Home / Writing and digital / Editing and proofreading
How much does editing and proofreading really pay?
US editors earn a median $37.46 an hour, and proofreaders $24.58. Both are projected to decline.
Editing means being paid to improve a text.
What do you need for editing and proofreading?
- Excellent language skillsClients notice every mistake.
- A style guide you knowPublishers expect one.
- Samples or a testShow a before and after.
What editing and proofreading really pays
| Item | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| US median, editors | $37.46 an hour | 2025 figure, or $77,920 a year, for employed staff |
| Job outlook | Decline (1% or more) | Projected 2025 to 2035 |
| US median, proofreaders | $24.58 an hour | 2025 figure, or $51,120 a year |
| Freelance rates | No official figure | Set by you and your client |
What it adds up to
| Hours a week | Editors at $37.46 an hour | Proofreaders at $24.58 an hour |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours a week | $374.60 | $245.80 |
| 20 hours a week | $749.20 | $491.60 |
| 40 hours a week | $1,498.40 | $983.20 |
US medians for employed staff, before tax. Freelance rates have no official figure. Our sums on the US figures above: an example, not a promise.
When does editing and proofreading pay you?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Paid out at | Set by your client or platform |
| First money | Set by your client or platform |
What is the catch with editing and proofreading?
- The median is for employed editors.
- A free ‘test edit’ of a full chapter is unpaid work.
How to start with editing and proofreading
- Choose a fieldAcademic, business or fiction.
- Offer a short sampleKeep it to a page.
- Quote per wordThen track your real hourly rate.
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Sources
- O*NET (US Department of Labor): Editors, checked 5 Nov 2026
- O*NET (US Department of Labor): Proofreaders and Copy Markers, checked 5 Nov 2026