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21 Websites Offering Legit Freelance Proofreading Jobs

This content may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. However, I only recommend products or services that I genuinely like and trust.

Want to become a successful proofreader but struggling to find freelance proofreading jobs? 

Finding clients is one of the most stressful parts of being a freelancer, but it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of online proofreading jobs available; you just have to know where to look. 

I’ve compiled a list of proofreading websites that hire proofreaders and editors to work for them. They find the clients; all you have to worry about is doing the work! 

Of course, working for an agency has pros and cons. You don’t have to do as much marketing, but as a result, you may earn a little less once the company has taken its cut. 

Stick around for the FAQ section at the end of this post, where I share some information about starting your own business. 

Table of Contents

Websites That Provide Freelance Proofreading Jobs

1.  scribendi.

Scribendi  is a Canada-based company that hires editors and proofreaders to edit content for its ESL, academic, professional, and student clients. It has both in-house and freelance positions. 

Suitable for beginners?

No. Scribendi requires that you have at least three years of experience in editing, writing, document production, or language teaching.

Do you need a degree?

Yes, you need to have a university degree in a relevant field. 

Special requirements:

You need to have native level English ability. However, the website states that the company hires proofreaders and editors outside the US and Canada. 

Your computer must have Microsoft Word 2010 or higher. 

2.  Proofed Inc.

Proofed offers proofreading, editing, and formatting services to businesses, students, and academics, and promises to return documents within 24 hours. 

Yes. If you don’t have experience yet, you can take its Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader and Becoming an Editor Courses (formerly Proofreading Academy) first. If you graduate with a score of 80% or higher from both courses, you are guaranteed the chance to work with Proofed.

Sign up for a free trial of the Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader course here!

I wrote a review of the Knowdays (formerly Proofreading Academy) Becoming a Proofreader course here.

Yes. Proofed is looking for meticulous, passionate proofreaders with a PhD, master’s, or undergraduate degree from a top university. However, if you complete its course, it will waive this requirement. 

You must upload a copy of your résumé and cover letter to apply for a role with Proofed. 

3.  ProofreadNOW

ProofreadNOW’s proofreaders and editors have been proofreading business documents since 1999. Its clients include law firms, marketing agencies, universities, healthcare providers, and more. 

ProofreadNOW is not hiring at present, but you can  sign up for its email list to be notified  when it is hiring. 

No. ProofreadNOW requires that you have five years of experience as a proofreader. 

The website doesn’t specify.  

You must pass a series of tedious and difficult tests before being hired.  

4.  Polished Paper

Polished Paper is a proofreading and editing service for students, businesses, and ESL writers. 

Register here to be considered for a position with Polished Paper. 

Possibly. The website doesn’t specify how many years of experience you need. 

You must pass a 35-question editor test before being hired. 

5.  Reedsy

Reedsy connects authors with proofreaders, editors, designers, and marketers who can help them bring their book to life and publish it. 

With Reedsy, you can set your own rates, and it charges a 10% commission. To apply, you must  sign up for a free Reedsy profile , and once you are accepted, you will be added to the marketplace. 

From what I’ve heard it can be quite difficult to get into Reedsy. I believe you need to have some experience already, but the website doesn’t specify. 

The website doesn’t specify. I think experience is more important to them.  

Not aware of any. 

6.  Domainite

Domainite  offers a range of services like marketing, website design, and direct mailing to its business customers. 

Possibly. The website doesn’t specify how much experience you need to have.

You must complete an  editing sample  before being hired. You must also confirm that you are familiar with using track changes in Microsoft Word. 

7.  Gramlee

Gramlee offers copyediting, grammar check, and proofreading services for students and academics.

You need to  fill out Gramlee’s employment form  to be considered for a proofreading or editing position.  

Possibly. The website doesn’t specify how many years of experience the company requires, but the form does ask how much experience you have.

The website doesn’t specify, but the form does ask if you have a degree.   

8.  Wordvice

Wordvice has been editing academic material and admissions essays for ESL clients since 2013. It has service agreements with many universities, academic societies, medical centers, research institutions, and laboratories.

Apply here to become a freelance editor with Wordvice. 

No. You need to have two years’ professional editing experience. It prefers that you have an educational background or have experience in medicine, engineering, or other biomedical and natural science domain.

Yes. You need to have completed or be enrolled in a graduate degree program.  

You must have native fluency in English. You must also have experience with various formatting styles such as APA, AMA, MLA, and Chicago.

9.  CACTUS

CACTUS  specializes in editing scientific and medical documents for academics. It is known for being a good place to work, consistently ranking among the top 20 on the global list of the Top 100 Companies for Telecommute Jobs (Forbes.com) since 2016.

The website states that “prior editing experience would be great.”

Yes. You need to have a PhD/master’s/bachelor’s degree or expertise in one or more specialized subject areas in physical sciences, engineering, materials sciences, healthcare, life sciences, medicine, and surgery. 

In addition to freelance positions where you can work from anywhere in the world, CACTUS also offers some full-time remote positions for people based in India. You may be asked to take an editing test to secure one of these positions. 

10.  Sibia Proofreading

Sibia Proofreading  was founded by Dona, a Harvard graduate. It offers proofreading and editing services for academics including journal articles, dissertations, theses, essays, etc.

The website doesn’t state how many years of experience you need to have; however, it does mention that its editors have experience editing PhDs. 

Yes. Sibia Proofreading carefully selects talented and experienced editing professionals who have graduated from top-tier universities such as Harvard University.

You need to be a native English speaker. 

11.  ProofreadingServices.com

ProofreadingServices.com  has helped thousands of academics, jobseekers, businesspeople, and authors refine their writing. It has part-time and full-time remote positions available.

It offers competitive pay ranging from US$19 to US$46 per hour depending on turnaround time, with the highest pay for the most urgent deadlines.

The website doesn’t specify. 

You need to complete an online application that includes multiple choice questions and a three to four-sentence writing sample.  

12.  ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal  uses a two-proofreader model whereby all documents must be proofed by two proofreaders to ensure it provides the highest-quality proofreading service. 

No. You need to have a minimum of five years of professional proofreading and editing experience or be working toward a degree.

Yes. If you do not already have a degree, you need to be currently employed by or enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in an accredited United States college or university and have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

You must have experience with several popular writing styles, such as APA, MLA, CMS, AP, and CSE.

13.  Edit24-7

Edit 24-7  specializes in proofreading and light editing for academics, businesses, and writers.

According to the website, Edit 24-7 has an extensive application process. To apply for a position, you need to send a writing sample and either your resume or a description of your relevant experience to [email protected].

14.  EditFast

The   EditFast  platform allows eligible editors and proofreaders to set up a web page where potential clients can reach out to them. Clients can choose which editor they want to work with or have EditFast choose someone.  

EditFast gets 40% of the final project price. 

The website states a requirement for past editing/proofreading experience, but it doesn’t say how many years.  

You need to have a degree from a recognized university. 

You must keep all communications with clients on the EditFast platform. 

15.  Edit911

Edit911  provides book, dissertation, article, and document editing by editors with PhDs.

The website doesn’t specify how many years of experience you need to have, but it does mention that you should have verifiable experience, so I don’t think it is suitable for beginners.  

Yes. You need to have a PhD in English or another writing-intensive discipline. You must also be a published scholar, with demonstrable talent and skills as a writer.

You need to send your résumé and a sample of your writing to Edit911 to be considered for a position.

16.  First Editing

First Editing provides fiction, nonfiction, and academic editing services. 

The website lists  First Editing’s requirements  here.   

It would be advantageous. First Editing is looking for people with a doctorate degree with experience in technical editing, theses, dissertations, research, article submissions, etc.

It also mentions master’s, bachelor’s, specific editing courses, proofreading certification, publishing seminars, etc.

You must be available to work at least 25 hours per week. Living in an international location may be advantageous, especially one that serves a time zone outside of the continental North American market, especially those editors located in the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, or Hawaii.

17.  Cambridge Proofreading LLC

Cambridge Proofreading  was founded in Cambridge, England, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It matches the clients’ documents with editors who have subject-matter expertise. 

The average pay is US$20 to US$25 per hour, paid twice monthly.

The website states that the company’s preferred candidate will have experience in academic editing or publishing, or as university faculty.

Yes. Cambridge Proofreading boasts that all its editors hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, with the majority having master’s or doctoral degrees. 

Expertise in STEM, business, economics, education, and computer science would be advantageous. 

18.  WordsRU

WordsRU   was established in Australia in 2002. It provides a specialist proofreading and editing service to businesses, academics, and writers.

No. You must have at least two years of professional experience as an editor, copyeditor, or proofreader.

Yes. You must hold a master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent professional experience in any academic discipline.

WordsRU is currently in need of qualified editors who are available to work on weekends.

19.  Scribbr

With an office in the Netherlands and a team of over 500 freelancers worldwide,  Scribbr  helps over one million students per month to improve their writing. As a Scribbr proofreader and editor, you would be editing papers, detecting plagiarism, and generating citations. It offers services in ten languages!

On average, Scribbr’s editors edit 1,700 words per hour and earn from €20 to €25 per hour.

No. You must have experience editing academic texts. 

Yes. You must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. 

You must be a native English speaker and be available to work for at least ten hours per week. 

To  become a Scribbr editor , you must pass a rigorous application process including a language quiz and two to five simulation orders. 

20.  Stickler

Stickler  specializes in helping academics get published in a top-tier journal, complete their PhDs, or obtain funding by providing world-class proofreading and copyediting services. 

No. You must have significant experience editing academic texts. 

You must be able to turn work of 14,000 words or less around in two to four working days (more time will be allocated for longer jobs). You must also be familiar with Harvard and APA referencing styles (as a minimum).

21.  Editana

Editana  recruits editors and proofreaders from the world’s top universities to edit academic and nonacademic texts. 

No. You must have relevant proofreading experience to apply.  

The website doesn’t specify, but it does say that they actively recruit from universities, so it’s likely you’ll need to be working toward a degree.  

You will need to fill out an application form, provide a cover letter and résumé, and take an editorial test to be considered for a position. You must also be a native-English speaker. 

FAQs about Freelance Proofreading Jobs

Whew, that was a lot of information to get at one time! You probably have a lot of questions now like

• How do I become a freelance proofreader without a degree or experience?
• Can I start my own business instead of working for proofreading and editing companies?
• How much can I earn per hour as a proofreader?

Keep reading for the answers to those questions. 

How do I become a freelance proofreader without a degree?

You probably noticed that many of the proofreading jobs above require their editors and proofreaders have a degree or even a master’s or PhD! So it is even possible to become a proofreader without a degree?

Yes, you don’t need to have a degree to start your own proofreading business. You can market your business to get your own clients without relying on proofreading companies. 

When you work with proofreading agencies, they keep a percentage of the profits—sometimes even as much as 50%! Getting your own clients means that you get to keep all the money for the project (minus transaction fees). 

Start Your Own Proofreading Business

The first step to starting your own proofreading business is making sure that you have the appropriate skills and resources. 

One course that I have personally taken and can recommend is Proofread Anywhere’s  General Proofreading: Theory and Practice course . It includes lots of worksheets and essays so you can practice your proofreading skills as well as an entire module dedicated to teaching you how to market your business to get clients.

***Proofread Anywhere is 60% off until September 2 with the code LABORDAY60!***

Sign up for a  free Intro to Proofreading workshop  to learn how you can become a proofreader. 

Once you have the appropriate training, you need to gather your resources including a laptop/desktop computer, editing software, and  proofreading books and style guides . 

For more details on starting a proofreading business from home, check out my post about  how to become a proofreader without any experience . 

Can you make money proofreading?

One of the most common questions I get asked about working as a proofreader online is “Can you make money proofreading?” The answer is YES! You won’t become a millionaire by proofreading, but you can make a decent living. 

According to ZipRecruiter, a freelance proofreader in the United States can earn an  average of $51,391 per year  or $22/hour (as at August 11, 2020).

Caitlin Pyle of Proofread Anywhere  earned $43,000 a year as a part-time proofreader!

How much should I charge for proofreading per hour?

How much you can charge for proofreading depends on many factors. If you work for a proofreading agency, it will decide how much you will be paid. However, if you start your own proofreading business, you can set your own rates.

Proofreaders can charge per word, per page, per hour, or per project. It depends on the type of document you’re working on. 

Some editorial associations publish median rates that they have compiled by surveying their members. According to the  Editorial Freelancers Association  (EFA), proofreaders can charge between $0.02 and $0.03 per word or between $40 and $50 per hour for proofreading nonfiction (as of January 2024). 

The  Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders  (CIEP) suggests a minimum hourly rate for proofreading of £29.85, and a minimum hourly rate of £34.70 for copyediting (as of March 2024).  

I cover how much proofreaders make in more detail in this post.

Final Thoughts about Online Proofreading Jobs

I hope this post gave you lots of ideas on how to find freelance proofreading jobs online. 

Don’t forget to check out this  free proofreading class  to find out how to become a proofreader with no experience!

Not sold on proofreading? There are tons of other options out there!  Check out this list of 33 home-based business ideas!

This post may contain affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure for more.

21 Legitimate Proofreading Jobs Sites for Beginners + Tips to Get Started

Allan Borch

Allan Borch is the founder of Dotcom Dollar. With almost 10 years of digital marketing experience, he wants to help entrepreneurs and business owners build and monetize their own successful online business. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter and Youtube. Learn more »

Top 21 Places To Look For Proofreading Jobs

Online proofreading: a lucrative work-from-home job, how much money does a proofreader usually make, becoming a proofreader: what do you need, tools that will come in handy for proofreading jobs, different types of proofreading jobs, pros and cons of being a proofreader, tips on finding proofreading jobs, final words.

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Interested to work as a freelance proofreader? You’d be happy to know that prospective freelance proofreading jobs pay well, even at the lowest end of the spectrum. According to Glassdoor, as of June 2020, the lowest base pay is at $34,000/year and the highest is at $66,000/year. This means the average base pay is at $45,222/year.

Not bad, considering you’ll be working from home, or where you’re most comfortable and productive.

Depending on your skills, you can expect to earn within the range specified. You can also use Payscale , a salary comparison research site, to determine your pay rate based on your location.

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Overall, working remotely as a freelance proofreader comes with benefits, salary-wise. You just need to find a gig that’s legitimate.

There are plenty of remote job websites that you can use to find proofreading jobs. Having a lot of choices can be a good thing, but you will have to vet these choices one by one and create online profiles on websites that you are not even legit.

Fortunately, we took the liberty of listing 20 legitimate online proofreading job websites that are fit for first-time and long-time online jobseekers. If you learn how you can get freelance clients , getting hired for the job would be easier.

Here are some of the best places with a high chance of landing online proofreading jobs for beginners and pros alike:

Fiverr is one of the best websites for any freelancer, including beginner proofreaders. The pay may not match your expectations, but it is a great place to start acquiring experience.

2. Clickworker

If you are looking for quick jobs, Click Worker has a lot of choices. All you need to do is complete a test and gain access to tons of proofreading jobs once you pass.

3. ProofreadingServices

The best thing about Proofreading Services is the flexible schedule of offered jobs and the salary that ranges from $20 to $40 per hour. Although, getting a high rate may be challenging for beginners.

4. SolidGigs

Why waste hours of your billable time looking for jobs when you can sign up for SolidGigs? SolidGigs does the work for you, sending you the best freelance proofreading jobs every week, so you can get back to doing what you do best.

5. FlexJobs

FlexJobs has many proofreading jobs and other positions that require a similar set of skills. This means you can also explore other projects on top of proofreading. Proofreader gigs vary as full-time, part-time, and temporary.

6. Get Editing Jobs

This community of job seekers and clients offer various editing and writing projects. Proofreading jobs may be scarce, but you can try a different keyword to expand your search.

7. LionBridge

LionBridge requires a skills test to get started, but anyone who is naturally good with grammar can pass.

UpWork has tons of proofreading jobs to offer. However, the screening process is the most challenging part. Make sure you buff up your profile to get a better chance to get in. Once you are in, you will need to spend a little amount of money on “connects” to submit proposals.

9. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a legitimate social media platform for freelancers and professionals. The more connections you make, the higher the chance you get to land a legitimate proofreading job.

10. Scribendi

Scribendi is a fast-growing editing and proofreading service who are always constantly searching for the best work-from-home proofreaders.

11. Contena

Joining Contena takes only about five minutes of your time. They offer tons of jobs for freelancers who specialize in writing, editing, and proofreading.

Guru is a great website if you want to market yourself for almost any type of job inside and outside of writing.

13. Wordvice

Wordvice is a great website if you want to take academic writing and proofreading projects. Because of their clients from prestigious universities in the US, you can gain quite a lot of academic editing and proofreading experience.

14. Craigslist

Craigslist has a couple of interesting proofreading job posts, depending on your area.

15. Scribbr

Scribbr has a meticulous screening process, but once you pass, you will gain access to tons of proofreading projects.

16. Cactus Communications

If you are looking to make working remotely a full-time job and your main source of income, Cactus Communications will allow you to choose. However, you might need a college degree for this option.

17. Polished Paper

Polished Paper has a reputation for giving higher pay. However, it is quite challenging to get in, especially if you don’t have enough experience. It includes a test and various levels of screening.

18. EditFast

EditFast allows you to create a profile to market yourself to clients. However, the fee is quite pricey but good enough for building your work experience.

19. ProofreadingPal

This website is the perfect option for students enrolled in college. They usually hire students and professionals with a minimum of 3.5 GPA.

20. Freelancer

Freelancer is similar to sites like Fiverr and Upwork. However, the number of proofreading jobs on this site tend to be fewer.

21. Gramlee

Signing up for Gramlee is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is fill out the application form and wait for a response. It is a great company that offers flexible hours and remote proofreading jobs.

If you reached this point in the article, then it means you decided to give proofreading a shot. So let’s go into the details about freelance proofreading.

What is proofreading exactly?

Proofreaders, from the name itself, read and proofread almost any online content. Whether it is a blog post, marketing copy, social media post, or anything else in between, a proofreader ensures that the specific content or draft is bulletproof and ready for publishing.

Sounds simple, right?

It is simple in theory, but this job does require focus. It is a meticulous job that requires patience, the utmost attention to detail, and a good handle on the English language, including an extensive amount of grammar knowledge.

Although you might be confused with the terms “proofreader” and “editor,” they are two completely different things. A proofreader can be an editor, and an editor can also become a proofreader.

Sometimes, writers become their own proofreaders, depending on the job or client. However, having a different pair of eyes to proofread an article is highly recommended due to what is called writers’ blind spots or a writer’s own errors that they failed to spot.

No matter how good a writer is, there may still be lapses in their work. This is where proofreaders come in to look for those gaps.

When a final draft is ready for polishing and preparing the content for publishing, proofreading comes into play.

Whether it is an essay, a transcript, a marketing ad campaign, or anything else in between, a proofreader’s job is to make sure that there are no typos or grammatical errors.

The proofreader also needs to make sure that the content is written in the preferred style set by the client or company.

With that said, proofreaders are essential in most writing processes. It only means that just like writers, proofreading jobs are also in demand for online blogs, marketing, and most other industries.

What does a Copy Editor Do?

Just to provide a clear distinction, a copy editor comes in earlier in the process of writing and proofing an article. They do the bulk of edits needed to improve a draft beyond typos, punctuation, and grammar.

Copy editors are there to make the content clear and consistent, and then makes notes for revision. It is a whole back and forth process between the writer and the editor before the draft makes its way to the proofreader.

Copy editing requires the same skills as a proofreader, so you will most likely see these two terms linked together when you start your online job search.

Proofreading salaries can range from 30k to 50k annually.

It is so much more than a minimum wage, without the hassle of the commute, waking up early, and more.

Just like any other freelance job, proofreading salaries will be based on the amount of work you put in.

My mindset towards freelancing is kind of like a sole proprietorship, where clients come to you to hire your services, as opposed to the conventional job scheme.

Most proofreaders charge per project, word count, or hourly rate, and a beginner proofreader can charge around $10 per hour. This rate can significantly increase, once you have proven your skills and gained enough experience.

Before looking for any work-from-home jobs, one of the most important skills you need to learn is proper time management above anything else.

You might have the right skills that will fit the proofreading job description but, without the ability to manage your time properly, you won’t be as productive.

With a flexible schedule, procrastination is your worst enemy. When working from home, there can be a lot of distractions such as chores, hobbies, and more.

The best tip I can give you if you end up working remotely is to isolate yourself from all the distractions as much as possible. If you can set up your workstation in an isolated area in the house, such as a separate room, it will help a lot with productivity.

Aside from time management, here are some of the most important skills every proofreader should have or acquire:

• Excellent Vocabulary – Any proofreader should have an extensive vocabulary. You can always learn a new word each day and list them down for future use.
• Top-Notch Grammar Skills – Catching spelling errors may be a part of the job, but it does not stop there. You should also know your subject-verb-agreement rules, proper uses of a comma, and most of all, consistency.
• Advanced Writing Knowledge – Some jobs require a certain degree and a higher level of education. You can always take an e-learning course to land a higher-paying proofreading job.
• Attention to Detail – Proofreaders are like quality assurance personnel. They make sure an article or write-up is error-free before publishing, and to catch all the bugs and errors, you will need to be focused and take your time.

Some clients may prefer speed over quality, but make sure you focus on quality and work on a productive workflow later.

Proofreading doesn’t require a high-end computer similar to what will be required for gaming, music production, or graphic design. Still, you must have a stable and reliable setup.

As an online proofreader, you will be working with a lot of confidential documents. Aside from the computer specs, you also need to ensure a safe and secure working environment.

Here are some tools that will almost always come in handy for online proofreaders:

• Grammarly – This proofreading tool can never beat a human proofreader, but it can help a lot in making your copy air-tight. Plus, you can install it as an extension for most word processing software like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, emails, WordPress, and more.

Aside from Grammarly, there are tons of grammar checking tools you can choose from. Other tools that you will need are:

• The Chicago Manual of Style, AP Stylebook, and Mcgraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook – These books will help you significantly as a professional proofreader. It contains plenty of useful tips for being a more efficient proofreader.
• Google Docs – Most remote teams use Google Docs, Google Sheets, and other apps included in the Google Suite. Why? Because of its excellent collaboration features. Google Docs allows remote teams to work on the same document in real-time without trading emails or direct messages. Plus, it enables project managers to build a system for tracking the progress of the whole team.

Make sure you set up your Google Drive account because you will most likely need it when you become a proofreader.

As a proofreader, you will be required to proofread many forms of content from emails to PDF files to manuscripts. Because there are so many types of content, you can choose to focus on one or two types.

Although there are differences in writing styles, the main goal will always be polishing and freeing an article from grammatical, punctuation, and structure errors.

Here are some examples of content that you may or may not come across as a proofreader:

• Social Media Content
• Court Transcripts
• User Manuals
• Press Releases
• School Tests
• Restaurant Menus
• Medical Transcriptions
• Newsletters
• Legal Transcriptions, and more

Basically, anything you see written online, in newspapers, magazines, or a cereal box most likely went through the eyes of a proofreader.

So, if you are worried about the demand for this line of work, there is enough work out there for proofreaders and editors around the globe.

While there are many advantages to becoming a proofreader, there are drawbacks as well. Before deciding if you are willing to take this route, make sure you weigh out the pros and cons first.

• You get to work remotely
• The flexible schedule allows you to manage your own time and become your own boss
• You can get online proofreading jobs without investment
• You can choose to become a part-time or full-time proofreader
• There is a chance to get proofreading jobs from home even without experience
• Proofreading is a skill that comes naturally to many
• If you want to make it big, you might need to get a degree or undergo formal training
• Deadlines are strict
• Working from home is very different from working in an office, and might take a little getting used to

If you have decided on what kind of proofreading work you want to do, you can do a little quick online search to have a glimpse of what is out there.

With so many options, you are going to need to put the right search term to get more tailored results. Here are some helpful keywords you can type in your search engine, or one of the websites that I will mention later in the article:

• Proofreader
• Academic Editor
• Book Editor
• Online Proofreading Jobs
• Line Editor

Useful Tip: It is possible to find jobs where you least expect it such as social media groups. You can also join freelance groups on Reddit or Facebook to get help and ideas from the community.

Plus, most clients often resort to Facebook groups when hiring freelancers to avoid third-party fees, which has some advantages and disadvantages. When getting jobs outside of these groups, you will be dealing with unverified strangers that may or may not scam you. It is ideal to draft your own contracts for instances like these.

The only advantage, however, is that you can get paid more without the service fees. So, if you decide to take this route, make sure you check out your potential client’s reputation online and ask around within the community.

So, if you have a knack for correcting other people’s mistakes and have a good command of English spelling and grammar, you can become an online proofreader and get paid for it handsomely.

Online proofreading jobs are everywhere, and it is a great place to start your freelancing and independent contractor business.

Just remember to take the job seriously once you get in, and you will never run out of clients or projects.

Becoming a proofreader is more of a business than a job, so the more work you do, the higher you get paid, ultimately leading you to financial freedom.

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Written by Allan Borch

Contributor at millo.co.

Allan Borch is the founder of Dotcom Dollar . With almost 10 years of digital marketing experience, he wants to help entrepreneurs and business owners build and monetize their own successful online business. Connect with him on LinkedIn , Twitter and Youtube .

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31 Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (Up to $35 Per Hour)

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Proofreading Jobs from Home No Experience

Table of Contents

Do you have the skill to correct punctuation and spelling errors?

If yes, then you have what it takes to become an online proofreader with an income potential between $36k-$60k a year.

Online proofreading jobs are in demand, because there is an increase in online content and marketing, which means more job opportunities for proofreaders.

A good number of bloggers and online businesses need help to proofread blogs, books and other digital content. They require a second pair of eyes to check and correct mistakes and edit errors before the article is published and goes live.

There are many online proofreading jobs for beginners who are interested in working either full-time or part-time.

If want to begin online proofreading jobs from home, you will find this to be a flexible work from home option that is not country-specific.

Online Proofreader Job Role

It’s a known fact that businesses and individuals need writing.

Writing covers tons of digital space, from emails to website “About Us” pages to product descriptions to eBooks and more. But what about the rest of the writing process?

Companies don’t just need someone to put pen to paper; they need someone to make sure the writing is clear, clean, and error-free. That’s where proofreaders come in.

Proofreaders make sure that writing is concise and accurate.

It’s great work for a detail-oriented individual who likes a challenge. Knowing what goes into solid proofreading is important, as it lets you earn more and helps you build a stable career.

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is a vital part of editing.

It’s the process of reading through a piece of writing and marking any errors you find so that they can be fixed before publication.

Proofreading is normally one of the last steps before a piece is published, and it’s used to catch smaller errors that might not have been caught in the initial drafts or developmental edits.

Proofreading jobs require you to take a piece of content written by someone (like a blog post or an email) and make it perfect.

It’s the final stage of editing, which involves correcting grammatical errors like misplaced commas and spelling errors.

Proofreaders look for:

• Simple grammar mistakes like improper spelling or punctuation errors.
• Strange sentence structure or word choice which makes the writing hard to read.
• Factual inconsistencies or small plot holes.

Catching and fixing these errors adds polish to pieces and gets them ready for professional publication.

It can make the work appear more authoritative and trustworthy, which is especially important to businesses and individuals looking to be seen as experts on a particular topic.

Here are a few types of online content that require proofreading:

• Blogs/websites
• eBooks, novels
• Email Newsletters
• Online Marketing Material – advertisements and brochures
• Social Media Posts
• Essay editing
• Research papers
• Resumes and cover letters

How Do You Make Money Proofreading?

While some publishing companies will hire in-house proofreaders, most people who make money from proofreading are freelancers.

Freelancers work on a project-by-project basis with a variety of clients; they aren’t full-time employees of a particular agency, and instead, work for themselves.

Getting started as a freelance proofreader is as simple as signing up for a job listing site (or multiple sites) and putting together a proofreading resume, which should focus on your experience and expertise with the English language.

In today’s post we will be taking a look at some proofreading companies that offer online proofreading jobs for beginners.

These sites let companies post listings for individual projects or longer-term contracts that you can apply to work on remotely.

Do You Need Qualifications to Become a Proofreader?

Since proofreading is often done on a freelance basis, there’s no one set of qualifications a proofreader needs to start working in the field.

Findings on Indeed suggest that proofreaders should be proficient in various academic writing styles, as well as familiar with editing software like Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word.

Many employers will administer their own proofreading competency tests to applicants, which on its own is enough to get many entry-level proofreading jobs.

How Do You Become a Proofreader?

If you are good with the red marker and can spot errors easily, you are halfway there.

The next half requires you to learn about the proofreading industry, how to run a proofreading business from home and to land clients.

For that I would recommend you take a look at this online training – Proofread Anywhere . It teaches you everything you need to become a proofreader.

Don’t forget to check out this free online proofreading workshop , so you can learn to use your word skills to make money from home.

How Much Do Online Proofreaders Make Per Hour as a Beginner?

According to Salary.com , the hourly rate for entry-level proofreaders are $20 an hour, the average pay rate is $26 an hour and the highest level of pay is $33 an hour.

So, a proofreader with no experience can still expect to make at least $20 an hour, making it more lucrative than many entry-level jobs.

Read our interview with a stay-at-home mom earning $1,000+/month with Proofread Anywhere’s online training .  

How to Land Entry Level Proofreading Jobs Online

Caitlin Pyle, creator and owner of Proofread Anywhere , has created a comprehensive online training suitable for aspiring proofreaders with no proofreading background or experience.

She has taught over 15,000 students in the last 7 years to become online proofreaders.

If you would like a taster session, feel free to watch Caitlin’s introductory video on proofreading, to see if this is the career  you are interested to pursue.

Proofread Anywhere’s online training teaches:

• How to proofread research papers, blogs and books
• Everything you need to know about proofreading
• How to find potential prospects
• Avoid common mistakes made by beginner proofreaders
• Practical step-by-step lessons
• Everything from basics to marketing!

The training also gives you access to a support team and a student community to help provide guidance and answer question as a new proofreader. 

For proofreaders not knowing where to start, this would be the best way to land entry level proofreading jobs online, with support and assistance to help you along the way.

Check out Cailtin’s free online video workshop to understand how to start and run a proofreading business at home.

31 Legitimate Online Proofreading jobs from home

The first few on the list are entry-level online proofreading jobs, while the options further down are for more experienced proofreaders.

While these are just some places to find remote proofreading jobs, social media and networking can land you more gigs. Joining Facebook blogger groups can help you connect with online business owners – a great way to network and find clients.

Let’s now take a look at these proofreading jobs that you can do either part-time or as a full time career.

1. Click Worker

At Click Worker, you get to work on a freelance basis in content creation, proofreading, editing or app testing. With the freedom to work whenever you like, this can be a flexible work at home job for stay at home moms.

Payments to you are made by PayPal either weekly or monthly.

Upwork is one of the best online platforms to find any type of freelance work, including proofreading jobs. 

They offer both short term and long term projects that can last up to 6 months.

Glancing at Upwork, you will see the pay rate for proofreaders are $16-$30 an hour. Definitely a worth checking out Upwork.

Fiverr is the best place to search for online proofreading jobs for beginners.

While the pay can be on the low scale, this makes a good starting point for entry-level proofreading to find work and experience.

Another freelance job board when you can use their search box to narrow down results for online proofreading jobs.

At Guru, jobs are offered at a fixed price or an hourly rate.

5. We Work Remotely

Offering a number of writing and copyediting jobs, We Work Remotely is another site to keep track, when searching for remote jobs.

6. Lionbridge

Lionbridge offer proofreading jobs online. Most of their job openings have very basic requirements which include a high school diploma.

7. Clear Voice

Clear Voice offers freelance proofreading jobs that hire worldwide.

The type of jobs they have available range from writing to proofreading. You get the opportunity to work as a freelancer, following a flexible work schedule.

Payments are made to you weekly or monthly by PayPal.

8. Polished Paper

To apply for an opportunity with Polished Paper, you will need to submit an application form and upload your resume. And the final stage is a 35 questionnaire editor test.

9. Kirkus Media

They are looking for freelance book reviewers in English and Spanish.

Reviews need to be 350 words and due 2 weeks after the book is assigned. Submit some of your writing samples to increase your chance of being accepted.

10. Babbletype

The criteria for eligibility is that you are a native English speaker with a fluency in English and basic grammar knowledge.

They pay weekly via PayPal and is a great place to start for beginner proofreaders.

11. Proofreadingservices.com

Pay is between $19-$46 an hour and you can apply from any country.

You will need to complete a 20-minute preliminary test to begin the application process. They have both full-time and part-time work opportunities.

12. Get Editing

They offer freelance editing and proofreading jobs.

If you sign up to their email listing, you will receive weekly new job openings in your inbox.

13. Writing Jobz

Writing Jobz offer a wide range of work for writers such as copywriting, essay writing and proofreading.

With over 100 jobs posted daily on a variety of topics, Writing Jobz can be the best place for freelancers to find proofreading work.

14. Ubiqus On Demand

Primarily a job site for transcriptionists, Ubiqus also offer jobs for proofreaders and copywriters.

15. Cambridge Proofreading

They are actively recruiting remote academic editors.

A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement due to the academic nature of the work.

You can expect to be proofreading and editing a wide range of materials but predominantly dissertations and theses from ESL students and academics.

Typical rates of pay are $20-30 per hour, depending on your editing speed.

16. Domainite Editing Jobs

You can apply by filling out an online application form. They require you to edit a sample as part of the application process.

17. Gramlee Jobs

Their website accepts clients that need editing completed within 24 hours. 

This means there is constant work coming in through the door – more opportunity for you. You can submit your application form right here .

18. Edit Fast

Edit Fast offers part-time proofreading jobs from home.

They will send you notifications when there is potential work available from clients, so you need to sign up with them to be notified.

19. English Trackers

They have a job board directory that you can check regularly to see if there is a suitable job vacancy.

You can also sign up with them to get weekly job listings delivered to your inbox.

20. eCorrectors

Whether you are a professional proofreader or a translator, you can apply with eCorrector. Just email them your resume to be eligible.

They occasionally hire proofreaders and freelance editors. Good to check them out to see if they are hiring.

You can choose to work either full time or as a freelance proofreader. If you see a job that doesn’t suit you, subscribe to get email alerts to be notified of new job openings.

They have been on the top 20 list of the best telecommuting jobs by Forbes in 2016.

To apply you need to have a degree in the subjects listed here.  Prior editing experience is not necessary but can be an advantage.

24. ProofreadingPal

They require you to have a minimum of 5 years of work experience and you can earn up to $3,000 a month.

If you are eligible to apply, there is an online independent contractor form that needs to be completed and you should hear back from them within 5-10 business days.

25. Scribbr

Scribbr offers a wide range of essay editing jobs online.

They provide work from home proofreading jobs with a flexible schedule – accept/decline job offers according to your preference.

You will also need to be a native English speaker and be available for work at least 10 hours a week.

If you are interested in editing papers online – try Scribbr.

26. Wordvice

You need to be a qualified and experienced freelance editor to apply.

They don’t specify how many years of experience is needed, although typical work involves editing research articles, thesis, and essays.

27. Sibia Proofreading

Currently not accepting new applications. But be sure to check back to apply.

28. Proofread Now

They require you to have a minimum of 5 years of work experience to apply. You can sign up to their newsletter to be notified of new job openings.

29. Words RU

They are looking for highly qualified proofreaders from any country. They are currently hiring, so you can apply if you meet their requirements.

30. Scribendi

Experience is required for editors and proofreaders to apply.

31. Managed Editing

You will need to have a college degree and at least 5 years of editing experience in order to apply.

How to Find Online Proofreading Jobs?

If you are looking for freelance proofreading jobs on a large platform, here are a couple of places you can find work.

Freelancing is a great way for entry level proofreaders to build a portfolio.

While searching for a job, apart from using online proofreading companies, also browse the internet using keywords such as editing jobs, copy editing jobs, or remote proofreading jobs to broaden your search results.

Job boards:

Job board directories are also great to find new jobs on a regular basis. Because of their massive reach and database, you have more jobs to choose from, with new vacancies added frequently. Here are two of the biggest websites that hire remote workers.

• People Per Hour
• Pro Blogger
• Virtual Vocations

Start your own website

If you want to ride solo and be your own boss, the best thing to do is to  start your own website .

It costs less than $100 a year to have your own site, which you can use to promote your proofreading services.

You can set your own rates, offer discounted pricing and also provide special offers on certain services.

Create a blog section on your website to showcase samples of your work. You can also post reviews of customer satisfaction on your site.

How do you promote your work?

It’s great when you own your business, but the big question is where can you find clients especially if you are just getting started?

• Start a Facebook page and promote it to family and friends. Word of mouth is the best way to get started as a beginner.
• You can share your services on relevant Facebook groups.
• My best option is Pinterest. It can get the word out a lot faster. You can create pin images of your website and direct readers from Pinterest to site. Here is a more detailed post on how you can do this.

Enroll in Caitlin’s FREE proofreading workshop to see if this is the right career for you.

3 simple ways to tell if proofreading is for you..

• Are you good at catching typos and misplaced punctuation ?
• Do you often correct texts on social media?
• Cringe when a restaurant menu has a misspelled word?

Want to explore further?

Use your proofreading skills to branch out into these 4 online editing jobs that are also high paying.

• Transcription – As a transcriber, you will need to convert a set of live or pre-recorded audio files into text. You can put your proofreading skills to use in this career, as it requires you to type out an error-free document.  Transcribers earn up to $45,000 a year.
• Freelance writing  – Every writer needs their content to be proofread, and as a proofreader, you are going to be able to spot errors instantly. You can offer your writing service on freelance websites or on blogs and websites. Highlighting your proofreading skills will land you high paying gigs, and give you higher chances of being accepted.
• Blogging – Start your own website and put your writing skills to use. There are many bloggers making a 6 figure income working from home, blogging.
• Sell a book  – As a proofreader, you will be able to create an error-free book. You can consider this option if you are looking to make a passive income from home. 

Get Paid to Proofread Online

Proofreading for money is a relatively simple field to break into.

As long as you’re able to prove your mastery of the language, give consistent work of high quality, and manage your own schedule, finding proofreading jobs from home is a great way to earn money on your own schedule.

If you are happy to edit papers for money, this is definitely the career to consider.

Online Proofreading Jobs

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Remote editing jobs

Cambridge Proofreading is committed to delivering a high-quality service to each and every one of our clients. We achieve this by delivering thoughtfully edited and meticulously proofread documents, on time. We are always looking for talented and experienced freelance editors who can help us deliver outstanding work to our clients.

Work with the best

Established in Cambridge, England, and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Cambridge Proofreading works with experienced freelance editors from around the globe. We are proud to have edited 201,000+ documents for 77,000+ clients around the world.

Our network of 300+ editing professionals covers the full spectrum of academic subjects. The quality of our contractors is what separates us from other services.

Help writers worldwide

Improve the language and structure of journal manuscripts, academic papers, business communications and more.

Coach clients to become better, more confident writers, and experience the appreciation of happy clients.

Who are our editors?

Our editors come from diverse backgrounds and have a broad range of specialisms, but they’re all talented writers who share a love of editing. They derive great satisfaction from delivering meticulous work and helping writers all over the world achieve their goals.

Most of our editors hold advanced degrees in their fields. They enjoy the freedom that comes with working remotely, choosing their own projects and setting their own schedules.

Perks of working with us

• Edit documents from your own areas of expertise and interest.
• Work from anywhere in the world. Goodbye, commute!
• Retain complete control over your schedule. Work when you want, and only when you want.
• Experience the satisfaction of helping appreciative clients from all over the world.
• Gain access to our resource library and help pages to help develop your skills.
• Focus on editing: we take care of client care and logistics so you can focus on what you love.

Minimum requirements

Most of our clients are students and academics, so we require all of our editors to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and we strongly prefer master’s and doctoral degrees. In addition, you must have:

• an exceptional understanding of the English language
• some prior editing experience
• stable internet access, and
• the ability to consistently meet deadlines.

What we offer

In return for your expertise and hard work, we offer:

• average pay of USD 20–30 per hour, paid twice monthly,
• access to our resource library,
• full control over which orders you accept, and
• flexibility: your schedule remains your own.

Preferred candidates

We give preference to editors who have:

• advanced degrees, and/or
• expertise in STEM, business, computer science, economics and law, and/or
• experience in academic editing or publishing, or as university faculty.

How does it work?

Set your own schedule.

• You remain in charge of your schedule and retain full control over which jobs you choose to accept.
• You can set your availability via the calendar in your user area and block out periods during which you’d prefer not to receive any job proposals.

Receive proposals and complete jobs

• We will email you job proposals containing information about the order, including its topic, word count, and deadline. At the click of a button, you can choose to accept or reject any proposal. You decide which jobs to accept—no explanations needed.
• Through our ‘open markets’, you can also choose from a list of available orders.
• All orders are returned through our portal before being rated by clients. Happy clients translate into more proposals, a growing client base, and a steady flow of work.

Twice-monthly pay

• We settle invoices twice monthly via PayPal (for non-US editors) or direct deposit (for US editors), covering any fees.

Hone your skills

• Use our resource library to polish your editing skills and improve your efficiency.
• Benefit from personalised feedback and guidance from our quality control team.

Looking for new clients? Meet them on Reedsy

Create a free account to receive requests from authors.

Last updated on Nov 02, 2023

How to Become a Proofreader: the Ultimate Beginner's Guide

About linnea gradin.

The editor-in-chief of the Reedsy Freelancer blog, Linnea is a writer and marketer with a degree from the University of Cambridge. Her focus is to provide aspiring editors and book designers with the resources to further their careers.

This article was written in collaboration with professional editors and proofreaders Allister Thompson , Aja Pollock , David Haviland , and Sally Apokedak . 

Proofreaders are keen-eyed professionals who specialize in going over texts to make sure no typos and grammatical mistakes are present before publication. Essentially, if you choose this career path, you'll be reading for a living, and you can do it from your own home, so what's not to like? 

If you’re interested in having a proofreading career, we’ve contacted some of our top professionals here at Reedsy to put together this comprehensive guide on how to become a proofreader in six steps:

1. Understand the proofreading job description

2. identify what proofreading services you want to offer, 3. take a proofreading course, 4. develop a strong command of style guides, 5. search for freelance proofreading jobs, 6. network and keep building your business portfolio.

Let's take a closer look.

What does a proofreader do? A proofreader does the final check of a piece of text to catch any remaining grammar and punctuation mistakes, spelling errors, or formatting issues before it reaches the eyes of the public, after the author has adjusted the structure based on a developmental editor's feedback and the polished the language based on a copy edit. Their services make news articles, essays, books, website copy, or any other type of text error-free and ready for publication.

More specifically, proofreaders are often freelancers, and they carefully read documents from many types of clients (authors, publishers, businesses, and so on) to double-check for:

• Typographical errors
• Inconsistencies in style or layout
• Awkward page and word breaks
• Missing punctuation and spelling mistakes
• Any other issues that might spoil the reading experience.

Top tip: to keep track of all creative decisions such as alternative spellings of names and places or italics for thoughts, proofreaders often use customized style sheets. You can read more about how to use a style sheet and download two free templates here .

FREE RESOURCE

Editorial Style Sheet Templates

Set up a sleek and easy-to-use style to keep track of all your creative decisions.

While some authors may be tempted to skip over proofreading to save time and money, proofreading is an integral part of making any text look spot-on and professional. “A proofreader is the ‘last line of defense’ between a book that looks professional and one that is obviously amateur and sloppy,” says Allister Thompson , a proofreader with over 25 years of experience. “So a proofreader actually has a lot of responsibility in the publishing process.”

Proofreaders vs copy editors

An important distinction to make is that between copy editors and proofreaders: as opposed to copy editors, proofreaders are not necessarily concerned with the quality of the sentence on a subjective level, but how well it adheres to grammar conventions and the logic of the text. That means that a proofreader will not go into a text and make suggestions for better ways to phrase things, so long as there are no objective spelling errors, missing punctuations, or formatting issues, for example. 

Below is a table that clarifies the different steps of the editorial process. This applies best to books — in article or copywriting you may have content editing followed directly by proofreading, for instance.

Emphasizing the difference between copy editing and proofreading, Aja Pollock , a freelance editor for Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Macmillan, says that “probably the main piece of advice I'd give to new proofreaders is that proofreading is not copyediting. Your job as a proofreader, aside from catching outright errors, is to back up the copy editor and make sure the style they've established is applied consistently, as stated in the style sheet.” 

“If it’s clear and consistent,” she continues, “don’t change it without checking with whoever hired you.” Unauthorized and unnecessary corrections at the proofreading stage can set the whole production schedule back and cause further issues down the line, so “as a proofreader, you need to develop a sense of when to stay in your lane.”

🎓 What qualifications do you need to become a proofreader?

While you don’t necessarily need any specific formal qualifications to become a proofreader, you do need to demonstrate somehow that you have the skills for the job. Most proofreaders will hold bachelor’s degrees in fields like English or Journalism and, most importantly, must have a strong command of language and grammar. To that, Allister Thompson adds that a skilled proofreader must be able to focus for long periods of time: 

“A distracted proofreader is a bad one. The eye always wants to skip over text, especially when you're pressed for time. You can't do that.” 

David Haviland corroborates this statement:

“Proofreading is all about focus and attention to detail. Many of the issues that a proofreader identifies are ones that most educated people would spot, if they were paying attention. But maintaining this kind of focus on every line over the course of an entire manuscript, and then doing the same thing day after day, is an acquired skill.”

Further, you should be able to spot typographical or design errors, as you might be working with laid-out book files and not just text documents.

Having a university degree or special qualifications in the form of certifications, though not strictly required, can be helpful in showcasing that you have the skills and techniques clients expect proofreaders to have, and help you stand out during the job application process.

With that said, you can study in other fields as well, especially if you want to work as a proofreader for technical or academic content. This makes the job quite accessible to students, freelance writers, and just about anyone with a sharp eye and love for wordsmithing . You can also opt for vocational training programs that specifically teach proofreading, and which come with certifications. 

💰 How much do proofreaders make?

According to ZipRecruiter, professional proofreaders make around $23 per hour on average. As of 2023, that means the average salary of proofreaders is around $47k per year. 

That being said, proofreaders with more experience and expertise — or expertise in niche fields — can command even higher fees, with top professionals making between $30-$35 an hour. Professional proofreaders on Reedsy, for instance, can make anywhere between $600–$1,000 working on a book, depending on the book’s genre and length. 

FIND CLIENTS

Grow your business on Reedsy

Submit your application to join our curated network and connect with clients.

If you like the job description and the money sounds good, the next step towards becoming a proofreader is to pick your niche, i.e. what type of texts and industries you would like to work with.

Since media content is everywhere nowadays, you get a lot of choices. You can work with authors on books, with content creators on websites and blog posts, with scholars on academic papers, with reporters on news articles — the list goes on. With the right background, you can even proofread medical texts or court reports. 

Now, as you’re building experience, you can try your hand at a variety of projects, though the key to getting a leg up is to find a specific niche. Each field has their specific requirements in terms of language and format, so it’s simply easier to learn them one at a time. Moreover, your niche is your competitive advantage when applying for proofreading jobs: clients will appreciate expert services more than they do a melange of barely related work experiences.

If you want to work in publishing, it’s even beneficial to narrow your focus down to book genres , since they can require quite different skills. Proofreading a fantasy novel, for instance, may demand sharp attention to details and the mechanics of a fictional language, while proofreading picture books may present technical challenges, notes editor and proofreader Sally Apokedak : 

“If I proof PDFs with illustrations, I take into consideration the design of the book. For instance, maybe the text is centered and paragraphs lack indents. Quote marks can present another problem. So, when possible, I proof the work according to the typesetter's  rules to maintain consistency.”

With this in mind, consider where your expertise and genuine interest lie, and work towards eeking out your presence in your desired niche.

If you do not yet possess the skills and qualifications to land the proofreading jobs you’re applying for, you might want to consider bulking up your resume with a proofreading course. Since there’s more to proofreading than just reading and catching a spelling mistake here and there, (and since real-life experience can be hard to come by) we highly recommend signing up to a proofreading course that can guide you through other duties of the job. This is what Aja Pollock did: 

“I took a proofreading class at NYU, just to get some kind of credential under my belt, and a class taught by someone who knows what they're doing is a great way to learn best practices and conventions for proofreading. Someone who's new to proofreading might not think to check for things like stacks and ladders or make sure the folios and running heads are correct; you should be able to come out of a class with a full checklist of things to look for beyond just typos.”

A course not only gives you a head start on understanding style guides (more on this in a bit) and grammar rules, it also allows you to familiarize yourself with editing tools and provides a chance to practice proofreading while getting feedback from veteran professionals. Working together with your course mates while meeting deadlines not only shows that you're a team player, but is also a great way to kick-start your networking efforts; a proofreading course is a great place to meet potential future colleagues and employers, after all. 

Of course, each program offers different things: some might be more tailored to fiction proofreaders, others to legal paperwork; some can offer more theoretical knowledge, others come with a mentorship program. The point is to find a curriculum that provides the best training for your chosen niche. Start your research with our summary of the best proofreading courses in the market right now. 

Beyond the work that a course gives you, here are some other options to hone your proofreading skills:

Practice, practice, practice

They say practice makes perfect, so get going! Make an effort to proofread anywhere and everywhere you go (silently in your head, of course). And don’t stop with correcting grammar and spelling mistakes; think about your punctuation errors and inconsistencies in language as well. 

For more material to work on, offer to proofread a friend’s work for free. Be mindful of the context of each piece — is it a cover letter, an essay, or a website copy? What style guide would it follow? What kind of English is used — British or American? The answers to questions like these will give you the standards which the piece needs to satisfy, which is the basis of your proofreading work, as a competent proofreader knows how to distinguish between objectivity and personal preferences.

Reading texts with these criteria in mind can sharpen your skills. The more you do it, the more competent you’ll be at noticing discrepancies and errors.

Take a proofreading test

Now that you’ve studied up and practiced your proofreading skills, it’s time to test them out! There are tons of tests out there, ranging from multiple-choice quizzes to textual exercises, that are great for gauging your ability to find and recognize key errors and inconsistencies. For some quick tests, check out these sites:

• Freelance Writing
• Editing Tests

As David Haviland says: “One way or another, you need to study the art of writing clearly, stylishly and consistently.” And whether that be through a course or through other avenues, you will have to know how to work with style guides.

Style guides are manuals that provide standard guidelines for the writing and formatting of various documents. If you’re going to become a proofreader, you’re going to want to know them like the back of your hand.

Which style guides you learn, of course, depends on your niche and the types of texts you’ll work with. In many projects, however, the choice will come down to the client so, at the very least, you should acquaint yourself with the following styles:

• Chicago Manual of Style;
• APA Style; and

David Haviland notes that he will always ask his clients what style guides they prefer at the start of a project. If your client doesn’t have a preference, you can refer to whatever style guide you feel most comfortable working with.

“It's handy to have a style guide like Chicago on hand,” Thompson adds. “Or whatever style guide your client uses. It's also handy to have a style sheet for a particular project, so copy editors can be encouraged to make those to explain spellings and style choices in the book.”

“I use the Chicago Manual of Style and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (online edition), as well as the house style sheet if I'm working for a publisher who has one,” Aja Pollock says. “When you start out, you may need to consult these a lot until you learn the fundamental style conventions and M-W spelling. That can slow things down when you're new to proofreading, but it's part of the learning process.”

If your niche is academic or scholarly in nature, you might also want to consider learning MLA and Turabian Style. Knowing these style guides will help you maintain objectivity and follow consistent rules whenever you’re editing a manuscript.

You can find the handbooks to these styles (which are essential resources  for editorial professionals) in libraries or on the internet. Having the one you're following on hand is always a plus, even when you become an experienced proofreader!

Once you’re all trained up in the proofreading department, you’re ready for your job search. But first, a word of warning: beginners in any editorial field will have less access to quality projects in their desired specialty or genre. Do take smaller proofreading roles that come in at the beginning of your career, and always keep your eyes out for opportunities that are adjacent to your chosen specialty. 

If you manage to weather this challenging first stage, you’ll emerge on the other side with the skills and track record to pull you through the rest of your proofreading career. 

“Proofreading suits a particular kind of person who loves language, cares about the fine details, and has a critical mindset. It’s quite difficult to do well, so there will always be work for a proofreader who is professional, reliable and fastidious.” — David Haviland

Since most proofreading services are provided by freelancers — even publishing houses  outsource this task often, to be more economical — you’ll find a lot of proofreading jobs on marketplaces like Reedsy or other freelancer job sites which connect you with a community of writers in need of proofreading services.

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Publishing job boards are also useful platforms to check out. And if you feel like working with a specific publisher or a media company, find and follow their editors on Twitter or LinkedIn. Managing and production editors commission proofreading services all the time — they often post something online when new gigs are available.

💡 Pro-tip: Impress your potential clients with this freelance proposal tempate and this invoice template. 

Setting your rates

In most cases, as you’re a freelancer, you’ll get to set your own proofreading rates. Remember not to undercharge! We recommend thinking about how much you need to cover your living and business costs (think office space and time spent on keeping the books) in order to come up with an absolute minimum, below which you should not accept. 

Experience and exposure is too often used as an excuse to underpay, and you should not accept that, especially if you have nailed down the fundamental skills for the job!

Before you know it, you’ll know plenty of people in the industry and will start finding jobs with ease, perhaps even commanding higher pay. But, don’t forget: keep building your résumé and treat everyone as a potential business partner! Make sure your portfolio is always updated and includes the latest projects relevant to your career goals. 

In other words, focus on presenting pieces that reflect what you want to keep working on and cultivate your professional relationships. So if you want to proofread more fantasy novels, highlight projects that involve other-worldly elements, even if they are review articles or short stories. That way, only the suitable clients will send you a request. Or perhaps you'll know a guy who knows a guy who can hook you up with your next project.

And, Sally Apokedak reminds us, even though proofreading is less concerned with the style and flair of the writing, it’s still an art-form which you can practice and get better at: 

“In all proofing, consistency is king because there is some room for art when proofing. Some of it is science—there is never a time when ‘it's’ will be a possessive pronoun, for instance. But some of it is art—some questions could be punctuated with an exclamation point instead of a question mark, for example. So the key is to make a reasoned choice in the beginning about certain gray areas and then be consistent all the way through to the end.”

Proofreading, just like any other editorial job, will come with its challenges. It’s not uncommon for newcomers to have to deal with low wages, competitive job prospects, and long work hours. But if you put your mind to it and really invest in your craft, then making it as a proofreader will be more than worth it in the long run.

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20 Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (2024 Guide)

by Joanna Kneller

on May 27, 2024

Searching for ways to work from home and considering online proofreading jobs?

It could be a perfect fit if you have an eye for detail and enjoy polishing other writers’ prose.

But how do you get started?

This post has all the answers you need to become a professional proofreader, whether you want to work online, remotely, be an employee, or freelancer — it’s your choice.

Since proofreading is a major part of the writing process, proofreaders are always in demand.

Ready to learn how to become a proofreader, how much proofreading jobs pay, and the top 20 sites for finding legitimate online proofreading jobs?

Great, let’s go!

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is the process of reading and examining a piece of written work to find errors and mark them for correction. A proofreader is generally the last person to read through a document before publication. Proofreaders scour text for errors missed during the editing process.

They look for:

• Improper grammar
• Misspelled words
• Incorrect punctuation
• Inconsistent spellings of words
• Formatting errors
• Incorrect capitalization
• Typesetting issues

Proofreaders work on all kinds of documents for:

• Academic and student clients
• Business and professional clients
• Creative writers, authors, and publishers
• English as a second language (ESL) writers

Now that we have a better understanding of what proofreading entails, let’s see how it compares to editing.

Proofreading vs. Copyediting

It’s easy to confuse proofreading and editing, as the lines between the two are sometimes blurry. However, they are different.

Copy editing involves correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice, inconsistencies, and syntax ( the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences ).

Overall, a copyeditor’s main concern is to ensure their documents are clear, coherent, consistent, and correct. Copy editors often have the responsibility of proofreading, as well.

Proofreading and copyediting do involve some of the same tasks; however, a copy editor is more likely to change the phrasing or structure of a document , while a proofreader is less likely to significantly alter text before it’s published.

In addition, proofreading is considered the final stage of the editing process, so the proofreader can pick up any errors the copy editor may have missed.

The Top 20 Sites for Finding Proofreading Jobs

Before searching for proofreading jobs, consider your interests and what type of documents you’d enjoy proofreading. This will narrow your options and ensure you find suitable jobs.

Some sites listed below include job boards with search bars. Here’s a short list of search terms to start with:

• Remote proofreading jobs
• Freelance proofreading jobs
• Proofreader
• Copyediting
• Editing jobs

Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects buyers and sellers while offering high-quality services at every price point, including proofreading services.

It’s different from other marketplaces in this post because buyers seek you out, instead of you bidding or applying for jobs.

Fiverr is a great place to make money as a beginner because it’s totally acceptable to only charge $5 for your services. And as you gain experience, you can increase your prices.

Simply sign up, set up your “Gig,” and offer your services to a worldwide audience.

2. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a job site that offers high-quality remote proofreading jobs (amongst others) for freelancers and employees.

You can easily search jobs by keyword, category, or title.

Rest assured, all job listings are legitimate since FlexJobs takes extra precautions to protect job seekers from scams. That’s why, in order to view full job details, FlexJobs charges a small (satisfaction guaranteed) membership fee.

Don’t hesitate to check their listings first — it may be well worth it!

Gramlee is a copyediting site that also provides proofreading services done by independent contractors who work from home.

Their website says they are always looking for exceptional editors, which could mean you!

Applying is simple: fill out the Gramlee Employment Application, and if they like your application, they’ll contact you.

Upwork is one of the largest online job marketplaces.

Clients post projects and jobs, ranging from entry-level to expert, for freelancers to choose from. This is beneficial for beginners looking to get started.

Sign up for a free account, create your profile, and search for proofreading jobs via the search bar or by selecting the Editing & Proofreading category. Once you find a fun project or remote job, submit a proposal and bid for the job.

Just know that Upwork can be highly competitive, so you may initially need to accept low wages and submit multiple proposals before getting hired.

5. ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal is a proofreading website that offers a variety of professional proofreading services and utilizes a unique two-editor approach, wherein every document is proofread by two skilled proofreaders. This is a benefit for job seekers since it means a higher demand for proofreaders.

ProofreadingPal editors can earn between $500 and $3,000 per month, but you must be enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student (with at least a 3.5 GPA) in an accredited US college/university OR have a graduate degree and five years of experience as a proofreader.

6. Wordvice

Wordvice is a global leader in providing editing and proofreading services to academic, admissions, and business customers.

They offer remote part-time editing and proofreading jobs to freelancers who are enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree program and have some previous editing experience.

To apply, submit an application (include expected pay rate) and resume, complete an editing sample, and then wait for notification of results.

7. American Journal Experts

American Journal Experts is a team of former academics and publishing professionals who provide manuscript preparation services.

Current proofreader job openings and available freelance job opportunities are listed on the Careers page (scroll down to view contractor opportunities).

American Journal Experts is currently looking to hire independent contractors who are affiliated with specific US research institutions.

8. Domainite

Domainite is a platform that provides marketing services to business owners, including website design, social media marketing, and reputation management.

Before applying to proofread for Domainite, be aware that they may offer low pay. However, if you’re brand new to proofreading, this could be a good opportunity to gain some experience.

The application process is simple: Fill out the short Freelance Editing Job Hire Form and edit the sample text provided.

9. EditFast

EditFast is a platform where freelancers and clients connect to provide and receive services, including editing and proofreading.

Freelancers create their own Web pages (profiles) to promote their skills and talents for clients to view. Clients can either select a freelancer or submit their documents for EditFast to assign an appropriate freelancer for their project.

Complete the registration process to get started, and once EditFast approves your information, your Web page will be activated.

To be hired, EditFast requires a degree from a recognized university and past proofreading experience.

EditFast receives 40% of the project price.

10. ProofreadingServices.com

ProofreadingServices.com provides proofreading, translation, publishing, and professional services.

When you work with them, you’ll proofread “just about everything under the sun” and have access to part-time and full-time online proofreading jobs that pay between $19 and $46 per hour, depending on turnaround time.

To be considered for hire, you’ll need to successfully complete a 20-question proofreading test within 20 minutes and score 95% or above on it.

11. Scribbr

Scribbr provides academic proofreading and editing services to help students earn their degrees.

They look for editors with a passion for language and a bachelor’s degree.

For an editor role, you’ll need to pass Scribbr’s quiz and have your resume reviewed to determine if you’re a good fit. Next, complete an editing assignment, and if you pass, you’ll be invited to join Scribbr Academy to receive training.

After successfully completing two to five simulation orders, you’ll be officially welcomed to the Scribbr editor team.

12. Scribe Media

Scribe Media helps authors write, publish, and market their own books, which includes proofreading services. Scribe Media offers full-time careers as well as freelance and part-time roles.

Full-time employees enjoy plenty of time off, flexible hours, the option to work from home, as well as health and financial benefits.

Check Scribe Media’s “Careers” page for a list of available full-time and freelance opportunities. If there are no open proofreading jobs, simply join the Careers List to receive notification of new roles.

13. Scribendi

Scribendi provides editing and proofreading services to a variety of clients, including those in business, academia, and publishing fields.

They hire both freelancers and in-house employees for editor/proofreader positions.

Freelancers make their own schedules, choose interesting assignments, and interact with in-house staff and other freelancers via an online forum.

Scribendi looks for experienced proofreaders and editors with a bachelor’s degree or higher who are also native-level English speakers (since much of their work is from ESL students and clients).

Simply click on the “Apply Now” button on Scribendi’s Jobs page.

14. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an online business platform for professional networking where you can connect with other professionals to either market your services or find employment.

Open an account, create your profile, and start connecting with everyone you know .

Search for online proofreading jobs by clicking on the “Jobs” icon. When using the search bar, click on the “City, state, or zip code” bar and select “Remote” from the dropdown menu.

If you plan to offer freelance proofreading services to those in your network, be sure to indicate on your profile that you’re providing these services.

15. Polished Paper

Polished Paper offers “world-class” proofreading and editing services to business, academic, personal, author, and ESL clients.

They look for exceptional editors with diverse educational backgrounds, experiences, and skills.

To apply, register for a user account, upload your resume, and take a 35-question editor test. The good news is that Polished Paper encourages the use of outside resources to help you complete this test.

16. Freelancer

Freelancer is an online marketplace that connects employers and freelancers worldwide.

Employers post projects, receive bids from freelancers, and select the best freelancer to complete the job.

Set up your profile and browse proofreading jobs (you can save job searches and get notified when relevant new jobs are posted).

Once you find a job opportunity, write your best pitch , get hired, and deliver high-quality work.

Guru is a platform where freelancers and employers work together.

Employers post a variety of jobs for freelancers to browse and to submit quotes for.

You can easily find proofreading jobs by either selecting the Editing & Proofreading subcategory (under the Writing & Translation category) or by simply entering relevant terms into the search bar.

Sign up on the website, build your profile, view job listings, and submit quotes for proofreading jobs.

Employers evaluate all quotes and choose the best freelancer for the job.

18. Clickworker

Clickworker is an online platform that hires independent contractors called Clickworkers to perform small tasks for clients.

Clickworker takes large, complex jobs and breaks them down into microtasks that include proofreading and copyediting. These tiny tasks are then completed by Clickworkers on a piece-rate basis.

To become a freelance Clickworker, simply sign up on the website, create a user profile, complete some assessments, and then get to work.

19. Get Editing Jobs

Get Editing Jobs is an online community of job seekers and employers that includes a job directory with writing, editing, and proofreading positions.

To find a list of proofreading jobs, start with search terms like “proofreader,” “proofreading,” and “editor.”

It may also be beneficial to create a job seeker account so you can manage your resume, create custom alerts, and receive job notifications.

20. Lionbridge

Lionbridge is a global communications platform with a community of talented, remote workers who help customers with their content.

They outsource various tasks to their workers and often have online proofreading jobs available.

If no proofreading jobs are listed, be sure to join the community , register for proofreading tasks, and take the relevant evaluation tests. Lionbridge will then contact you when proofreading work is available.

How Much Do Proofreading Jobs Pay?

Can you make decent money proofreading?

Salary.com reports that, as of March 29, 2021, the average proofreader salary in the United States was $53,226, with ranges typically falling between $46,709 and $60,779, depending on education, certifications, skills, and number of years in the profession.

For hourly rates, as of April 4, 2021, Payscale.com reports the average proofreader hourly pay to be $18.53, with individual pay ranging from $11.84 to $30.17.

These numbers are likely for full-time proofreading jobs.

When it comes to freelance work, it’s possible to be paid per word, per page, per project, or by the hour. And, as a freelancer, you have the ability to set your own rates .

According to the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), freelance proofreaders can charge between $31 and $45 per hour, OR between $0.02 and $0.039 per word, depending on experience level and type of proofreading job.

This gives you an idea of what to expect, but ultimately your pay depends on your experience and skills, who you’re working for, and how you’re being paid.

Let’s look at the skills and qualifications needed to be a proofreader.

Proofreader Skills & Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in English or a related field is sometimes required, but it’s not necessary to find proofreading work.

Prior proofreading experience may also be required.

If you’re a beginner proofreader, think about your schooling or past employment. For example, did you do any academic editing while attending college?

Or, how about friends and family? Did you ever proofread correspondence, resumes, or creative writing for them?

Include these experiences in your application or resume.

You’ll also need these proofreading skills:

• Strong language skills to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Attention to detail  to spot small errors and inconsistencies, which also requires patience and concentration.
• Communication skills to work directly with clients and be able to understand and follow instructions.
• Ability to meet deadlines to submit completed work within specific turnaround times.
• Computer skills  to learn formatting, use software, and utilize the Internet.

You should also become familiar with style guides, like The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and The Associated Press Stylebook (AP).

How to Become a Proofreader

If you have a natural tendency for finding errors and noticing inconsistencies while reading, this is a great start. And if you enjoyed English class and scored well, this is good too.

But if you have no prior proofreading experience, it would serve you well to get some training before applying for jobs.

While you don’t necessarily need a college degree, it’d be wise to brush up on those skills you learned in English class.

A multitude of online training courses are available, and most are reasonably priced. A simple Google search for “online proofreading courses” will provide a list of high-quality options.

Two popular courses are Proofread Anywhere ’s General Proofreading and Proofreading Academy ’s Becoming a Proofreader.

Another option is Udemy.com , which offers many inexpensive editing and proofreading courses-some as little as $11.99 during sales.

Once you take a course or two, start updating your resume.

As you find jobs, create a portfolio to show prospective employers or clients your work.

Next, let’s find out what tools you’ll need to do proofreading work from home.

What Tools Do You Need for Remote Proofreading Jobs?

Besides a computer and internet access, some other tools are useful for completing remote proofreading jobs.

Microsoft Word may be the most common word processing program used for online proofreading jobs. Newer versions of Word include a “Review” menu with useful features for proofreading and editing, such as Editor, New Comment, Track Changes, and Compare.

Google Docs works with Google Drive. Drive is like a filing cabinet that stores files, while Docs is the word processing program where you open and work on your files/documents. Drive and Docs allow you to share files (and your work) with your employer or client.

Dropbox is similar to Google Drive and can also be used to share files with your employer or client.

Spell-check is a feature included with your word processing program. Use it! However, don’t fully rely on this as it’s incapable of picking up every error due to homophones and context, etc.

Grammarly (affiliate link) scans your work, points out spelling and grammatical errors , and offers options for correction. ProWritingAid (affiliate link) is another great option, and it comes with a 20% discount. But don’t fully depend on Grammarly or other tools — they’ll miss some errors, depending on context, type of document, etc.

Ready to Do Proofreading Jobs from Home?

So you’ve found a way to work from home AND make money doing what you love.

You’ve also learned how to finally go after and get your dream job.

If you’re new to the idea of proofreading, don’t hesitate. Get some training to build your confidence.

Then, update your resume and search the sites above for interesting proofreading jobs.

If you already have education and experience proofreading, then begin by examining which new skills you can either acquire or improve.

Now, get out there and be the best dang proofreader you can be!

Joanna Kneller

The ultimate toolkit for becoming one of the highest-paid writers online. Premium training. Yours for free.

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25 Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (Legitimate Proofreader Jobs)

Is working from home finally becoming a real thing for you?

I’ve been a freelance writer for six years and have talked to many people about working online from home.

While I love freelance writing, there are many other opportunities and services you can offer from home.

One hot service is proofreading jobs. These types of online jobs serve well for those wanting some side income.

If you have a knack for spelling and grammar, then proofreading may be your side hustle!

In my post, I will dive into what proofreading is, how much proofreaders earn, the best sites for legitimate proofreading jobs, and a case study from a student of mine.

What is Proofreading?

You may hear the terms “proofreading” and “editing” thrown around synonymously, but these are two very different things.

Proofreading skills mainly focus on spelling and grammatical errors. Proofreaders are not usually required to rephrase sentences or restructure sections of text.

So when you’re searching around the web for online proofreading jobs, it’s important to know the difference.

Often, job adverts overlap the terms – either looking for both services or misusing the terms.

Proofreaders cover a wide variety of content, including web content, eBooks, white papers, student thesis/essays, and even user manuals.

How To Become A Proofreader

Not many skills are needed to become a proofreader, but you need excellent spelling and grammar skills and a strong command of the language you are proofreading in – native English speaker, for example.

For beginner proofreaders, this is all you need for a remote job. It’s enough to get you working and earning money online!

However, suppose proofreading jobs from home is something you want to pursue as a significant source of income. In that case, you’ll have to rack up a lot of experience or back your skills up with qualifications from a proofreading test.

While you don’t need a degree to become a proofreader, many high-paying sites require one. They tend to seek a degree in a relevant field, such as English and Journalism.

Worry not, though!

If you’re just starting then, this is not something you need to fret over. A lot of freelancing proofreader jobs tend to rely more heavily on experience and testimonials.

So even without formal education, working toward a lucrative life as a freelance proofreader with the right job opportunity is possible.

The point is to market your services online and  network with industry leaders to help you land your first proofreading job.

How Much Do Online Proofreaders Earn?

Like any online freelancing job, you can get what you put into it.

Because proofreading takes less time and effort than other writing jobs, these jobs tend to pay less. However, you can earn good money proofreading from home.

Clients tend to charge per word, page, project, or hourly rate. As a beginner proofreader, you can probably stand to make about $10 per hour.

Again, this depends on how much legwork you put into finding clients and how much time you can focus on building a business.

According to ZipRecruiter , proofreaders earn, on average, $51 305 per year!

For other online proofreading jobs:

• Freelance proofreading job salary: $51,991/yr
• Content proofreading job salary: $59, 265/yr

That’s likely because these income statements are based on those who work full-time, but no matter how many hours you can spare to focus on online proofreading jobs, the earning potential is there.

25 Online Proofreading Jobs

With an impressive earning potential there is, of course, a demand for this service.

It’s not hard to convince content creators that they need a proofreader or freelance editor – anyone who is serious about their writing and publishing it could benefit from one.

When finding online proofreading jobs, you have two options: Applying for jobs or cold-contacting for jobs.

The latter means you reach out to companies with unsolicited offers to proofread for them.

For beginners, however, it may be best to get some experience by drumming up business through job boards or proofreading services.

The following sites and job boards are perfect for beginner proofreaders (and for an experienced proofreader, too) – most require very little experience. They just want to know you have the skills.

Check out these 25 legitimate proofreading jobs online.

Note: A proofreading website would not be a good source for freelance writing jobs.

If you want to land profitable writing jobs, check out my post on the best job boards for freelance writers .

1. Click Worker

Click Worker is an online service that offers project completion to clients by outsourcing micro-tasks to writers, translators, researchers, data processors, and proofreaders.

When it comes to remote proofreading jobs, they are looking for individuals with good language skills and editing abilities.

Once you sign up, you will be required to take a test. After that, you can access available jobs.

The fee per word depends on the quality level expected for the particular job.

Fiverr is possibly one of the best places to begin looking for freelance proofreading jobs. On their site, you can sell your proofreading services, or “gigs”, at whatever rate.

Remember that people often turn to Fiverr for cheap services, so you likely don’t stand to make a lot of money here.

However, it is a great place to get started and rack up some experience!

3. LinkedIn

I have personally found success in using LinkedIn to market my freelance services! It’s an awesome place to find freelance work, including work at home proofreading jobs.

Using LinkedIn to find jobs takes some time – you’ll need to keep trying and applying to different jobs.

But when you do start gaining clients on this platform, you may just find your proofreading career taking off!

4. Get Editing Jobs

Get Editing Jobs is a community of editing job seekers and employers. Here you can find and apply for various editing positions like a copy editor.

This is a big directory of freelancing jobs, so you’re going to see a lot of writing and editing work.

However, if you search for “proofreader,” or “remote proofreader” you’ll see a few available jobs pop up.

UpWork is another great place to start for online proofreading jobs from home with no experience. Just like Get Editing Jobs, UpWork is a freelance marketplace full of job listings.

This work from home platform is a place for people of all levels of experiences and currently has 1455 job listings for proofreaders.

Note: I don’t recommend this for freelance writing jobs .

6. MediaBistro

MediaBistro is a media-related job board that allows you to browse various freelance jobs.

This is another board where you’ll have to do some digging, but the platform allows you to sign up for job alerts if anything related to proofreading becomes available.

7. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is an online job marketplace for freelancers such as proofreaders. If you search “entry level proofreading jobs,” you can find a proofreading gig looking to be filled.

Pro Tip for Job Boards : You don’t need to narrow your job search by location since you can do them from home!

8. Proof Reading Services

Proof Reading Services offer part-time and full-time remote positions, a flexible schedule, and competitive pay .

You can stand to earn between $19 – $46 per hour.

You do have to complete a test to begin the application process.

For more help, here’s my post on finding the right proofreading service for you!

9. Lionbridge

Lionbridge works much like Click Worker by outsourcing various parts of a client’s project to freelancers – especially proofreaders.

You must sign up and take a skills test to get started. You can then begin to receive proofreading tasks.

10. Proofreading Pal

ProofreadingPal hires individuals enrolled in college (with a minimum GPA of 3.5) or experienced graduates.

This is the perfect spot to find at-home proofreading jobs if you want to earn extra money while studying!

11. R3Ciprocity

R3ciprocity is a neat little system based on credits. Contributors proof each other’s work and use earned credit to get their own work proofed.

May seem pointless if you’re looking to make some money, but you can also turn the credits into cash!

Reedsy is a marketplace that connects freelancers with authors and writers. Once you sign up, you can begin receiving requests from clients and responding with quotes.

Plus, with what they call a bit of “data-science-magic,” Reedsy’s system will pair you up with clients who are likely a good fit.

13. OneSpace Freelancers

OneSpace Freelancers is an online platform focused on helping freelancers submit work, receiving feedback and get paid.

This site will post edit and proofreading jobs as they become available.

14. EditFast

EditFast connects freelancers, including proofreaders, with clients. Once you create a profile and resume, client can then check out your samples and choose whether or not to hire you for some copy editing.

There is a potential on this site to make money but EditFast does keep 40% of the total project price.

15. Polished Paper

Polished Paper looks for more experienced proofreaders but offer a higher pay-scale than most sites.

Once you sign up, they will send you a 35 question editor test. FYI, you are allowed (and encouraged) to use outside resources such as formatting guides to complete the test.

Guru is a platform much like Fiverr where you can find individuals looking for anything from proofreaders to translators to crochet patterns (true story!).

You’ll have to do some searching and browsing for part-time proofreader jobs but you’re sure to find something that suits your schedule and level of experience.

17. Writing Jobz

On Writing Jobz , you can apply for proofreading service jobs based on your level of experience as well as your schedule.

They offer proofreading assignments from manuscript content to academic writing.

18. Writer’s Job Shop

Writer’s Job Shop is an online resource for all kinds of freelancers – editors, copy editors and online proofreaders.

They advertise a steady stream of work through their job board. All you have to do is apply for the job you are interested in.

19. Writer’s Relief

Writer’s Relief is a service that helps creative writers get published by proofreading their submissions.

Applying to be a proofreader for Writer’s Relief is easy but they only accept a small number of applicants. Still, it’s worth trying!

20. Domainite

Domainite is a low-paying online proofreader platform but it is a great place for a beginner to gain experience – especially if you are struggling to land clients.

To get started, simply fill out the application form and edit a sample they provide.

21. Wordvice

Wordvice is a platform for all types of content writers, translators and freelance editors. You can always find proofreading jobs here.

Many of their clients are prestigious university and institutions like Stanford University and Columbia University.

22. Freelancer

Freelancer is yet another freelancing job board (noticing a trend here?) but they have jobs in editing and proofreading posted.

Job boards are a great way to drum up some one-off work for various clients, but you never know when one may turn into something long term!

23. Scribe Media

Scribe Media hires individuals as either full-time employees or freelancers.

They don’t always have jobs posted but you can sign up for job alerts when they do.

24. Gramlee

Gramlee states they are looking for editors but the job description seems to better describe proofreaders.

They offer quick turnaround time to clients which means there is always work available. All you have to do is fill out their application form to get started.

25. Start Your Own Business

If worse comes to worse, you can start your own proofreading business. All it takes is a website to get started.

I tend to write a lot about getting into the freelance writing biz – but the information I share is equally valuable if you are looking to start proofreading.

To get started, you’ll need a website that showcases your personality and samples of your work. You’ll also need to know how to market yourself to potential clients.

Taking this route means that you can be even more flexible about the type of clientele you accept the amount of work you take on.

Case Study: How to Find Your First Proofreading Job

Many of my freelance writing students also offer proofreading services and Wendy wanted to share her story of finding her first proofreading opportunity.

If you are struggling to find a proofreader job, check out how Wendy got started.

I took a proofreading course with Art of Proofreading online. But to be frank, the lessons were very basic and didn’t prepare me for what clients needed and wanted. Proofreading is more than catching errant commas and wrong spellings. It is very rules-based and if you want to make a career of it, you need expertise on publication style guides like Chicago or AP.

I found my first client from Upwork. A blogger who hires non-native English speakers to ghostwrite her posts. I was paid $5/1,000 words. Some articles were easy to proofread but some needed complete rewrite. She usually asks me to do the rewrites. That’s when I decided, I like writing more than proofreading.

I found Twitter and LinkedIn to be the best place to network with proofreaders and copy editors. There’s also a huge creative writing community on Twitter to engage with.  Other services to offer: Beta reading If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, people with disability community, you can also offer sensitivity reading 

There are several associations that proofreaders can join. They offer courses, seminars, meetups and free resources. They also host Twitter chats regularly.

Aces: The Society for Editors(@copyeditors) EFA: Editorial Freelancers Association CIEP: Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading Editors Canada

As you can see, your first proofreading job may be low-paying but at least you are getting in the door.

Or, if you are a proofreader, share your wisdom and insight in the comments below.

While I suggest to freelance writers to stay away from content mills and freelance marketplaces like Upwork, it might prove to be a starting point for proofreading and editing jobs.

Ready to Get Started?

These are just 25 of the best places to find proofreading work for beginners. Once you have some proofreading experience under your belt, the possibilities are endless!

You don’t need an advanced education or fancy equipment to get started – just a strong grasp of the English language and soon you can call yourself a professional proofreader.

So what are you waiting for? Your side hustle awaits!

For more online jobs, check out these guides:

• 25 Online Editing Jobs to Make Money
• 25 Transcription Jobs for Beginners

Over to you: Let me know why you’re interested in proofreading as a side gig!

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Leave a reply cancel reply, 50 comments.

17 Best Proofreading Jobs + How to Make Up to $50+/Hour

• Updated: 08/07/24
• Comments: 2

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Proofreading is one of the most important steps in the writing process, yet it is often overlooked by a lot of content creators and bloggers.

A good proofreader can genuinely make all the difference in the quality of a piece of content and take your writing to the next level.

Being such an important part of the writing process, proofreading has become its own entity in the freelance world.

Everyone has heard of freelance writing… but there are a few too many freelancers who don’t realize you can rake in some serious cash with a proofreading business.

Because it’s not just about checking for grammatical errors, misspellings, and punctuation…

A good proofreader can not only check for errors but also check for clarity, conciseness, and the overall flow of your content.

Lucky for you, if you’re interested in being a professional proofreader, there are a number of ways to make money as a freelance proofreader working from home. Many companies and individuals outsource their proofreading needs to freelancers, opening up ample opportunities for those industrious enough to seek them out.

Proofreading jobs can be anything from one-time gigs to recurring jobs — it all just depends on what you’re looking for.

Are you looking for steady cash flows? Maybe a few extra dollars here and there to invest in growing your blogging business or some other venture?

Maybe you want to maximize your income and do a little of both… We get it. There is plenty of money to be made in freelancing , proofreading, and writing in general.

Whether you are working a full-time job and looking to supplement your income or you intend to start your own personal business, we are here to show you how to get started, what to expect, and give you some friendly tips along the way.

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about getting proofreading jobs, including some great resources to find them!

17 Best Companies to Find Proofreading Jobs

Below are the top job sites to find the best proofreading jobs.

Fiverr is a freelance marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of creative services.

Sellers offer a variety of services, including proofreading, logo design, and website development.

Buyers can browse the Fiverr marketplace for creative services, or post a request for a specific service. Fiverr is a great option for freelancers who are looking for proofreading jobs or any other type of freelancing work. The platform is simple to use and there are a variety of services available.

If you are looking for an easy-to-use, intuitive system for freelancing, especially as a beginner, Upwork could be for you.

Similar to Fiverr, Upwork provides simple navigation tools that make it easy for anyone to post their request or offer an existing service in exchange for compensation.

The site might be simple but it has plenty going on under its sleek exterior – you’ll never run out of options here whether you’re starting your first project as a freelancer or you’re a seasoned pro.

3. Linkedln

LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows users to connect with other professionals in their field.

Users can search for jobs, connect with other professionals, and post their resumes on the site.

LinkedIn also offers a number of features for businesses, including advertising and job postings. While this isn’t a site where you can work directly, the connections you make here can be invaluable and your earning potential is capped only by your own skill and what you can negotiate.

4. Flexjobs

FlexJobs is a great site for finding work from home. In addition to editing and proofreading jobs, they also have other sections with remote positions like marketing or customer service as well!

Check out this resource if you’re looking into making some extra money on the side while helping companies meet their goals by using your professional skills in new ways.

Unlike some of the other platforms mentioned in this list, there is a membership fee but at a mere 15 dollars a month, your earnings should far exceed what you’re spending.

5. Lionbridge

Lionbridge is a perfect example of one of the points mentioned earlier: Flexibility.

If you’re looking for an exotic job that will take your creativity and fluency in different languages to the next level, then Lionbridge is just what you need.

With work-from-home jobs available on their platform at any time of day or night (and even on weekends!), there are plenty of opportunities waiting right around every corner!

Not only does this company offer positions across many countries around the world but it also includes ones specifically tailored toward travelers who want a virtual assistant to help them with all sorts of tasks while traveling abroad. 

6. Freelancer

Freelancer is another full-freelance marketplace. Basically, any skill you have here can be converted into extra income.

This encompasses proofreading jobs as well, of course.

Fill out your profile and you are ready to start bidding for jobs. This platform has a very intuitive UI and is easy to use and benefit from.

7. Scribendi

If you have a college degree, Scribendi is a viable option for you.

Keep in mind that you should be able to output 1000 to 1500 words an hour and have roughly 3 years of experience before applying at Scribendi.

With Scribendi, you can make your own schedule and have extremely flexible hours.

Not only that, but the pay on this platform is pretty great. You will be paid once a month via Payoneer, and Editors have reported being paid up to $50 dollars an hour.

Gramlee is a proofreading and copy-editing company.

Proofreaders are hired on a project-by-project basis, and the company offers a variety of services, including copy editing, line editing, and manuscript editing.

Proofreaders are responsible for reviewing documents for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Proofreaders must be able to identify and correct errors in a timely manner.

Gramlee is a great option for freelancers who are looking to get started in the proofreading industry. The platform is simple to use and there are a variety of services available.

9. ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal is another high-earning site to look into if you have a bit of experience.

With Proofreading Pal, you can expect to make anywhere between $500 and $3000 dollars monthly.

The strict, two-person proofreading model is designed to ensure the highest level of accuracy. In order to proofread with ProofreadingPal, you will need to complete a contractor questionnaire, and there is a 5-10 day waiting period.

10. Scribe Writing

Scribe Writing is another company that can help you get started in the proofreading industry.

The platform is simple to use and there are a variety of services available. Proofreaders for this company are responsible for reviewing documents for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

You must be able to identify and correct errors in a timely manner in order to be successful on this platform.

11. Polished Paper

Polished Paper is for those of you that have a significant amount of experience proofreading and are much more confident in their skills.

Consider this the luxury edition of other writing platforms.

This isn’t an all-around freelancing site, this site is honed into everything writing and it shows in the quality of the work they produce and the quality of those they allow to write or proofread for them.

In order to be a proofreader for polished paper, you will need to be able to pass a 35-question test that will assess your skill level.

In return, the rate of pay is higher than with other platforms on this list. This is a great choice for journeyman writers and proofreaders.

12. American Journal Experts

American Journal Experts is a company that offers proofreading and editing services to businesses and individuals.

Proofreading services are available for both academic and business documents, while editing services are available for all types of documents.

Proofreading and editing rates vary depending on the type of document, length, turnaround time, and level of service required.

As an added bonus, If you have an Indeed account (which I would recommend if you plan on entering the freelancing world), American Journal Experts allows you to auto-fill your application using your indeed account.

Guru is yet another freelancing platform that includes proofreading jobs and many others.

It was actually created as an online marketplace where people could buy/sell services related products like language translation and editing; however, over time they’ve expanded into more diverse fields such as graphic design, copywriting, and even social media consultations.

14. Writing Jobz

While the name may spark your innate desire to correct it, it is not a typo.

Writing Jobz is an online marketplace for proofreaders who specialize in different types of editing jobs. You can take on tasks related to academic papers, blog posts, and news articles or books that need extra attention before they’re published.

If you are good enough at proofreading any of these types of assignments — there’s money waiting! As long as the content hasn’t already been scanned by another user first (there are plenty of postings so make sure not to get discouraged!), then you can earn upwards of $11 per page you edit.

Writing Jobz excels partially because it focuses solely on editing, this is not an all-around freelancing site like some of the other sites on this list.

15. Edit 911

Edit 911 is another platform that has a reputation for being a top performer in the field. This platform is for journeymen and above-level writers and proofreaders.

To proofread or edit for Edit 911, you will need to have at the very least an extensive and verifiable history of A-plus professional proofreading. They are very selective, but a very good platform to work for.

16. MediaBistro

MediaBistro is a one-stop-shop for anyone involved in the media.

From design and writing/editing jobs to marketing opportunities, there are plenty of ways you can make money from your proofreading skills.

MediaBistro is great because they give members the opportunity to not only submit their resume to be considered for jobs but also the option to sign up for job alerts so that if any new proofreading jobs come available, they will receive an email notification straight away.

This can save you time AND allow you to get more interviews than ever before (and who doesn’t like those?).

17. Clickworker

Clickworker has an interesting and innovative form of freelancing. Working for Clickworker, you will be expected to complete micro-tasks for their clients.

After signing up for Clickworker, you can log in as an individual contractor.

Once done, you will be able to look at the available jobs, which are generally broken into smaller projects that take less time than a lot of other proofreading jobs around the net.

This is great for a beginner proofreader as you are not likely to encounter anything too daunting.

To become one of these professional Clickworkers, you must first put in tenure as an author on the site and gain experience by completing some text creation jobs. After passing the assessment test you can gain access to a greater range of jobs, including proofreading.

What to Keep in Mind When Applying for Proofreading Jobs

Not everyone is cut out for proofreading. Make sure to keep these things in mind when you’re considering a proofreading job and before you apply.

Take Advantage of the Opportunities Around You

In the freelance game, you want to be as attractive as possible when applying. You want companies to be drawn to you over other applicants. In order to do this, you want to make sure you are taking advantage of any leg-up you can get.

With proofreading jobs, it is important to make sure that you put your best foot forward. This means being professional with all correspondence, being prompt, and having a well-organized portfolio.

It is also important to be personable and make connections with other professionals in your field. The more people you know, the more likely you are to find work.

You can join online communities and groups related to proofreading and freelancing. These groups are often great for finding work, networking, and getting advice from others in the industry.

There are many different ways to make money as a proofreader. The important thing is to find the right fit for you.

Whether that means working for a company, starting your own business, or freelancing, there is an option out there for everyone.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you venture out into the world of professional proofreading.

Proofreading Requires a Keen Eye

Proofreading is an essential step in the writing process, and it is important to have a keen eye for detail if you want to be successful at your proofreading work.

Proofreaders are responsible for checking for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation as well as making sure content is clear and getting across the point the writer hoped it would.

In order to be a successful proofreader, you need to be able to quickly and accurately identify these errors.

Proofreading jobs are not limited to a specific type of content, meaning you need to be able to seamlessly switch between proofreading blog posts to scripts for YouTube channels and even Instagram captions if you want to be truly successful. Proofreaders can work on anything from websites and blog posts to books and articles.

Because there is a wide range of content that proofreaders can work on, it is important to be familiar with different types of writing styles and the format each platform uses before you start looking for jobs.

Proofreading Jobs Can Be Done Online or Offline

Online proofreading jobs are becoming more and more popular, as they offer the flexibility that many people are looking for.

And let’s be honest… SO much writing in today’s world is all online. Do kids even use notebooks in class anymore?

Even proofreading jobs that have been traditionally “in-person” can be taken online with scanners and other technology. That being said, it’s possible that in-person proofreading jobs may require you to travel to the client’s location, so be aware of this upfront.

Proofreading Rates Vary

Now to answer the question that you REALLY came here for… How much money is there to be made with proofreading jobs?

Honestly, it can vary quite a bit — depending on the project, deadline, and client.

Rates for proofreading can range anywhere from $15-$45 per hour, depending on the project, the deadline, and the client. For example, a blog post may only take an hour or two to proofread, while a short book could take 10 hours or more.

A lot of the factors come down to your ratings, your education, and your experience. The more experience and skills you have, the higher your rates will be.

Regardless of your starting rate, proofreading can be a great way to make extra money, supplement your income, or even start your own online business .

But, it is important to know what you are worth as a proofreader before you start taking any and every job out there.

As a proofreader, you will be playing an important role in the writing process, and it is important to not undersell yourself. That being said, if you are an amateur just starting out, asking for top dollar may not yield the best results.

You may want to start with a lower rate to build up your portfolio and get some experience under your belt before raising your rates.

Proofreading is Time-Consuming But Flexible

Proofreading can be a time-consuming task. You have to actually read the content thoroughly, after all.

No skimming here. That’s how you miss errors.

So, it is important to be as efficient as possible when you’re proofreading. This means knowing how to spot errors quickly and accurately.

Proofreaders who are able to proofread quickly and efficiently are often in high demand, as you can imagine. They’re dependable and can handle larger volumes of work.

Naturally, this also translates into more money in your pocket when you can finish proofreading jobs faster.

And while it does take time, you can generally do it on your OWN time.

Proofreading is a great way to make money from home, as it can be done anywhere, at any time. All you really need is a computer and an internet connection.

This makes proofreading jobs ideal for stay-at-home parents, students, and anyone else who is looking for flexible, online work.

Proofreading jobs can be found on a number of different websites, including freelancer websites like Upwork , job boards, and company websites.

Don’t worry, later we’ll go into more detail about how to actually start making money proofreading.

Strong English Language Skills Are Necessary

This one might sound obvious but it’s worth noting because some people do try to get into this kind of work with English as a second or third language.

That’s absolutely great! But just make sure that you have a strong understanding of the English language. People expect a professional level of work here and you will be able to earn more if you have an extensive background in this area.

Of course, you need to learn the basic rules of grammar and punctuation, if you don’t know them already. Once you have a solid foundation in those, you’ll want to start to focus on more specific details such as typos and spelling mistakes.

After doing that, I highly recommend you start practicing clarity and flow.

This just means making sure the piece that you’re reading makes sense and is easy to follow. If it doesn’t, it’s your job to make the necessary changes to make it so.

You can find a ton of free resources online to help you improve your understanding and knowledge of the English language. Resources like YouTube , Khan Academy , and Skillshare are great places to start.

With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to proofread like a pro!

You Need a Dedicated Space

This part cannot be overstated if you want to be successful working from home.

Proofreading can be done from home, but it is important to have a quiet, uninterrupted workspace.

For many people, the dream of working from home is just that: a dream. But for those that are working from home, the reality isn’t always what you think. While there are certainly plenty of advantages to working from home – no commute, no office politics, no need to dress up for work – there are also a few challenges.

As many of you know thanks to the Covid pandemic, this is often easier said than done.

After all, there’s only so much you can accomplish with a toddler crawling around at your feet or a dog barking in your ear. But with a little creativity and some planning, it is possible to create a conducive environment for productive work.

For starters, consider setting up a dedicated workspace in a spare room or garage. If that’s not possible, try to find a quiet corner of your house where you can limit distractions and outside noise.

And finally, don’t be afraid to set boundaries with family and friends . Let them know that even though you’re at home, you’re still working and should not be disturbed.

With a little effort, you can easily create an effective proofreading setup that will allow you to work from home without interruption.

Proofreading Jobs Availability

There are a number of proofreading jobs available online, but you will have to do some research to find the right opportunity for you.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing a proofreading job, including the type of work, the pay, and the hours.

Once you’ve found the perfect opportunity, all you need to do is put in the hard work and dedication to succeed. If you have already prepared yourself by following the steps above, then you should be well on your way to a new career as a proofreader.

Now that we have established a baseline of what to expect when jumping into the world of freelance proofreading, what it will take to be one, and some of the pros and cons of engaging in freelance proofreading, we can now talk about where to begin your freelance journey.

Start your own business!

You’ve got all the skills, why work for someone else?

Once you start your own freelance proofreading business, you can start to see some real money.

There are many things to keep in mind when starting your own business. For example, just because you are going to be your own entity doesn’t mean that other platforms on this list can’t help you. They can help grow your client base, help you meet invaluable contacts, and give you much-needed practice and experience.

While starting your own business is certainly an endeavor that can lead to financial freedom, it won’t be all sunshine all the time.

You will have to find your own clients and manage your time wisely. Taking on more than you can reasonably handle can end up hurting you more than helping you professionally. 

So keep those things in mind if you start your own proofreading business.

Final Thoughts

Proofreading jobs can be a great way to make extra money from home.

It is a very flexible job, and you can work as much or as little as you want. Proofreading can also be done on your own time, which is great for people with other commitments.

You will need some experience in order to find proofreading jobs, but there are many platforms that are willing to give you a chance. Keep in mind that the pay varies depending on the platform, so do your research before choosing one.

With all of this information and the skills you undoubtedly possess, it is time for you to jump into the world of freelance proofreading.

Whether you are just looking to supplement your income or start your own business from the ground up and achieve financial freedom, proofreading can get you there with enough determination and practice.

If you liked this article on proofreading jobs or have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below!

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13 Online Proofreading Jobs That Pay Well

What is Proofreading?

Pros of choosing online proofreading as a career .

• You can work remotely.
• You’re in charge of your own pace and working environment, with no micromanaging supervisor around!
• You are in control of your own schedule and can fit proofreading in around your other commitments.
• You’ll work effortlessly as a proofreader if you have a keen attention to details.
• Taking up as many proofreading assignments as you like is completely up to you 
• There are many earning opportunities for newbies in proofreading.

Cons of Choosing Online Proofreading As A Career 

• Some of the sites aren’t very easy to understand and it might take you some time to figure out available projects.
• High-paying proofreading jobs only come with experience. If you’re a beginner, you’ll have to start relatively small and gain more opportunities in the working world. 
• Proofreading project deadlines are usually strict and if you take up more projects than you can deliver on time, you’ll face negative reviews and lose clients.
• If you get easily distracted while working from home, online proofreading jobs aren’t for you as they need you to be focused and pay attention to the piece you’re working on.

Are Online Proofreaders In Demand?

• According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics , the demand for online proofreaders is growing every year. The businesses on the Internet are always on the rise which leads to more demand for content writers and proofreaders. 
• According to a recruiter.com research , the demand for proofreaders and copy markers is expected to go up with around 3510 new jobs by 2029.

13 Well-Paying Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners

2. ProofreadingServices.com

3. LinkedIn 

4. Polished Paper

5. Wordvice

6. CACTUS Communications

7. Get Editing Jobs

8. Proofreading Pal

9. Managed Editing

10. Book Editing

12. SmartBrief

13. Lionbridge

What Skills Do You Need To Become A Proofreader

• A strong command of the language you’re planning to work with, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• A keen eye for detail and the capacity to concentrate for extended periods of time.
• The ability to work with accuracy and speed.
• Planning, organizing and time management skills are necessary to meet project deadlines.
• Good communication skills to interact with prospective clients and for networking.
• Basic IT skills since you’ll be working from home.
• Familiarity with the methods of production and publishing of books, other printed products, and websites.

How To Prepare For A Proofreading Career?

Proofread your way to success.

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26 Easy Proofreading Jobs Online (NO Experience Needed)

Online proofreading jobs come with many perks — especially for all you grammar snobs out there.

You can work:

✔️ Wherever you want (one of the best jobs for digital nomads ) ✔️ Whenever you want ✔️ As much (or as little) as you want.

And the pay isn’t too shabby either. 

There’s just one problem:

Experience.

Many work-from-home proofreading jobs ask for loads of it, which begs the question…

Is it possible to find proofreading jobs online with no experience?

You bet it is.

Here’s exactly how to do it.

Table of Contents

What is a proofreader?

Who uses proofreaders, is it hard to get proofreading jobs from home with no experience, freelance proofreading vs. freelancing writing: which is better, how to find proofreading jobs online (no experience), 1. polished paper, 2. edit my english, 3. other companies to find entry-level proofreading jobs online (no experience), “recommended” proofreading companies that do not actually hire proofreaders without experience, 2. flexjobs, 3. other job boards to find proofreading jobs for beginners, facebook groups to find proofreading jobs online without experience, how to become a proofreader online, step-by-step, frequently asked questions.

A proofreader is an expert at correcting written language. They’re the ones tearing apart documents in red pen, hunting for mistakes, grammar mishaps, and formatting issues. 

Proofreaders are often confused with copy editors. Proofreaders focus on grammar, spelling, and formatting — the objective stuff. Editors, on the other hand, also scrutinize the structure, flow, and accuracy of the writing.

As a proofreader, you can work as a generalist or specialize in certain niches. 

You might feel like niching down will limit your number of potential clients. But specializing in one area — like medical, legal, or academic papers — can often make it easier to land work. 

Becoming an expert in certain proofreading niches can also lead to higher-paying jobs.

Proofreading is similar to transcription and scoping. Before diving headfirst into the world of proofreading, it’s worth investigating transcriptionist jobs and scopist jobs as well. 

Proofreading is a big deal for companies. If they publish content with errors, they instantly lose credibility with potential customers. 

Because of this, many do not trust software to catch mistakes for them. They want a second set of human eyeballs. 

Some examples of people who hire proofreaders include:

• Authors (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.) 
• Businesses (brand content, manuals, reports, etc.)
• Brands on social media
• Bloggers and content writers
• Marketing companies
• Entrepreneurs writing website copy
• Job seekers writing resumes and cover letters
• Academics publishing studies and research papers

Work-from-home proofreading jobs are flexible and low-stress, but is it really possible to start with no experience?

Of course it is. Every successful proofreader had no experience at one point.

The trick is finding ways to build that experience. The more you have, the easier it gets to find work. 

That said, there is a difference between no experience and no skills. 

To get proofreading jobs, you need to actually know how to proofread. 

That means memorizing spelling and grammar rules like the back of your hand. This is the hardest part. 

But if you learned it once upon a time in elementary school, you can learn it again. 

Just grab an English proofreading book , start studying, and — when you’ve mastered the skills — search for freelance proofreading jobs from home using the strategies below. 

If you want to cut down on the learning curve and start earning faster, you can also take an online proofreading course . 

That said, before paying for anything, it’s a good idea to take this free proofreading class . It’ll help you decide if proofreading is really for you, then show you tricks for attracting your first clients.

I’ve dug through various proofreading courses, so before pulling your wallet, check out my reviews to choose the best one.

• Proofread Anywhere review
• Knowadays review

If you decide proofreading is not for you, don’t fret. There are plenty of awesome freelance job options for beginners . 

If it is for you, here’s everything you need to know. 

How much do proofreaders make an hour?

According to salary data collected by Indeed, the average proofreader in the United States earns roughly $25 per hour (or almost $60,000 per year).

As a proofreading beginner, your rates depend on the quality of your clients and your work speed. 

You’ll likely have to work up to that $25-per-hour rate, but it’s doable. 

The maximum pay for freelance proofreaders is generally less than for freelance writers. 

This is because a good freelance writer is much harder to replace than a good proofreader. 

In a way, proofreading is easier than writing because you don’t have to “create” anything. All you have to do is modify what someone else already created. 

If you’re number one priority is a high income, look into freelance writing. 

I’ve personally made as much as $100/hour (after years of experience), so I can attest to the income potential.

I even made a free course to help you earn your first $1,000 as a freelance writer.

FREE 5-DAY COURSE

Learn the simple step-by-step process I used to easily land my first freelance clients and build a business I can run while traveling the world.

By signing up, you'll also be added to my legendary email list and receive exclusive travel lifesyle tips I don't share anywhere else. 

That said, if the idea of staring at a blank page sounds daunting to you, then writing might not be your jam.

In that case, proofreading is an awesome option — here’s how to find proofreading jobs online.

There’s more than one way to find proofreading jobs online with no experience.

You can either work for a proofreading agency that sends you work and acts as a “middleman” between you and clients. Or you can use job boards and other resources to find and work with clients directly. 

Both options are viable ways to get proofreading jobs from home fast, but let’s start with proofreading agencies. 

Companies that hire proofreaders

If you don’t want to do the grunt work of finding clients on your own, you can join a proofreading company that finds work for you. 

Since you’re essentially working with a middleman, your rates won’t be quite as high. But if you consider the time you save searching for clients (time you’re not paid for), then it may work out in your favor. 

There’s a handful of companies that hire proofreaders with no experience, which makes it a great place to find entry-level proofreading jobs online.

But wait — do you need qualifications to be a proofreader online? 

Some companies may not require previous experience, but they do require a college degree of some sort. (Those are usually the academic proofreading jobs.)

Here’s a list of companies to find proofreading jobs for beginners.

Polished Paper is an awesome company for work-at-home proofreading jobs. They offer proofreading and editing services to clients who need a second set of eyes on:

✔️ Novels ✔️ Blog entries ✔️ Screenplays ✔️ Dissertations ✔️ Journal articles ✔️ Application essays ✔️ Personal statements  ✔️ Business documents ✔️ Resumes/cover letters

Their website doesn’t say anything requiring prior experience. But you will need to pass a 35-question test that shows you know your stuff. 

Edit My English is another online proofreader job that doesn’t require experience.

To proofread for Edit My English, you must be a U.S. citizen and have a degree from a U.S.-based university. 

All editors set their own hours, typically from 10 to 40 hours per week. You earn per page and receive 60% of the client payment. The faster you work, the higher your hourly rate.

There’s a whole slew of proofreading companies that don’t require experience.

To start your job search, check out:

• Kibin . A proofreading company that specializes in academic editing. Kibin needs freelance proofreaders who can offer fast, overnight turnaround times. You must pass a grammar/editing test to be approved. (Note: Kibin mentions that they hire “experienced editors” on their editor’s page, but experience is not mentioned as a requirement on their application page).
• Gramlee . A proofreading company for editing dissertations, copywriting, and other documents. Prior experience is not specified as a requirement.

Many articles online recommend proofreading companies to new proofreaders looking for jobs without experience. 

The problem is, most of the companies they recommend actually DO require experience. Some don’t even offer proofreading services at all!

That’s annoying. And it can end up wasting loads of your time.

To avoid that, here’s a list of recommended proofreading companies that require experience. 

Most of them do not specify how much proofreading experience you need, so feel free to check them out anyway if you have a little experience.

Note: You can save these as potential companies to work for in the future. Just not as your very first job.

• Sibia Proofreading . Proofreading company for fiction manuscripts, job applications, business memos, and doctoral dissertations. 
• Proofreading Pal . Proofreading services for authors, students, businesses, resumes, cover letters, etc.
• Proofreading Services . Proofreading company with 10K+ clients in over 100 countries.
• Edit Fast . Proofreading company for any type of document.
• Words RU . Proofreading company for any type of document. 
• Reedsy . Proofreading for fiction and non-fiction books.
• Wordvice . Proofreading for academic documents written by students, researchers, and business professionals.
• Proofreading.org/Cambridge Proofreading . UK-based company that hires US and UK editors. Purely academic proofreading. Several years of experience is required, plus a college degree and subject matter expertise. 
• Scribbr . Proofreading services for essays, theses, dissertations, etc. Must be a native English speaker with at least a bachelor’s degree, work a minimum of 10 hours a week, and have previous experience proofreading academic texts.
• Scribendi . Proofreading services for academics/students, authors, businesses, and individuals (resumes, cover letters, etc.). 3+ years of experience required in editing, writing, document production, or language-teaching, and an average proofreading speed of 1,000-1,500 words per hour to apply. 
• Quality Proofreading . Proofreading services for students, businesses, and individuals (resumes, cover letters, etc.). Must have an advanced degree from a UK/US institution and 3+ years of proofreading experience.
• Proofread Now . Offers proofreading services in both English and Spanish. “Rigorous” testing is required. 
• Wordy . Hires both editors and proofreaders, but the hiring process is temporarily paused. 

Finally, these companies are commonly recommended to new proofreaders, but in reality, they’re not actually proofreading companies:

• Lifetips. A site where you can share tips and knowledge on various topics.
• Kirkus. A book review company.
• Scribe Media (AKA Book in a Box). A publisher and coach for novelists.
• Babbletype. A translation and transcription service
• Domainite. An editing company (different skill set than proofreading).
• Cactus Global. An editing company (different skill set than proofreading).
• Jobsforeditors.com. An editing company (different skill set than proofreading).

Alrighty, now that we have those time-wasters out of the way, let’s dive into some job boards for proofreaders. 

Job boards to find proofreading jobs from home (no experience) 

Some of these job boards are specific for proofreaders. But most of them are general freelance marketplaces where you can search for proofreading gigs.

On these marketplaces, each job listing has its own specific experience requirements. Some require it; others don’t. Before applying, read each description carefully. 

Upwork is one of the most popular job boards to find online proofreading jobs – or any freelance jobs, for that matter. 

Upwork was originally formed in 2015 after Elance and O-Desk merged. 

Upwork has job postings for nearly every type of freelancing service, including graphic designers, IT specialists, writers, and you guessed it — proofreaders.

Clients post jobs in the marketplace, then freelancers compete against each other to win the job. 

The platform is known to be a bit oversaturated, so you’ll have to decide if Upwork is worth it to you or not. 

It’s full of opportunity, but also competition. Some people have made $10K/mo and even six-figure salaries on Upwork alone. 

Upwork takes a 20% cut of your pay until you make $500. After that, the fee lowers to 10%. 

Flexjobs is a curated job board specifically for remote and flexible online jobs — including proofreading jobs for beginners.

The nice thing about Flexjobs is that all the job postings on Flexjobs are reviewed by editors to catch scams and sketchy-looking ads.

Flexjobs charges a small monthly fee to use the platform, but you can request a refund if you’re not satisfied (like if you don’t find a job). 

That said, you can see all the proofreading job listings for free . Just type it into the search bar. 

Many listings on these job boards require no experience, but some opportunities do require experience.

• Problogger . Writing and editing jobs.
• Fiverr . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• Freelancer . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• LinkedIn . World’s largest business social site where you can connect with potential employers in your industry.
• Remote.co . Remote job listings in many different fields, including proofreading and editing.
• Indeed.com . Job board for all types of jobs, including remote proofreading and editing opportunities.
• Guru . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• People Per Hour . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• MediaBistro . Editing, proofreading, copywriting, graphic design, and other creative jobs.
• WritingJobz . Writing-related job opportunities, including editing and proofreading.
• The Editorial Freelancers Association . Matches businesses with proofreaders, editors, and writers.
• Kelly Services . Job board for a variety of industries, including proofreading and editing positions.
• Virtual Vocations . Job board for specific remote work niches, including editing and proofreading.

Recommended job boards that do not offer proofreading jobs online

Just like with the “proofreading companies” we covered that aren’t actually proofreading companies, there are also job boards that some sites recommend that don’t actually have proofreading jobs. 

• Lionbridge . Translation and interpretation services only.
• Toogit . Job board that does not have proofreading or editing job postings.

Facebook groups are always a great place to find legitimate proofreading jobs online. 

You can either post your offer and wait for opportunities to come your way, or you can search for clients searching for help. 

It’s worth hanging around the following groups to see if you attract some clients:

• Proofreaders Group . Proofreaders trading tips and news, as well as a place where clients come to find proofreading services.
• Beta Reading/Editing/Proofreading . Independent authors, blog writers, and artists post job opportunities for proofreading services.
• Proofreader Needed Today (general proofreaders and editors) . For proofreaders/editors to post their services and writers to post proofreading job opportunities.
• Binders Full of Remote Proofreading and Editing Jobs . A group where members can share proofreading and editing job opportunities.
• Freelance Content Writers, Content Editor, Proofreader & Digital Marketers . Group to offer job opportunities to content writers, digital marketers, editors, and proofreaders.
• Proofreading and Editing Services . Members can either post job opportunities or request them.
• Transcribing, Editing & Proofreading Services. Find or post job opportunities for transcribing, editing, and proofreading.

Remember, the goal isn’t to spam these groups with your services — that won’t fly.

Instead, interact with the group, help people, build relationships, and mention that you are a freelance proofreader. 

Alrighty, now that I’ve firehosed you with information. Let’s revamp how to become a proofreader online, step by step.

• Commit. Take this free course to be 100% sure proofreading is right for you (and learn how to grab your first clients). 
• Master your grammar. Pick up some proofreading books on Amazon or sign up for an online course.
• Build a minimal portfolio. Do a couple free or cheap projects for people in your network, or create sample projects of your own. You can showcase these in a nicely formatted Google doc, or create a simple website. 
• Cast your lines. Treat finding your first clients like a full-time job. Cast your line in all the places mentioned in this guide.

Once you find your first proofreading clients, give them amazing service, then ask for testimonials and referrals.

The bigger you build your portfolio, reputation, and network, the easier it gets to fill your pipeline with work.

Proofreading is a perfect job for students, especially because the rules of grammar are fresh in your mind. Freelance proofreading is also flexible, so you can work around your school schedule. When freelancing, there is no need to share how young you are unless a client asks. 

Proofreading doesn’t require experience, but the more experience you have, the easier it is to find work. Everyone starts somewhere, and the most important thing is having the skills to be a proofreader. Your main goal is to prove to clients that you can complete the job. 

You do not need any special qualifications to be a proofreader, but if you are specialized in certain areas, it may help you find jobs. A proofreading portfolio showcasing your skills can be more convincing to clients than qualifications that they probably have never heard of. 

The key to becoming a skilled proofreader is practice. The more you proofread, the easier it is to spot mistakes. The easier it is to spot mistakes, the faster you finish projects. And the faster you finish projects, the more you can earn per hour.

Mitch is your typical nomadic backpacker. Or at least, he was . But after stopping in Colombia to take “one week” of salsa lessons, his life took a sharp left turn. He met a cute Colombian girl in dance class, fell in love, and got married. Over half a decade has passed since he left his career to travel the world as a digital nomad, and he’s never looked back.

Nowadays, he’s the blogger behind Project Untethered — where he runs an awesome email newsletter and Youtube channel teaching adventure-craved wanderlusters how to escape the rat race, earn money from anywhere, and build an “untethered life”.

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Mitch's Travel Recommendations: Travel Planning Resources - Everything you need to plan your trip on one convenient page. Going Cheap Flights Newsletter - Get flight deals from your airport up to 90% off sent straight to your inbox. Safetywing Insurance - This cheap travel insurance has saved me over $15,000 in medical bills. Booking.com - Book accommodation without adding your credit card (in case you need to cancel). Trusted House Sitters - Take care of pets in exchange for free (sometimes luxury) accommodation. Flexjobs - Find remote jobs without having to sift through crappy ones. Skillshare - Free trial to take unlimited classes that teach digital nomad skills. Wise - Send and receive money abroad cheaply (great for freelancers).

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10 Best Proofreading Jobs Online (Earn $45/hour)

By: Mia Hargrave

June 14, 2023

Proofreading jobs used to be difficult to find, but these days, there are plenty of online jobs for proofreaders. Trust me! I’ve been an online proofreader for over 2 years and have found many proofreading jobs in that time.

Table of Contents

What is Proofreading?

10 best proofreading jobs online, 2. flexjobs, 4. scribendi, 6. proofreading services, 7. proofreading pal, 9. polished paper, 10. edit fast, proofreading vs. editing, how much money can you make as a proofreader, what skills and degrees are required to make money as a proofreader, 5 must-have tools for proofreading jobs, starting your own proofreading business, different types of proofreading jobs, remote vs in-person proofreading jobs, part-time vs full-time proofreading jobs, building a portfolio for proofreading jobs, pros and cons of freelance proofreading jobs, faqs about online proofreading jobs, in conclusion.

I recommend proofreading if you’re looking for a great way to make money online , either to earn a little extra cash from home or transition into the digital nomad lifestyle .

I’ve been proofreading part-time to supplement my income, but many online freelancers make a full-time living from this career.

In this guide to online proofreading jobs, I’ll show you how to get paid to proofread, plus the 10 best proofreading jobs online, where to find them, and how to get guaranteed proofreading work.

Proofreading is when you thoroughly and carefully check a written text for any errors, whether that be issues with spelling, punctuation, grammar, consistency, or formatting.

People with proper proofreading skills will be able to easily identify these errors and fix them.

This is the final stage of the writing process and is extremely important.

Since proofreading is an essential step for all important pieces of writing, you can find a wide variety of proofreading job postings, including admissions essays, academic papers up for publication, résumés, business documents, and emails.

While it can be tough finding proofreading job postings that will hire you with no experience, there are many ways to find work, from applying to websites that specialize in proofreading to joining huge platforms and marketplaces that offer freelance proofreading services.

If you take (and pass) the Knowadays proofreading course , you’ll get guaranteed work, which is great when you’re looking for beginner proofreading jobs. Use promo code GOATS10 at checkout for 10% off the course.

Get paid to proofread with these 10 legitimate proofreading jobs online:

Upwork is not only one of the best websites to find entry-level proofreading jobs, but it’s one of the largest websites for freelancers in general and a good place to find the best online proofreading jobs.

With an abundance of freelance job listings, editing jobs, and businesses looking for editing and proofreading services, Upwork is a great way to find work from home.

The platform is also very easy to navigate and user-friendly, and it’ll be fairly easy to find proofreading jobs you can do from home with no experience.

However, there are disadvantages to using Upwork. Primarily, it’ll be hard to get decent pay, as there are endless amounts of freelancers willing to be paid pennies for their work. So, you’ll probably have to undersell yourself to outbid other proofreaders.

Additionally, Upwork charges a 20% service charge.

Overall, Upwork is perfect for beginner proofreaders looking to gain experience, but the pay will be on the lower end.

Nevertheless, it’s a great place to launch your career in online proofreading, and if you pitch yourself right, you can find clients willing to pay you fairly (so there are options for more experienced proofreaders as well). Click here to learn more and sign up.

☞ SEE ALSO: how to make money on Upwork – a guide for freelancers

Similar to Upwork, FlexJobs is a huge online platform that lists job opportunities for entry-level and experienced freelancers. However, in contrast to Upwork, it costs money to join FlexJobs: $5.95 per month.

But this can be an advantage, as there’s less competition for jobs, even though there are still plenty of opportunities to sell your editing and proofreading services.

Additionally, FlexJobs has a user-friendly platform, offers tons of support, and ensures that only legitimate proofreading jobs are listed, so you can be sure to find the absolute best online proofreading jobs.

Overall, FlexJobs is another online freelance job board perfect for finding new remote proofreading jobs and clients. Sign up for Flexjobs risk-free and receive 2 weeks for just $2.95.

Another website similar to Upwork and FlexJobs, Fiverr is an online job portal offering tons of work for beginner proofreaders, along with an abundance of other freelance jobs.

While it’s easy to get started and find work (as long as you have a killer profile), Fiverr comes with the same disadvantages as Upwork: lots of low-paying jobs, with the lowest offer being $5.

However, it’s a great way to gain experience as an entry-level proofreader, and with this experience, you can move to higher-paying sites and charge more for your services.

☞ SEE ALSO: How To Make Money on Fiverr

While the previous three websites were huge platforms for all freelance work, Scribendi is a company that specifically offers proofreading and editing services.

A Canadian company that hires remote editors around the world, there are many advantages to working with Scribendi.

They offer consistent and reliable payments in USD via PayPal, and they offer total flexibility in the jobs you pick up; as long as you do one project every three months, your account stays active.

They also offer editing and proofreading courses , and a forum where you can discuss various topics with other proofreaders.

However, there are certain qualifications you have to meet to sign up for Scribendi.

They want native English speakers with a university degree, who have at least three years of previous experience and the ability to proofread at a minimum speed of 1,000 words per hour.

Some of the best online proofreading jobs are available on Scribendi.

I was pretty lucky that I got accepted with minimal experience, and it took me a while to hit the speed of 1,000 words per hour. So, I recommend applying even if you’re not sure you meet their requirements. Overall, if you qualify, Scribendi is a great website to join as a freelance proofreader.

Scribbr is a proofreading and editing company that focuses on helping students perfect their theses and dissertations. It’s great for entry-level and experienced proofreaders.

While the application process is rigorous and lengthy, involving a language quiz, a résumé and motivation statement, a language editing assignment, and a Scribbr Academy training program, upon acceptance as a proofreader and editor, you can expect to make around $22-$27 per hour.

As far as finding the best proofreading jobs, Scribbr is one of the highest-paid for sure.

Proofreading Services is a great company that offers both part-time and full-time remote proofreading jobs.

Like Scribendi, the hours are completely flexible, meaning you can choose how much or how little you work.

And, with the average pay being between $19-$46 per hour, Proofreading Services is a great way to make extra cash while working from home, or living a location-independent lifestyle.

The best proofreading jobs that you’ll find will be at the upper level of that income rate, which is a pretty awesome hourly rate.

For proofreading jobs for students, look no further than Proofreading Pal .

Perfect for college and university students, Proofreading Pal offers flexible work with an average pay of $500 to $3,000 a month.

However, they prefer to hire current graduate students with an average GPA of 3.5 and above, or those with a graduate degree and a minimum of 5 years of editing experience.

So, while their qualifications are strict, Proofreading Pal is worth applying to if you qualify.

For some great work from home proofreading jobs with smaller word counts, I recommend Gramlee .

A company specializing in providing proofreading and editing services, Gramlee is a great website for beginner proofreaders.

They charge $0.03 per word, for a maximum of 3,000 words (so, a maximum of $90 per order).

Beyond 3,000 words, they start to charge more, but only senior editors can access those larger, better-paid orders.

The initial application process is also quite easy; simply fill out a short questionnaire about your previous experience (the more experience you have, the more likely they’ll contact you).

Overall, Gramlee is a great place to find some online proofreading work.

For proofreaders with a little bit of experience, Polished Paper is a great website to check out.

Polished Paper is a proofreading and editing company that wants the best editors with solid proofreading experience, but they pay for these qualifications accordingly.

The application process is consequently quite difficult; you’ll have to register for an account, upload your résumé, and fill out a 35-question test, followed by an interview.

But you’ll need to pass the test for the interview, and it isn’t easy.

So, if you want to work with Polished Paper, take your time filling out the test. In the end, it’ll be worth it, as Polished Paper is a great place to work as a freelance proofreader.

Finally, the last proofreading and editing company on this list is Edit Fast .

An online job portal filled with postings for freelance proofreaders and editors, Edit Fast is a great place to find some work.

The application process is also quite easy; you register online, upload your résumé, take an editing test, sign a non-disclosure agreement, and then build your profile.

Once approved, you simply have to apply for the jobs on the listings. All communication with clients goes through the Edit Fast portal, and you will be paid via PayPal.

However, the biggest disadvantage of using Edit Fast is that it keeps 40% of your final cut. So, Edit Fast is better for proofreaders looking to gain experience.

Don’t forget, if you sign up for the Knowadays (Proofreading Academy) course, they provide guaranteed work! Learn more here . 

Now, you may be wondering what the difference between proofreading and editing is.

While proofreading skills are similar to those needed for editing, there is a significant difference between the two.

While proofreading solely focuses on the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in the writing, editors look at the big picture, and make major changes to the structure of the writing and analyze the content, clarity, and tone, on top of looking for grammatical errors.

In the end, both editing and proofreading are important steps in finalizing a written text for submission.

However, proofreaders are the final defenders; the last to review the text, looking for those minor grammatical issues and typos that slipped through the cracks.

If you’re considering becoming an editor, have a look at this review of the Knowadays editing course online to see if it’s a good fit for you.

On average, online proofreading jobs pay around $25-$45 per hour. However, there are some additional factors to consider.

First, you’ll have to decide whether you want to charge your clients by the hour or by word count. Next, your rates will be impacted by your experience level, the difficulty of the job, and whether or not you’re a specialist in the subject area.

So, as a beginner proofreader, you can expect to make around $12-$15 per hour on the average online proofreading job.

But, as you gain more experience, your hourly salary will grow; not only can you charge more from your clients, but your proofreading will also get a lot faster and more efficient with time.

When I got my first proofreading job, it was under $15 per hour, but my pay has gone up considerably since then.

Fortunately, you don’t need a degree to find freelance proofreading jobs, and you can become a proofreader in just a few simple steps, without too many proofreader skills.

While some clients prefer that their proofreader has a bachelor’s degree or even a graduate degree, many clients only care about the results.

This means even college students without experience can make money proofreading, which makes for great extra cash while traveling as a student!

In regards to proofreading skills , proofreaders need to have excellent grammar and spelling skills.

Time management skills are also an asset, and for certain jobs, knowledge of the common style guides (like MLA, APA, and the Chicago Manual of Style) is invaluable.

If you decide to start your own proofreading business, you may want to learn some business skills like how to hire and manage teams.

Take a Proofreading Course

If you want to get paid more to proofread, and to guarantee yourself work, you may want to consider investing a bit in yourself and taking a proofreading course online that will help you get more jobs.

Knowadays (formerly The Proofreading Academy) offers their Becoming A Proofreader course, which provides students with everything they need to start a new career working remotely from anywhere as a professional proofreader.

The course includes 15 content-packed modules, including quizzes and real-life practice proofreading exercises to maximise learning.

Unlike other proofreading courses, they offer guaranteed work as a freelance proofreader through their marketplace of freelance proofreading services.

This is available to everyone who passes the course with a distinction grade. Plus, there’s a free trial so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Learn more here . Read our full review of the Knowadays Proofreading Course here .

If you’re looking for proofreading jobs you can do at home and you have no experience, I suggest taking a proofreading course to give you a leg up when applying for jobs.

There are many essential tools that you’ll need to efficiently complete proofreading jobs from home, including:

• Spellchecker : First, a must-have tool is a spellchecker, which will comb through your written text and find the big typos and grammatical errors. While this simple tool may seem obvious, it’s undeniably a necessity for proofreading.
• Grammarly : Next, Grammarly is the best tool for freelance proofreaders, as it’s one of the most accurate tools for finding grammatical errors. Not only that, but it also provides explanations and suggestions for each grammatical mistake, and a plagiarism checker.
• Ginger : If you’re not keen on using Grammarly, Ginger is one of the best software for checking grammar. This is because, compared to other spell checkers, it’s fabulous for proofreading more complicated texts, as it’s able to find and correct the more difficult grammatical problems. It’s also invaluable for refining and perfecting your own writing.
• Google Docs : Another essential tool for online proofreading is Google Docs, as it’s easy to receive, send, and share files with clients. It’s also a free service that offers many editing tools and add-ons, and the ability to save files offline.
• Avast Antivirus : Last but not least, antivirus and security software are an often-overlooked tool for online proofreading , but are necessary nonetheless. They’re not only essential for the protection and confidentiality of client documents but also for your own internet security. I use Avast Antivirus and Nord VPN is good as well, but there are many other software programs available .

A great way to earn more money as a proofreader is to start your own proofreading business.

With your own business, you can hire a team of proofreaders and scale the proofreading jobs you can take on.

This will also come with the tax benefit of being able to write off a lot of your expenses as a professional proofreader, like a laptop, office space, app subscriptions, and more.

If you’re thinking of starting your own proofreading business, I can share some valuable insights from my journey to help you establish your venture successfully.

First Determine Your Niche

Choosing a niche can help you set your business apart from the thousands of other proofreading businesses available online.

Perhaps you are looking to focus on a specific type of proofreading job (more on these below), or maybe you’ll serve a certain type of client, like small local businesses, or those in the pet industry.

Whatever you do, picking a specific niche in any business can help you relate better to your clientele.

Hire a Team

If you’re familiar with scaling small businesses, then you can hire a team right away. Otherwise, this may be something you’ll look into doing further down the road.

By hiring a team of proofreaders, you can ensure that your new business will cover a variety of different types of proofreading jobs. Be sure to hire proofreaders in specific industries with ample experience in their respective niches.

Assess Your Skills & Knowledge

Before launching your own proofreading business, take a long, honest look at yourself and your team and decide which specific skills and knowledge you have that set you apart.

Do you have experience proofreading many different types of documents, do you or your team also have a law or medical degree? Are there any gaps in your or your teams’ skills that may benefit from further proofreading education and certification?

Identify areas you can improve, and where you currently shine, and use that to your advantage.

Setting Up Your Business

To officially start your business, you’ll first have to decide on a business name and register it with the appropriate government body.

Depending on where you will be opening your business, you may need specific business licenses or permits. Be sure to check the current legal requirements in your state, province, or area to ensure you’re compliant with local laws.

Decide On Your Rates

Every business, no matter how big or small, will need to have rates to quote their clients. Make sure you spend some time to get these rates right. You don’t want to undersell yourself, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of the market.

Have a look at 10-20 other online proofreading businesses in your niche and try to price yourself in the middle. If you feel that your team has more experience or clout in the industry you’re in, then perhaps you can charge even more.

Build a Website For Your Business

Every business should have a website. Luckily you can start one, design it, and have it up and running within a day. I have a free website design course that you can access when you buy your domain and hosting through this page .

You can choose from a bunch of website templates that are already built, change the text and photos on the home page and sales pages, and voila , you have a business website that’s ready to go live to the world.

My course even shows you the basics of blogging, content marketing, and social media management for small businesses.

Market Your Services

In today’s online world, marketing your services is imperative to any new online business success. An online proofreading business is no different.

You should find unique ways to share your skills and services on as many platforms as you can. That includes your blog, an email newsletter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat… all of them.

In my many years as a professional proofreader, I’ve done my fair share of different proofreading jobs. No two jobs are the same, and there are plenty of different types of work that you may run into as a proofreader.

Here’s a list of a few of the different kinds of jobs you might expect as a professional freelance proofreader, or the owner of your own business. Learn more: 6 Types of Proofreading Explained – What’s the Difference?

Academic Proofreading

Academic proofreading is a very common area in the field and it involves proofreading academic articles, dissertations, theses, research papers, etc.

As an academic proofreader, your primary role will be the same as in any other proofreading job; to ensure these documents are properly structured, error-free, and adhere to specific academic writing styles like MLA, or APA.

For those who enjoy exploring new academic topics and have a skill for the nuance and detail of academic writing, this is the perfect job.

Book Proofreading

Not surprisingly, book proofreaders work directly with authors and publishers to find errors and correct them before the book, magazine, or publication is pushed live.

This type of proofreading can be well-paid and rewarding, particularly if you love literature as you’ll essentially be getting paid to read novels and other books before they’re even seen by the public.

Business Document Proofreading

Pretty much all businesses, no matter how big or small they are, need proofreaders to help ensure their documents are in order, professional, clear to read, and free of errors.

This can include anything from internal reports, memos, customer service documents, marketing materials, manuals, and website and blog content.

To become a business proofreader, you’ll likely require a solid understanding of business jargon, grammar, and punctuation.

Additional skills may be the ability to maintain a professional tone, a basic understanding of marketing, and knowing how to adhere to brand guidelines.

Legal Proofreading

Proofreading of legal documents is probably the most specialized type of proofreading and it requires knowledge of legal format, law, and legal terminology.

Your job as a legal proofreader would be to check agreements, contracts, briefs, bills, and other legal documents for formatting, the accuracy of the information, and errors.

Medical Proofreading

Another highly specialized field of proofreading, medical proofreaders will be expected to correct any errors in patient information documents, pharmaceutical guides, health articles, research papers, and more.

Website Content Proofreading

This is a form of proofreading that I have the most experience with.

Typically I edit content like blog posts, social media posts, product descriptions, and other content found on my client’s web pages to make sure they’re accurate, SEO-friendly, clear, and concise.

I’ve mostly talked about remote proofreading jobs so far in this post because online proofreading jobs are the easiest to find thanks to online job boards like Upwork and Fiverr.

But there are also in-person jobs that can be quite lucrative.

Remote Proofreading Jobs

Remote proofreading jobs are my favorite because they give me the freedom to work from anywhere, choose my own hours (for the most part), and work at my own pace.

Remote jobs are ideal for highly disciplined people. When you work for yourself, you’ll have to follow your own deadlines and be sure that you’re on the computer enough to get the work done.

In-Person Proofreading Jobs

In-person proofreading jobs don’t come with the same freedom as their remote counterparts, but there are still advantages to working in an office.

Many people enjoy the comradery and accountability that comes with working around others.

If you’re not a person who’s looking to travel a lot and prefer to have a comfortable routine at home, then in-person jobs may be the way to go.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I’ve personally always worked as a part-time proofreader online, but there are still many full-time proofreading positions available through the 10 online job boards that I listed above.

I’ve been offered full-time work in the past, but I enjoy mixing my proofreading work with other jobs like blogging and freelance writing.

But if you’re looking for the stability of consistent income and the possibility of benefits like health care and paid holidays, then a full-time job might be right up your alley.

Alternatively, students, people with other part-time jobs, families, or those who just want to earn a little extra income with an at-home side hustle may want to stick to part-time proofreading jobs.

After more than 2 years of working as a proofreader, I can say with confidence that one of the most important aspects of landing the best proofreading jobs is having a comprehensive and compelling portfolio.

A strong portfolio can help you to showcase your proofreading skills, demonstrate your expertise, and show potential clients the value of having you on as a proofreader.

Here are a few tips for building a professional proofreading portfolio:

Understand Your Portfolio’s Purpose

Before you start building your portfolio, you should take some time to decide what the purpose of your particular portfolio is.

In most cases, this will simply be to give your potential clients a concise and clear outline of your abilities, skills, certifications, and experience as a proofreader.

Take time to highlight your proofreading skills like the command of the language, your attention to detail (tell them you’re a perfectionist. They will love that), and your ability to improve the overall voice and flow of any piece of content.

Select Your Best Work

Now it’s time to give some examples. This will be the “meat” of your portfolio. Remember, you’re not creating the content, you’re improving it and correcting errors.

To showcase this, it’s important to include snapshots of the work before you edited it, and afterward. Consider keeping the old content in the document and use red to highlight any changes you may have made.

Remember to always get permission from all of your clients before using any of their documents in your portfolio.

Showcase a Variety of Work

Another important part of your portfolio will be to include a variety of proofreading work inside. This will allow you to attract a wider range of clients and jobs.

This will help you to showcase your versatility and adaptability as a proofreader, and will also show a wider breadth of experience in the field.

Keep It Organized and Professional

As organization and professionalism is an important aspect in any proofreading job, you’ll need to ensure your portfolio is well organized and put together professionally.

Ensure each project is labeled clearly with the client, the nature of the project, and the type of document in question, as well as any other relevant details about the work you completed.

Update Regularly

Just like with a resume, you’ll want your portfolio to be up to date. Employers care less about what you did 10 years ago and more about what your last job was, so make sure you update your portfolio every time you finish another job or gain more experience, accreditation, or skills.

Include Testimonials

Sometimes you’ll naturally get testimonials from your clients via email or text.

Add any positive comments your previous employers have made so that your new potential employers can feel comfortable knowing that other people have recommended you.

Where to Host Your Portfolio

There are plenty of places where you can host your proofreading portfolio online. Consider sites like ProFinder, LinkedIn, Behnace, or Journo Portfolio.

You can also just keep your portfolio on your computer, in a drop box, or in Google Drive and then link to it from emails and communication with prospective employers.

Freelancing as a career isn’t right for everyone, and there are many advantages and disadvantages to doing freelance proofreading jobs from home. These include:

Pros of Being a Freelance Proofreader

• There is a large demand for proofreaders, even for beginners. So, it won’t be too difficult to find work.
• The start-up costs for starting a freelance proofreading career are very low; all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
• There is a ton of flexibility with your schedule. So, you can work around your other tasks and plans for the day.
• You won’t have a supervisor and you can be your own boss.
• You can sign up for numerous proofreading and freelancing sites, so you’ll always be able to find work.
• If you can start your own proofreading business, you can earn an even better income, scale the company with a team, and have more freedom.

Cons of Being a Freelance Proofreader

• There are tight deadlines you have to follow, and if you mistakenly take on too many projects at once, it can be extremely stressful.
• Online proofreading, and freelancing in general, is not suited for people who need to be supervised to meet deadlines (or who procrastinate a lot).
• Some proofreading jobs prefer those with higher education.
• It can be time-consuming looking for clients and work at times.

To become an online proofreader you can take a proofreading course, or simply browse the web for marketplaces that have online proofreader job postings. Upwork, Flexjobs, & Fiverr are great places to start.

Online proofreading jobs pay anywhere from $15-$45 per hour. Typically when you’re just starting out and don’t have many proofreading skills, you’ll get paid on the lower end of this, but as you get more proofreading experience, you can up your rates.

Absolutely! There are plenty of proofreading jobs online for those without a degree. You can also take a proofreading course to help you find a job if you don’t have a degree.

To become a certified proofreader, you can take an online proofreading course like Knowadays Proofreading Course. Typically it takes 3-5 weeks to complete the course and once you’re done, you will get a Proofreader Certificate and guaranteed work as a proofreader.

Yes. Proofreaders are currently in high demand with a growing number of jobs appearing on job boards every single day. There is more content being published online every day, as well as more legal, medical, and professional documents being published in need of proofreading!

Yes. You can easily find work as a proofreader with no prior experience, although it helps to have some kind of proofreading certificate. Many proofreading courses, like Knowadays, will guarantee you work when you get certified through their program.

While some legal and medical proofreading jobs will require 3-5 years of training, many online proofreading jobs for websites will hire proofreaders with little to no experience. Alternatively, you can take a proofreading course like Knowadays, which guarantees you work upon completion.

Absolutely. Proofreaders earn $15-$45 per hour and freelance proofreaders can work from home and choose their own hours. As a part-time proofreader myself, I can honestly say it’s one of the best side hustles you can find.

Overall, there are many entry-level proofreading jobs available, as long as you pitch yourself right and keep trying.

Don’t feel discouraged by rejection or by the initial low pay; as you gain more experience, you’ll be able to negotiate larger fees and get more efficient with proofreading.

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Mia Hargrave

Mia is a Canadian with a passion for hiking and exploring the world on foot. She currently lives abroad in Japan, where she works remotely as a freelance proofreader and runs the successful travel blog  Walk a While with Me , where she shares her tips and guides for traveling and hiking around the world.

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