The average wage for a proofreader in the United States is around $13.69 per hour.
Avg Wage
Proofreaders earn an average hourly wage of $13.69.
Salaries typically start from $8.90 per hour and go up to $21.05 per hour.
54% below national average Updated in 2023
Proofreader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$21.05 per hour
$43,778 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$17.17 per hour
$35,706 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$13.69 per hour
$28,471 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$10.91 per hour
$22,701 per year
10th percentile
Starting level proofreader earnings begin at:
$8.90 per hour
$18,516 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Proofreader salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $60,870 |
| Massachusetts | $59,770 |
| California | $49,920 |
| New York | $48,570 |
| Oregon | $47,650 |
| Maryland | $47,530 |
| New Jersey | $47,530 |
| Minnesota | $47,270 |
| Iowa | $47,260 |
| Connecticut | $46,910 |
| Virginia | $46,060 |
| Montana | $44,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,720 |
| North Carolina | $43,470 |
| Nevada | $43,260 |
| Georgia | $40,310 |
| New Hampshire | $40,150 |
| Utah | $39,680 |
| Indiana | $38,950 |
| Louisiana | $38,880 |
| Washington | $38,340 |
| Wisconsin | $38,280 |
| Illinois | $38,200 |
| Ohio | $38,180 |
| Arizona | $38,000 |
| Colorado | $37,630 |
| Nebraska | $37,470 |
| Michigan | $37,390 |
| Texas | $37,260 |
| Kansas | $37,190 |
| Florida | $36,990 |
| South Carolina | $36,960 |
| West Virginia | $35,690 |
| Vermont | $32,860 |
| Oklahoma | $31,530 |
| Missouri | $30,740 |
| Tennessee | $30,300 |
| Kentucky | $30,020 |
| Arkansas | $29,490 |
| Maine | $28,920 |
| Idaho | $27,979 |
| Mississippi | $26,790 |
| Wyoming | $21,350 |
| New Mexico | $19,450 |
How do proofreader salaries compare to similar careers?
Proofreaders earn 20% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than copywriters but more than writers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Copywriter salary | $54K |
| Journalist salary | $51K |
| Researcher salary | $46K |
| Television writer salary | $36K |
| Editor salary | $32K |
| Proofreader salary | $28K |
| Sports writer salary | $19K |
| Writer salary | $8K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)