A Proofreader bears an important role in any project to do with written content, like social media copy, novels, essays, or even films. This role may differ from one job to another, as different content needs different treatment. Still, it generally requires a person to examine the document for any signs of grammatical or formatting errors.
More often, though, the Proofreader will be asked to make sure that the document's style is consistent and to see whether it lines up with the company's style guide. They may also be asked to check the work of other proofreaders. In terms of creative works, the Proofreader may even act a bit like an editor, noting what could and should be changed to make the work easier and more enjoyable to read.
A good grasp of the English language and an eye for details are important for this position, though there is no one set of requirements that a candidate must have. Some employers may ask for a college degree, while others will not. Either way, to begin one's career as a Proofreader, there's really no right way.
What is a Proofreader?
What Does a Proofreader Do
There are certain skills that many proofreaders have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed creativity, good judgment and detail oriented.
How To Become a Proofreader
If you're interested in becoming a proofreader, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 75.0% of proofreaders have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 10.2% of proofreaders have master's degrees. Even though most proofreaders have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Proofreader Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a proofreader can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as editor, progress to a title such as technical writer and then eventually end up with the title marketing manager.
Average Salary for a Proofreader
What Am I Worth?
States With The Most Proofreader Jobs
Mouse over a state to see the number of active proofreader jobs in each state. The darker areas on the map show where proofreaders earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Number Of Proofreader Jobs By State
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 42 | $56,710 |
| 2 | California | 15 | $64,308 |
| 3 | Virginia | 12 | $49,942 |
| 4 | Texas | 10 | $48,486 |
| 5 | Illinois | 9 | $53,436 |
| 6 | Arizona | 9 | $48,765 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 8 | $43,745 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 7 | $51,974 |
| 9 | Washington | 7 | $48,453 |
| 10 | Oregon | 7 | $45,055 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 7 | $44,458 |
| 12 | Delaware | 6 | $47,856 |
| 13 | Florida | 6 | $37,985 |
| 14 | Missouri | 5 | $52,571 |
| 15 | Ohio | 5 | $43,028 |
| 16 | Alaska | 4 | $67,718 |
| 17 | Colorado | 4 | $54,060 |
| 18 | New Jersey | 4 | $55,306 |
| 19 | Arkansas | 4 | $44,700 |
| 20 | Connecticut | 4 | $46,805 |
| 21 | Maryland | 4 | $47,142 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 4 | $42,934 |
| 23 | Nebraska | 3 | $54,636 |
| 24 | Nevada | 3 | $45,758 |
| 25 | Montana | 3 | $42,848 |
| 26 | North Dakota | 2 | $59,071 |
| 27 | Michigan | 2 | $52,721 |
| 28 | South Dakota | 2 | $41,976 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 2 | $47,536 |
| 30 | Maine | 2 | $43,554 |
| 31 | Indiana | 2 | $44,050 |
| 32 | Georgia | 2 | $44,429 |
| 33 | Iowa | 2 | $37,629 |
| 34 | West Virginia | 1 | $57,780 |
| 35 | Utah | 1 | $56,094 |
| 36 | Kansas | 1 | $49,280 |
| 37 | Idaho | 1 | $45,800 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | 1 | $46,378 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | 1 | $45,374 |
| 40 | Tennessee | 1 | $44,800 |
| 41 | Kentucky | 0 | $52,796 |
| 42 | Mississippi | 0 | $50,903 |
| 43 | New Mexico | 0 | $50,453 |
| 44 | Wyoming | 0 | $44,705 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 0 | $45,601 |
| 46 | Hawaii | 0 | $44,753 |
| 47 | Alabama | 0 | $40,835 |
| 48 | Vermont | 0 | $41,590 |
| 49 | Louisiana | 0 | $39,388 |
| 50 | South Carolina | 0 | $37,935 |
Top Colleges for Proofreaders
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
5. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
8. University of Houston
Houston, TX • Private
9. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
10. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
Top Skills For a Proofreader
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 35.3% of proofreaders listed proofreading on their resume, but soft skills such as creativity and good judgment are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Proofreader Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Proofreader templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Proofreader resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Proofreader Demographics
Proofreader Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among proofreaders, 68.5% of them are women, while 31.5% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among proofreaders is White, which makes up 75.2% of all proofreaders.
- The most common foreign language among proofreaders is Spanish at 38.6%.
Work Experience Programs For Proofreaders
Virtual work experience programs replicate work at top companies and help you gain the skills to be successful when applying and working there. In only a few hours, learn the relevant tools necessary to complete a typical work day at that company. Virtual work experience programs are 100% free, open-access, and self-paced. No experience or application is required!
Company: Herbert Smith Freehills
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6.5 hours
Company: Accenture North America
Cost: Free
Duration: 5-6 hours
Company: Accenture North America
Cost: Free
Duration: 4 hours
Online Courses For Proofreader That You May Like
Proofread Writing & Translation Like a Pro Be a Freelance Proofreader on Upwork Grasp Punctuation & Grammar...
Learn to proofread from an experienced educator and subject matter expert...
Best States For a Proofreader
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a proofreader. The best states for people in this position are Alaska, California, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Proofreaders make the most in Alaska with an average salary of $67,718. Whereas in California and North Dakota, they would average $64,308 and $59,071, respectively. While proofreaders would only make an average of $57,780 in West Virginia, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Alaska
$67,718
Avg. Salary
2. North Dakota
$59,071
Avg. Salary
3. New York
$56,710
Avg. Salary
How Do Proofreader Rate Their Jobs?
Top Proofreader Employers
We've made finding a great employer to work for easy by doing the hard work for you. We looked into employers that employ proofreaders and discovered their number of proofreader opportunities and average salary. Through our research, we concluded that Rr Donnelley was the best, especially with an average salary of $48,198. Robert Half follows up with an average salary of $41,410, and then comes Merrill with an average of $53,800. In addition, we know most people would rather work from home. So instead of having to change careers, we identified the best employers for remote work as a proofreader. The employers include Ropes & Gray, ICF, and Welocalize
Most Common Employers For Proofreader
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $96,801 | $46.54 | 8 |
| 2 | Thomson Reuters | $81,670 | $39.26 | 8 |
| 3 | Ernst & Young | $79,601 | $38.27 | 8 |
| 4 | United Nations | $74,172 | $35.66 | 8 |
| 5 | AXA | $68,114 | $32.75 | 10 |
| 6 | T. Rowe Price | $59,502 | $28.61 | 7 |
| 7 | Bowne & Co | $54,835 | $26.36 | 25 |
| 8 | Arnold Motor Supply | $53,800 | $25.87 | 28 |
| 9 | Workiva | $52,939 | $25.45 | 8 |
| 10 | Pearson | $49,003 | $23.56 | 9 |
Proofreader Videos
