Proofreaders and Copy Markers salary in the U.S.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers in the U.S. earn a median of $51,120 a year ($24.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,290 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $54,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for proofreaders and copy markers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| 25th percentile | $41,170 | $19.79 |
| Median | $51,120 | $24.58 |
| 75th percentile | $62,390 | $29.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,290 | $38.12 |
| Average (mean) | $54,800 | $26.35 |
Half of proofreaders and copy markers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,260 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,130 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,966.15 |
| Weekly | $983.08 |
| Hourly | $24.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68,120 | 50 |
| New York | $59,740 | 1,030 |
| California | $57,490 | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $57,160 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $56,700 | 160 |
| Ohio | $55,560 | 100 |
| Maryland | $53,920 | n/a |
| Washington | $53,890 | 60 |
| Missouri | $52,920 | 110 |
| Kansas | $51,160 | 90 |
| Illinois | $50,060 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $49,450 | n/a |
| Georgia | $49,200 | n/a |
| Virginia | $48,090 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,510 | 230 |
| Kentucky | $46,380 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $46,140 | 70 |
| Iowa | $44,680 | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $43,630 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $42,900 | 40 |
| Utah | $42,840 | n/a |
| Texas | $41,990 | 200 |
| Indiana | $40,920 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $36,730 | 50 |
| Florida | $35,610 | 200 |
| Michigan | $35,530 | 140 |
Best-paying metro areas for proofreaders and copy markers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $66,620 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,740 | 970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $57,840 | 170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $55,360 | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $55,320 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $55,280 | 70 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,020 | 30 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $54,900 | 130 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $53,020 | n/a |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $52,440 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $52,250 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $51,970 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,920 | 70 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,370 | 50 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $46,040 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most proofreaders and copy markers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 970 | $59,740 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 260 | $51,970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 170 | $57,840 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 130 | $54,900 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 120 | $55,360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 110 | $66,620 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 70 | $55,320 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 70 | $55,280 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 70 | $49,920 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 60 | $41,600 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 50 | $42,140 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 50 | $48,370 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 40 | $44,160 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 40 | $52,440 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 30 | $46,040 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Office Clerks, General | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Data Entry Keyer | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service | $39,280 | $18.89 |
| Word Processors and Typists | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| Statistical Assistant | $50,330 | $24.20 |
| Desktop Publisher | $55,290 | $26.58 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,500 | $33.41 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,930 | $22.08 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-9081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a proofreaders and copy markers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for proofreaders and copy markers in the U.S. is $51,120 a year, or $24.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid proofreaders and copy markers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of proofreaders and copy markers in the U.S. earn at least $79,290 a year. The top 25% earn $62,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for proofreaders and copy markers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,510 a year, and a quarter of proofreaders and copy markers earn $41,170 or less.
How many proofreaders and copy markers work in the U.S.?
About 4,580 proofreaders and copy markers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.