Proofreader Job Description Information

Proofreaders review text and graphics for books and periodicals, checking them for spelling, grammar and typos. They can also work in businesses proofing business documents, at colleges and universities, or for advertising and public relations firms.

Duties

• When the original manuscript or copy becomes a proof it is given to the proofreader for review. Proofreaders check to see that the entire document is uniform in its size, fonts and spacing as marked on the copy. They also ensure the accuracy of any page numbers, charts or photos used. Proofreaders use standardized industry-wide symbols to notate these errors. The proofs are then given to any relevant personnel, such as authors or other editors, for perusal. Their notes are included on a master set of proofs, which are again reviewed by the proofreader before the final printing.

Education and Testing

• Most employers want their proofreaders to have a bachelor's degree in the arts. In all instances, an employer will request that a proofreader pass an aptitude test to determine how well they can spot errors.

Salary

• The annual salary for proofreaders varies by industry, responsibility and location. A May 2009 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the annual mean salary range for proofreaders was $29,460 to $46,460.

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Proofreader Salary Information

Your location and the sector in which you work will significantly affect the income you make as a proofreader. For example, newspaper and book publishers employ several thousand proofreaders, but data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that sector pays proofreaders some of the lowest salaries.

 

Function

• Proofreaders check for consistency in print layouts and reference citations. The Society for Editors and Proofreaders describes proofreaders as quality checkers, who compare a proof, or trial print, with the edited copy. They look for page numbers that are out of sequence, incorrect headings, misspellings and other errors. Sometimes proofreaders examine proofs without comparing them with edited copy, which the industry refers to as proofreading “blind.” Proofreaders earned a mean annual salary of $33,550 in 2010, but the top 10 percent of proofreaders earned just over $51,000, according to the BLS. The mean hourly pay for the occupation was around $16 in 2010, and the top 10 percent of proofreaders made nearly $25 per hour.

Employment Levels

• Newspaper and book publishers employ the largest number of proofreaders, BLS data reveals. However, the 4,300 proofreaders who worked in that sector in 2010 earned a salary of about $31,300, which was around $2,250 below the mean salary for the occupation. More than 2,000 proofreaders employed by printing companies and advertising and public relations firms fared better in terms of pay. They earned salaries ranging from about $33,000 to $39,000.

Top-Paying Employers

• Proofreaders who are looking for work may find better-paying jobs outside the traditional publishing industry. For example, the BLS lists physician's offices and insurance agencies among the top-paying sectors for proofreaders. Expect keen competition for jobs in these sectors, because less than 200 proofreaders worked at doctor's offices and insurance agencies in 2010. However, they received salaries ranging from about $42,300 to $46,000, which means some proofreaders in these sectors earned around $12,000 more than the mean pay for the occupation.

Top-Paying States

• Massachusetts, California and New York proofreaders earn some of the highest pay in their field. BLS data show proofreaders’ salaries in those states ranged from about $38,800 to more than $45,000 in 2010. The mean salary in Massachusetts exceeded the other two states at $45,640, but the BLS indicates that just 350 proofreaders worked in Massachusetts in 2010.

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How to Become a Proofreader

The task of proofreading occurs toward the end of the publishing process, just before final publication. Because many eyes have seen the content at this point, a good proofreader must consider this when reviewing the pages, respecting decisions made by previous reviewers about usage and style and making changes only when absolutely necessary. Despite the restraint necessary to be a good proofreader, every writer, no matter how good, has been saved by a proofreader's eagle eye.

1. Earn a college degree. The vast majority of proofreading jobs require a bachelor's degree in English, journalism or publishing. If you intend to proofread content in a specific subject, a degree in that subject would be appropriate.
2. Volunteer to review documents for local organizations to acquire the requisite experience needed in any proofreading job. This direct experience provides an education on its own, helping you identify various writing styles so that you can become familiar with those styles and know what's appropriate and what is not.
3. Enroll in a proofreading certification course that gives accreditation in the type of proofreading you intend to do. For example, EEI Communications (eeicom.com) offers a two-day comprehensive proofreading training program that covers everything from learning proofreading marks to avoiding common proofreading mistakes.
4. Join professional organizations geared toward the publication revision process. Such memberships will provide networking and professional development opportunities in addition to leads to potential clients or employers. For example, the Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders, and Indexers (afepi.ie) and the Society for Technical Communications (stc.org) can keep you up to date on current industry trends and put you in touch with people or organizations seeking proofreading assistance.

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