The average salary for a proofreader in the United States is around $51,120 per year.
Avg Salary
Proofreaders earn an average yearly salary of $51,120.
Wages typically start from $34,510 and go up to $79,290.
22% below national average Updated in 2025
Proofreader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$38.12 per hour
$79,290 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$29.99 per hour
$62,390 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$24.58 per hour
$51,120 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level proofreader earnings begin at:
$19.79 per hour
$41,170 per year
10th percentile
Starting level proofreader earnings begin at:
$16.59 per hour
$34,510 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Proofreader salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,120 |
| New York | $59,740 |
| California | $57,490 |
| Massachusetts | $57,160 |
| New Jersey | $56,700 |
| Ohio | $55,560 |
| Maryland | $53,920 |
| Washington | $53,890 |
| Missouri | $52,920 |
| Kansas | $51,160 |
| Illinois | $50,060 |
| Minnesota | $49,450 |
| Georgia | $49,200 |
| Virginia | $48,090 |
| Oregon | $47,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,510 |
| Kentucky | $46,380 |
| North Carolina | $46,140 |
| Iowa | $44,680 |
| Montana | $44,330 |
| Wisconsin | $43,630 |
| Nevada | $43,260 |
| South Carolina | $42,900 |
| Utah | $42,840 |
| Texas | $41,990 |
| Indiana | $40,920 |
| New Hampshire | $40,150 |
| Louisiana | $38,880 |
| West Virginia | $36,730 |
| Florida | $35,610 |
| Michigan | $35,530 |
| Arizona | $35,258 |
| Colorado | $35,090 |
| Nebraska | $34,480 |
| Tennessee | $34,020 |
| Vermont | $32,860 |
| Connecticut | $31,410 |
| Arkansas | $30,060 |
| 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 29% 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 | $90K |
| Editor salary | $78K |
| Copywriter salary | $77K |
| Television writer salary | $77K |
| Author salary | $77K |
| Proofreader salary | $51K |
| Sports writer salary | $35K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)