How To Become A Proofreader: Skills & Salary (10 Easy Steps)

If you want to learn how to become a proofreader, you can do so without going after a degree or a certificate.

Assuming spotting typos comes naturally to you, then making money proofreading is something you should consider.

All kinds of businesses constantly hire professional proofreaders because they know how crucial proofreading is:

Presenting an error-free document is one way a company shows its clients that it takes its business seriously. Just think about it:

Will you invest in a product if its sales presentation has misspellings and grammatical errors?

With that said, becoming a proofreader is possible if you have no prior experience or a Bachelor’s Degree in English. These days, proofreading is one of the best ways to make money online.

Today, I’ll show you how to become an online proofreader and get paid to proofread from home.

This post contains affiliate links – read my affiliate disclaimer.

What Is Proofreading?

Proofreading is an essential process for any content creation. No written text should be published or printed before proofreading.

With that said, proofreading is a text-examination process ensuring the content is 100% error-free. What does this mean?

Typically, proofreading entails checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It also presses on text formatting and content consistency (visual elements, style, and language).

As you can guess, proofreading is the final stage of any writing process.

Do you want to get paid to write? See the best ways to do that:

• Step-By-Step Guide To Becoming A Freelance Writer
• 100 Sites That Will Hire You To Write
• 130 Magazines That Will Pay You To Write
• How To Get Paid To Write Reviews
• 30 Ways To Get Paid To Write Homework For Other People
• 34 Platforms That Pay You To Type
• Best Online Typing Jobs

What Is A Proofreader? What Does A Proofreader Do?

Generally, a professional proofreader ensures each written word in a text or document is correct. Let me elaborate on that:

Proofreaders work hard on different types of content, so their authors would never look unprofessional by publishing texts with mistakes. They spend time on a proofreading process that fixes grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, punctuation problems, and formatting issues.

Publishing houses are not the only establishments hiring people to provide proofreading services. On the contrary, different industries need professional proofreaders:

A freelance proofreader can work in many fields, and I’ll cover them after you learn how to become a proofreader.

Proofreading Vs. Editing Vs. Copyediting

It might be hard to believe, but many people still confuse proofreading with similar activities, such as editing and copyediting.

While proofreaders’ and editors’ duties often overlap, their job descriptions require them to complete different tasks.

Each editing process (content or copy) occurs before proofreading. The job is to plan content, review submissions, make improvements, and assign tasks.

In other words, editors work to improve a rough draft of content ( its word flow, sentence structure, and style). Meanwhile, copyeditors are responsible for fact-checking, accuracy, and whether the content needs further rewrites.

Proofreaders complete the working process on a text by removing any grammar mistakes editors or copyeditors have missed. They are the last people to touch a work-in-progress document before it goes through publication.

How Much Money Does A Proofreader Make? (Proofreader Salary)

On average, first-time proofreaders earn a bit over $52,000 a year.

However, the top proofreaders with years of experience and expertise can demand higher rates and make over $105,000 annually.

Once you learn how to become a proofreader and gain experience, you can expect an hourly pay rate of at least $22,00.

Feel free to visit the official site of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for more details about the income you’ll earn when you begin to proofread for money.

More High-Paying Careers To Consider:

• Online English Teacher
• Voice-Over Artist
• Social Media Manager
• Virtual Assistant
• Mystery Shopper

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Proofreader And Get Paid To Proofread?

As I mentioned earlier, you don’t need a college or undergraduate degree to be a proofreader and make money from proofreading.

Some top proofreaders might have a Bachelor’s Degree in English or journalism. However, most professional proofreaders working today have joined the industry with no prior experience or background in the field.

More often than not, companies hiring remote or in-house proofreaders will ask them to take a test to demonstrate their proofreading abilities.

Be that as it may, you’ll pass such a test with flying colors once you develop the necessary skills to be a proofreader in demand.

Would I Make A Good Proofreader?

Quite frankly, not everyone should bother to learn how to become a proofreader:

Above all, a proofreading career will suit some people better than others.

How can you be sure that becoming a proofreader will be the right path for you?

Well, you can go through the personal qualities all professional proofreaders have in common and make sure you have them, too:

Key Skills You Need For Remote Proofreading Jobs

1. An Excellent Knowledge of Written English: We all know there is a difference between spoken and written English (and between American and British English). Above-average language skills are necessary to find and correct grammar errors for a living.  Again, you don’t need an English degree to book this type of work.
2. Attention to Detail: Proofreaders do final checks on written documents. An eagle eye for detail is a skill you won’t make it without in the proofreading industry.
3. Time Management Skills: Proofreaders have to deal daily with meeting deadlines and following a schedule.
4. Decent Communication Skills: You already know that you’ll have to communicate with writers and explain how to improve their work as soon as you begin to proofread online for money.
5. Marketing Skills: You must be able to market yourself as someone who deserves to get paid as an online proofreader.
6. Love of Reading: Let’s face it – there is no point in making money proofreading online unless you enjoy reading a lot and you are already an avid reader.

Must-Have Tools For Professional Proofreaders

• Spellchecker
• Grammarly
• Google Docs
• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Word (Or Microsoft Office)
• Computer or Laptop with Internet Connection
• Red Pen (optional)

Of course, you can use other online tools while building your own proofreading business. The last thing you want is to look like an unskilled freelancer while trying to book your first proofreading job!

How To Become A Proofreader With No Experience

1) Check If Proofreading Is The Right Fit For You

Most articles covering becoming a proofreader will tell you to identify your niche or get a formal education to get started. I don’t think that’s the first step you should take:

Whether you want to make money proofreading as a side hustle or a full-time work-from-home job, correcting mistakes and understanding style guides must be something you enjoy. Do you?

Here is the deal about proofreading – 90% of the job is reading. In other words, proofreaders get paid to read different documents they might have no interest in otherwise.

Answer yes to the following questions to make sure proofreading is a suitable career path for you:

• Is reading a hobby of yours you would like to monetize?
• Can your keen eye spot every detail fast?
• Do you consider earning a living from home and working on your own hours a good idea?
• Will you be satisfied with a monotonous line of work like proofreading?

2) Understand What A Proofreading Role Entails

Assuming you haven’t skipped the previous paragraphs of my take on how to become a proofreader, explaining the nature of the job is unnecessary here. Why do you need a further understanding of your future proofreading career?

While you already know what a proofreader does, learning what such a professional doesn’t do is an essential step you must take. That is what I have in mind:

Each new freelancer in the proofreading field must read a written work and correct misspellings, punctuation, and weird phrasing. However, a proofreader should avoid expressing opinions about writing styles, the nature of content, or character development (in books and other fiction stories).

Check style guides relevant to the proofreading industry you’re interested in, such as AP Style or the Chicago Manual of Style.

3) Consider Getting A Post-Secondary Education Or A Relevant Degree

First and foremost, you can learn how to become a proofreader without spending time and money on obtaining a college degree in English or journalism. Why am I suggesting getting an undergraduate degree or a similar further education?

Think about it from the POV of the employer:

Why should I hire a proofreader without an English degree and a similar educational background over someone who has one?

Again, getting a degree, certification, or accreditation is not mandatory – you can still become a successful proofreader with high earning potential without it. It’s something to consider, though!

4) Improve Your Proofreading Skills

At this point, you already know that proofreaders correct mistakes in academic papers or business reports. So, they’re on a first-name basis with grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

With that said, at what level are your current proofreading skills?

Make no mistake – having a general understanding of grammar will not be enough to make money from proofreading.

If you have doubts about your proofreading abilities, now is the time to work hard on improving them. Take your time and learn everything there is to know about:

• Sentence structure
• Common words most people tend to misspell
• Formatting (paragraphs, margin spacing, bullet points, page numbers, headers, etc.
• Correct use of commas, colons, and semicolons
• Capitalization/hyphenation
• Understanding different style guidelines for formatting

Yes – there is more to learning how to become a proofreader than knowing where a comma goes. Don’t rush the stage where improving your basic skills takes place – you’ll thank me for that advice later!

5) Practice Proofreading

Let’s assume that your proofreading skills are much higher than they used to be. Do you think you should be looking for freelance work that will allow you to make money from proofreading?

If you do, I suggest taking a moment and thinking about something:

By all means, the English language is constantly changing. As a result, you should be up to date with all recent changes.

How do you do that? Well, you’re probably familiar with the phrase practice makes perfect.

So, read as much content as you can. While doing so, test your abilities by proofreading in your mind.

Take a mental note of every spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistake you notice.

Pro Tip:

Once you feel like you’re ready to make money online proofreading, take a proofreading test – there are tons of these available online. Here is a list of resources that can help first-time proofreaders in different ways:

• American Copy Editors Society: ACES provides networking opportunities, conferences, workshops, and scholarships.
• Editorial Freelancers Association: Members of EFA receive training courses and access to many work opportunities.
• Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading: Joining CIEP is a great way to network with editorial professionals.

While each of these resources is a great option for newbie proofreaders, using them requires investment. Let me show you how to become a proofreader by getting a free online course.

6) Choose A Niche And Focus Area

These days, you have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing a proofreading niche:

• Publishing Proofreading: While reading online content is the new normal, traditional book publishers still operate. They constantly hire proofreaders to work on books and other published works.  If you want to work at a publishing house, that’s the right choice for you.
• Academic Proofreading: Working as a proofreader in this field means producing the final version of academic papers or research materials.
• General Proofreading: As you can guess, a general proofreader works with different businesses, freelance writers, content creators, and even college students on articles, blog posts, and social media content.
• Niche-Specific Proofreading: Here, we’re talking about proofreading for clients in the medical, technical, and social sciences fields.

It doesn’t matter which of these specific fields you choose to work in as a proofreader:

Each will allow you to make money from home as a proofreader while attracting the right types of clients and booking lucrative freelance opportunities.

7) Take A Proofreading Course

Now, what should you do if you take a proofreading test as a final assignment and the results are not what you expect them to be?

Generally speaking, proofreading is not an easy field to conquer. No matter how much you practice, mastering the art of proofreading might not come naturally to you.

Is there a solution if you find yourself in such a situation? There is, and that would be taking a professional online proofreading course.

Anyone who wants to learn to become a proofreader needs guidance and support to achieve that goal. Signing up for proofreading formal training gives them the much-needed confidence to succeed.

After all, finding out how to become an online proofreader is a process that doesn’t end with being able to spot errors.

No, starting a profitable proofreading career requires gaining experience, knowing where to find lucrative proofreading jobs, how to market yourself as a proofreader to attract potential clients, and much more!

With that said, Proofread Anywhere is the best proofreading course you can sign up for.

What Is Proofread Anywhere?

To sum up, Proofread Anywhere by Caitlin Pyle is an online training course that will show you how to become a proofreader and start making money proofreading faster than you can imagine.

That training platform is the right place for people who want to build a profitable proofreading freelance business.

Proofread Anywhere’s training programs go above and beyond to help you develop and improve the proofreading skills necessary to earn a full-time income as a proofreader.

More importantly, Proofread Anywhere LLC Products will teach you how to market yourself as a proofreader in demand and where to find the highest-paying proofreading jobs available online.

Proofread Anywhere starts with a free masterclass – it’s nearly 80 minutes long, and you can sign up for it here.

Once you finish the free workshop, you can decide whether to invest in the course to advance your professional development. What options are there?

• General Proofreading Course (Theory & Practice): Proofread Anywhere’s General Proofreading Course teaches beginners how to become professionals in the proofreading field. It contains resources, practice essays, and assignments to prepare you for your first entry-level position and more remote jobs.
• Transcript Proofreading Course (Theory & Practice): Transcript proofreading is a related field you can master if you want to work as a court transcript proofreader and correct errors in legal proceedings.  This wide range of Proofread Anywhere can help a lot of people interested in finding work that requires assisting court reporters.

Related Read:

• How To Become A Transcriptionist
• Best Transcription Jobs Hiring Beginners
• In-Depth GoTranscript Review
• Step-By-Step Guide To Becoming A Scopist

8) Write A Proofreading CV, Resume, And Cover Letter

Creating a proofreading CV and cover letter is essential, considering that an impressive resume can play a pivotal role once you start applying for available positions as a copy editor or proofreader. What should that CV contain?

Include your formal qualifications, previous experience, past performances, consumer testimonials, and your exceptional results.

The good news is that you can always update and refresh your proofreading CV to meet any employer’s high standard and give you a competitive edge.

9) Find Freelance Proofreading Jobs

Those of you who will take my advice and sign up for Proofread Anywhere will receive tons of information and directions to where the lucrative online proofreading jobs are. Visiting Proofread Anywhere’s websites is the final step to take to make that happen.

What if you completed all available free trials and can’t afford to invest in Proofread Anywhere products? While all its past students are full-time proofreaders achieving similar results and an income level, you might need different options.

I would like to help the other part of my audience who won’t have the chance to complete the course.

At this point, you must already know how to become a proofreader and what you need to do to make money as a proofreader from home. What happens next?

It’s time to search for potential clients and freelance proofreading jobs online. Have a look at the most popular platforms and job boards that offer proofreading gigs:

• Upwork
• Fiverr (read how to earn money on Fiverr when you have a second)
• Contena
• FlexJobs
• LinkedIn

10) Market Yourself As A Proofreader

Learning how to become a proofreader is hard work, but not the most essential part – marketing yourself as one is. Showing clients you’re the best person for the job is one of your key tasks to book remote work.

What strategies can help you build a strong foundation and market yourself as a proofreader in demand? See the best way to develop your proofreading business and secure your guaranteed employment:

• Create A Website: Launch a site to serve as your proofreading portfolio and post testimonials from previous satisfied customers.
• Leverage Social Media: Social media networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, and X will allow you to advertise your proofreading services for free.
• Consider Investing In Paid Ads: Paying for ads can bring many clients to your door faster.

Tips And Ideas To Make More Money Proofreading

• Constantly Network: Establishing connections and building confidence in your abilities will go a long way.
• Keep Building Your Resume: Showcasing previous proofreading projects is a powerful social proof of your capabilities.
• Don’t Undercharge For Your Proofreading Services: Most proofreaders choose their pay rates. While you do so, don’t take less than the nominal remuneration (in the United States) you deserve as a professional proofreader with a good eye.

How To Become A Proofreader FAQs

How Do I Become A Proofreader With No Experience?

You can become a proofreader by developing an excellent knowledge of grammar, spelling, and punctuation in written English.

Next, you’ll practice your skills, market yourself as a proofreader, and look for a flexible job.

If you need professional guidance, you can sign up for this free proofreading workshop.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Proofreader?

Generally, you can become a proofreader in weeks if you devote enough time and effort to improving and polishing your proofreading skills.

Having some proofreading abilities and completing professional proofreading training will help you find a proofreading job faster.

Do Proofreaders Make Good Money?

Yes, you can make good money proofreading online:

Many people earn their living by proofreading written documents from home and putting their abilities to good use.

On average, proofreaders receive up to $35 an hour.

How Do I Get Started In Proofreading?

• Fall in love with reading
• Practice spotting errors while you read
• Improve your proofreading skills
• Go through a proofreading course (if you need extra help)
• Learn how to market yourself as a proofreader
• Choose your pay rate
• Find high-paying proofreading jobs

My Closing

Well, that’s all you need to know to learn how to become a proofreader and make money proofreading online.

Proofreading is an excellent career if you enjoy correcting mistakes in business reports and other documents and operate as an editorial assistant.

What questions do you have on this topic? Write them down in the comments section, and I’ll answer them.

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