Proofreader demographics and statistics in the US
Proofreader demographics research summary. Zippia estimates proofreader demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our 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 proofreaders after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,327 proofreaders currently employed in the United States.
- 68.5% of all proofreaders are women, while 31.5% are men.
- The average proofreader age is 46 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of proofreaders is White (76.0%), followed by Black or African American (10.0%), Asian (6.5%) and Hispanic or Latino (3.9%).
- In 2022, women earned 85% of what men earned.
- 18% of all proofreaders are LGBT.
- Proofreaders are 66% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Proofreader demographics by:
Proofreader gender statistics
68.5% of proofreaders are women and 31.5% of proofreaders are men.
- Female, 68.5%
- Male, 31.5%
Proofreader gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 68.5% |
| Male | 31.5% |
Proofreader gender pay gap
Women earn 85¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$58,687
Female income
$49,830
Proofreader gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in proofreader positions over time. Currently, 68.5% of proofreaders are female.
Proofreader gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 26.84% | 73.16% |
| 2011 | 33.88% | 66.12% |
| 2012 | 30.95% | 69.05% |
| 2013 | 44.38% | 55.62% |
| 2014 | 30.55% | 69.45% |
| 2015 | 48.89% | 51.11% |
| 2016 | 46.49% | 53.51% |
| 2017 | 41.15% | 58.85% |
| 2018 | 45.43% | 54.57% |
| 2019 | 40.96% | 59.04% |
| 2020 | 54.32% | 45.68% |
| 2021 | 31.48% | 68.52% |
Proofreader related jobs gender ratio
We compared 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% |
| Proofreader | 31% | 69% |
| 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%
Proofreader demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among proofreaders is White, which makes up 76.0% of all proofreaders. Comparatively, 10.0% of proofreaders are Black or African American and 6.5% of proofreaders are Asian.
- White, 76.0%
- Black or African American, 10.0%
- Asian, 6.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 3.9%
- Unknown, 2.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Proofreader race
| Proofreader race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 76.0% |
| Black or African American | 10.0% |
| Asian | 6.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.9% |
| Unknown | 2.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Proofreader race and ethnicity over time
See how proofreader racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Proofreader race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.63% | 10.58% | 5.96% | 5.02% |
| 2011 | 75.08% | 10.03% | 6.25% | 5.68% |
| 2012 | 79.63% | 8.35% | 4.63% | 5.49% |
| 2013 | 73.49% | 15.14% | 3.89% | 3.51% |
| 2014 | 78.50% | 10.59% | 6.90% | 1.96% |
| 2015 | 77.93% | 8.41% | 5.39% | 4.97% |
| 2016 | 80.38% | 8.23% | 3.42% | 4.79% |
| 2017 | 79.40% | 6.92% | 4.42% | 5.65% |
| 2018 | 80.14% | 6.85% | 6.16% | 3.41% |
| 2019 | 75.22% | 12.03% | 2.75% | 7.02% |
| 2020 | 75.39% | 8.74% | 5.33% | 5.30% |
| 2021 | 75.98% | 10.04% | 6.48% | 3.94% |
Proofreader wage gap by race
According to our data, asian proofreaders have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american proofreaders have the lowest average salary at $56,536.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $57,783 |
| White | $58,407 |
| Black or African American | $56,536 |
| Asian | $63,888 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $57,110 |
Proofreader age breakdown
The average age of proofreaders is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the proofreader population.
Proofreader age breakdown
| Proofreader Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 23% |
| 20-30 years | 15% |
Proofreader educational attainment
The most common degree for proofreaders is bachelor's degree, with 75% of proofreaders earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 10% and master's degree degree at 7%.
- Bachelor's, 75%
- Master's, 10%
- Associate, 7%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Proofreaders by degree level
| Proofreader degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 75% |
| Master's | 10% |
| Associate | 7% |
| High School Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Proofreader jobs you might like
Proofreader wage gap by degree level
According to the data, proofreaders with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $74,246 annually. With a Doctorate degree, proofreaders earn a median annual income of $70,193 compared to $62,021 for proofreaders with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $74,246 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $50,814 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $62,021 |
| Doctorate Degree | $70,193 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,491 |
Proofreader employment statistics
Most proofreaders work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where proofreaders work
Below, you can see the size of companies where proofreaders work.
Proofreader jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 21% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 11% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 28% |
| > 10,000 employees | 22% |
Proofreader jobs by company type
Employees with the proofreader job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most proofreaders prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Proofreader jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 9% |
| Public | 22% |
| Private | 66% |
| Government | 3% |
Proofreader jobs by industry
The most common industries for proofreaders are media, professional and education.
Proofreader industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 18% |
| Professional | 17% |
| Fortune 500 | 8% |
| Retail | 7% |
| Education | 7% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Technology | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Insurance | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Proofreader turnover and employment statistics
Proofreader unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for proofreaders between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Proofreader unemployment rate by year
| Year | 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 proofreader tenure
The average proofreader stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 6,174 proofreaders resumes in Zippia's database.
Proofreader tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 26% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Proofreader LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coder Operator | 4.67% | 29,920 |
| Eligibility Clerk | 5.99% | 66,704 |
| Casual Clerk | 7.17% | 66,486 |
| Claims Service Assistant | 11.18% | 26,950 |
| Record Tabulating Clerk | 11.19% | 66,589 |
| Microfilm Operator | 14.20% | 29,525 |
| Proofreader | 18.38% | - |
Similar proofreader jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Coder Operator | 4.67% | 29,920 |
| Eligibility Clerk | 5.99% | 66,704 |
| Casual Clerk | 7.17% | 66,486 |
| Claims Service Assistant | 11.18% | 26,950 |
| Record Tabulating Clerk | 11.19% | 66,589 |
| Microfilm Operator | 14.20% | 29,525 |
Foreign languages spoken by proofreaders
The most common foreign language among proofreaders is Spanish at 38.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 22.1% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 7.0%.
- Spanish, 38.6%
- French, 22.1%
- Japanese, 7.0%
- German, 5.5%
- Italian, 4.8%
- Other, 22.0%
Proofreader languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 38.6% |
| French | 22.1% |
| Japanese | 7.0% |
| German | 5.5% |
| Italian | 4.8% |
| Other | 22.0% |
