proofreader LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of copy editor/proofreaders that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Punch Card Operator | 4.67% | 26,379 |
| Hospital Admissions Clerk | 5.99% | 126,783 |
| Mail Handler | 7.17% | 59,499 |
| Claim Taker | 11.18% | 3,937 |
| Bioinformatics Assistant | 11.19% | 6,078 |
| Photocopy Operator | 14.20% | 25,692 |
| Copy Editor/Proofreader | 18.38% | - |
Similar copy editor/proofreader jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Punch Card Operator | 4.67% | 26,379 |
| Hospital Admissions Clerk | 5.99% | 126,783 |
| Mail Handler | 7.17% | 59,499 |
| Claim Taker | 11.18% | 3,937 |
| Bioinformatics Assistant | 11.19% | 6,078 |
| Photocopy Operator | 14.20% | 25,692 |
Foreign languages spoken by copy editor/proofreaders
The most common foreign language among copy editor/proofreaders is Spanish at 47.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 22.3% and German is the third-most popular at 7.4%.
- Spanish, 47.9%
- French, 22.3%
- German, 7.4%
- Japanese, 4.3%
- Chinese, 3.2%
- Other, 14.9%
Copy editor/proofreader languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 47.9% |
| French | 22.3% |
| German | 7.4% |
| Japanese | 4.3% |
| Chinese | 3.2% |
| Other | 14.9% |
