The average wage for a proofreader in the United States is around $20.54 per hour.
Avg Wage
Proofreaders earn an average hourly wage of $20.54.
Salaries typically start from $12.45 per hour and go up to $33.88 per hour.
30% below national average Updated in 2019
Proofreader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$33.88 per hour
$70,461 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$26.72 per hour
$55,588 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$20.54 per hour
$42,714 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$15.78 per hour
$32,822 per year
10th percentile
Starting level proofreader earnings begin at:
$12.45 per hour
$25,893 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Proofreader salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $52,990 |
| Maryland | $49,510 |
| District of Columbia | $49,050 |
| New Jersey | $48,200 |
| Oregon | $47,650 |
| New York | $46,290 |
| Illinois | $45,673 |
| Montana | $44,330 |
| North Carolina | $43,470 |
| Nevada | $43,260 |
| Wisconsin | $42,970 |
| California | $40,740 |
| Massachusetts | $40,610 |
| New Hampshire | $40,150 |
| Utah | $39,680 |
| Louisiana | $38,880 |
| Virginia | $38,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,328 |
| Minnesota | $38,270 |
| South Carolina | $36,960 |
| Kentucky | $36,920 |
| Indiana | $36,884 |
| Michigan | $36,650 |
| Arizona | $35,258 |
| Colorado | $35,090 |
| Missouri | $34,740 |
| Nebraska | $34,480 |
| Texas | $34,070 |
| Tennessee | $34,020 |
| Florida | $33,000 |
| Vermont | $32,860 |
| Kansas | $32,509 |
| Connecticut | $31,410 |
| Arkansas | $30,060 |
| Iowa | $29,867 |
| Maine | $28,920 |
| Idaho | $27,979 |
| Georgia | $27,190 |
| Mississippi | $26,790 |
| Wyoming | $21,350 |
| New Mexico | $19,450 |
How do proofreader salaries compare to similar careers?
Proofreaders earn 13% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than technical writers but more than sports writers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Technical writer salary | $65K |
| Copywriter salary | $54K |
| Editor salary | $54K |
| Author salary | $45K |
| Proofreader salary | $43K |
| Sports writer salary | $25K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)