Proofreader and Copy Marker Salary
Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn a median $51,120 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
What proofreaders and copy markers do
Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.9% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 1,100
- Self-employed
- 26%
Employment of proofreaders and copy markers is projected to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Proofreader and Copy Marker take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,954
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,169
- Medicare (1.45%)$741
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,255
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,510 | $16.59 | $29,909 |
| 25th percentile | $41,170 | $19.79 | $35,260 |
| Median (50th) | $51,120 | $24.58 | $43,255 |
| 75th percentile | $62,390 | $30.00 | $52,310 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,290 | $38.12 | $64,611 |
Proofreader and Copy Marker salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,120 | +6.6% | $53,771 | $44,130 – $103,200 | 50 |
| New York | $59,740 | +9.9% | $47,552 | $39,080 – $97,300 | 1,030 |
| California | $57,490 | −9.9% | $46,127 | $34,320 – $81,500 | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $57,160 | +4.3% | $45,470 | $51,870 – $74,480 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $56,700 | −0.4% | $46,154 | $38,560 – $81,400 | 160 |
| Ohio | $55,560 | +15.3% | $46,077 | $29,670 – $71,980 | 100 |
| Maryland | $53,920 | −1.4% | $43,307 | $42,900 – $65,530 | — |
| Washington | $53,890 | −3.4% | $45,481 | $39,990 – $105,840 | 60 |
| Missouri | $52,920 | +10.9% | $43,151 | $28,600 – $69,850 | 110 |
| Kansas | $51,160 | +8.9% | $41,232 | $24,960 – $67,760 | 90 |
| Illinois | $50,060 | +12.2% | $40,070 | $33,950 – $77,030 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $49,450 | −2.2% | $40,074 | $42,720 – $57,590 | — |
| Georgia | $49,200 | +17.8% | $39,782 | $34,980 – $58,910 | — |
| Virginia | $48,090 | +1.4% | $38,869 | $41,270 – $60,510 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,510 | +4.4% | $38,896 | $38,000 – $82,340 | 230 |
| Kentucky | $46,380 | +9.1% | $37,941 | $41,200 – $72,830 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $46,140 | +0.7% | $37,921 | $36,020 – $56,730 | 70 |
| Iowa | $44,680 | +2.4% | $37,034 | $38,430 – $66,350 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $43,630 | +4.4% | $36,098 | $28,400 – $62,820 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $42,900 | +7.4% | $35,233 | $35,670 – $60,390 | 40 |
| Utah | $42,840 | — | $35,640 | $38,560 – $52,920 | — |
| Texas | $41,990 | −16.0% | $35,919 | $32,010 – $65,460 | 200 |
| Indiana | $40,920 | +3.4% | $33,882 | $36,530 – $51,030 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $36,730 | — | $30,703 | $22,060 – $68,910 | 50 |
| Florida | $35,610 | −4.6% | $30,793 | $33,620 – $119,150 | 200 |
| Michigan | $35,530 | −9.8% | $29,469 | $32,180 – $63,090 | 140 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistical Assistant | $50,330 | Bachelor's degree | -1.8% |
| Word Processor and Typist | $49,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | -34.4% |
| Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk | $49,230 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.9% |
| Desktop Publisher | $55,290 | Associate's degree | -14.5% |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $45,670 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.3% |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,010 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.0% |
| Data Entry Keyer | $41,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -25.5% |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | High school diploma or equivalent | -14.9% |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | -7.2% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,670 | Some college, no degree | -5.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a proofreader and copy marker make?
The national median salary for proofreaders and copy markers is $51,120 a year ($24.58 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,510 and the top 10% earn over $79,290. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays proofreaders and copy markers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $68,120.
How many proofreaders and copy markers are there in the U.S.?
About 4,580 people work as proofreaders and copy markers nationwide.