Careers / Proofreaders and Copy Markers
Proofreaders and Copy Markers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$51,120
United States, 2025
Employment
4,580
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.
- O*NET code
- 43-9081.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- Mark copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks.
- Read corrected copies or proofs to ensure that all corrections have been made.
- Correct or record omissions, errors, or inconsistencies found.
- Compare information or figures on one record against same data on other records, or with original copy, to detect errors.
- Route proofs with marked corrections to authors, editors, typists, or typesetters for correction or reprinting.
- Consult reference books or secure aid of readers to check references with rules of grammar and composition.
- Consult with authors and editors regarding manuscript changes and suggestions.
- Archive documents, conduct research, and read copy, using the internet and various computer programs.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$34,510
25th percentile
$41,170
75th percentile
$62,390
90th percentile
$79,290
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Writing3.6
- Speaking3.3
- Active Listening3.1
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Time Management2.8
- Active Learning2.5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.5
- Quality Control Analysis2.4
- Complex Problem Solving2.4
- Coordination2.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 5 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
5
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Writing | 3.6 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Proofreaders and Copy MarkersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $68,120 | 50 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $66,620 | 110 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $59,740 | 970 | 2025 |
| NY | $59,740 | 1,030 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $57,840 | 170 | 2025 |
| CA | $57,490 | 300 | 2025 |
| MA | $57,160 | 190 | 2025 |
| NJ | $56,700 | 160 | 2025 |
| OH | $55,560 | 100 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $55,360 | 120 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $55,320 | 70 | 2025 |
| St. Louis, MO | $55,280 | 70 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $55,020 | 30 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,900 | 130 | 2025 |
| MD | $53,920 | — | 2025 |
| WA | $53,890 | 60 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | $53,020 | — | 2025 |
| MO | $52,920 | 110 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | $52,440 | 40 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $52,250 | — | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Proofreaders and Copy Markers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.