Get Paid To Proofread – 10+ Best Proofreading Jobs
Proofreading jobs offer a flexible way to earn money online. And you can find both part-time side hustles and full-time online jobs in this industry if you know where to look.
This gig is also a great fit if you have a high level of attention to detail, have excellent grammar, and want to earn upwards of $20 per hour.
The team at WebMonkey has worked with proofreaders for years. And today, we're sharing how to get paid to proofread and where to begin your job search.
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How To Get Paid To Proofread – The Best Proofreading Jobs
1. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a popular remote job board where you can find a range of freelancing opportunities. This includes many proofreading gigs, and we like FlexJobs since it offers part-time and full-time opportunities.
Once you create your account, you can browse available proofreading gigs and apply via the company's website.
We like FlexJobs since its team hand-picks jobs, so you won't find spammy listings or fake gigs. And it also has a $2.95 14-day trial for you to try out the platform.
Plus, FlexJobs is great for finding similar gigs to proofreading. For example, freelance writing and editing jobs are quite common.
2. Upwork
Upwork is another excellent resource for finding legit proofreading jobs and part-time gigs. After all, it's one of the largest and most reputable freelancing platforms in the world.
Clients post proofreading gigs on Upwork all the time. As a freelancer, you can apply for these gigs and essentially bid to get the job. If your client accepts, you do the work and get paid.
Many proofreading jobs on Upwork pay $20 to $30 per hour. You can also find some fixed-term projects paying $100 to $1,000+ depending on what's involved.
The main downside of Upwork is that it charges freelancers a 10% service fee. But you can use it to find your first proofreading clients and eventually move off the platform.
3. Fiverr
Like Upwork, Fiverr is a massive gig marketplace where freelancers can market their gigs. And it's how many people begin making money online since it's so beginner-friendly.
Proofreading jobs are popular on Fiverr. Many sellers offer proofreading services for $15 to $25 per hour. But we like Fiverr since you can create tiers for your gigs with upsells like faster delivery or additional content proofreading.
The main downside of Fiverr is that it charges a 20% fee for freelancers. But it handles everything, from getting paid to marketing your services. Overall, it's a popular way to earn money online as a beginner and is full of proofreading gigs.
4. Proofreading Services
Proofreading Services provides proofreading services for businesses, authors, and academics (e.g. PhD students publishing a dissertation).
If you have a background in copywriting, editing, or teaching, this might be a better site for you than Upwork or Fiverr.
Proofreaders can get paid $19 to $46 per hour depending on their experience and expertise. This makes Proofreading Services a great choice if you have previous experience, especially with proofreading papers and academic material.
5. Polished Paper
Polished Paper offers some business editing, but it's largely geared toward academic and literary proofreading services.
If the idea of proofreading a novel, play, or master’s thesis is more appealing to you than reading business proposals, Polished Paper could be a great fit.
Polished Paper doesn't disclose its hourly pay. But you can expect $20 to $30+ per hour, with pay depending on word count and turnaround time.
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6. Scribbr
Looking to edit papers for money? Scribbr is your platform.
This service is for students who want someone to proofread their essays, papers, and dissertations. If you have a BA, prior proofreading experience, and can work at least 10 hours per week, you could get hired.
To be clear, this isn't the same as getting paid to do homework. You're not writing essays for people. Rather, Scribbr pays you to double-check grammer, spelling, and to give some pointers.
7. Scribendi
Scribendi is a bit more of an exclusive proofreading job, requiring 3 years of proofreading or editing experience. In fact, its website says it has under 300 proofreaders who are current contractors.
However, this is a legit proofreading job that's worth applying to if you have previous experience. Salary review websites like Indeed and Glassdoor estimate you can earn $17 to $30+ per hour with this website.
8. Gramlee
Gramlee hires content editors, proofreaders, and dissertation editors for academic work. Payment is rumored to be $0.03 per word for projects up to 3,000 words. Projects beyond that may pay more, but are only assigned to senior proofreaders.
Gramlee's main selling point is that it offers 24-hour turnaround time for many projects. If you want quick money and are willing to hustle, this could be a great fit.
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9. Babbletype
Babbletype actually specializes in transcribing marketing research. However, the company may hire proofreaders to make sure whatever their typists and transcribers have done is spot-on.
If you want a mix of transcription work and proofreading gigs, you can reach out. Otherwise, you’re better off searching for proofreading jobs with the other websites and companies we've mentioned.
10. Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are a great way for freelancers to make money proofreading. And we like this route because you don't get stuck paying service fees like you do with Upwork or Fiverr.
To get started, join copywriting, editing, blogging, and proofreading groups to get word of new gigs and jobs. You can set alerts for these groups on your phone, or just check their home feeds periodically to see if any relevant proofreading opportunities have been posted.
Business owners and bloggers post gigs all the time and always need proofreading help. So, don't be afraid to network and hustle to land your first proofreading client.
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11. CACTUS Global
CACTUS focuses on scholarly and medical writing. If detailed subjects like engineering or healthcare don’t scare you, this could be your chance to make money proofreading.
Experience, subject matter expertise, and where you fall into the editing process (e.g. initial editor or final proofreader) impact pricing. But expect to earn $20 to $35+ per hour depending on what's involved.
Keep in mind: technical writing, editing, and/or proofreading can be very difficult, as an understanding of the topic might hinge on mastery of industry-specific vocabulary. It’s far different from the rapid-fire, one-off gig work of sites. But if you want to make a solid career out of a very specific, demanding niche, CACTUS could be for you.
How Much Do Proofreaders Make?
Proofreaders earn $22 per hour on average and $52,800 per year in the United States according to 2024 Indeed salary data. However, you can make more than this if you have several years of experience and work with more technical or advanced work. Proofreading books, essays, and papers can also pay more.
Here are several other data sources to highlight proofreader pay and salary expectations:
| Proofreading Website | Hourly Pay | Yearly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Fiverr | $10 – $20 | N/A |
| Salary.com | $20 – $30 | $54,805 |
| Indeed.com | $22 – $41 | $52,805 |
| ZipRecruiter.com | $22 | $47,171 |
| Glassdoor.com | $18 – $28 | $40,609 |
| Upwork.com | $15 – $35 | N/A |
Again, the highest-paying proofreading jobs require previous experience and more technical work. The best money can be made proofreading scientific writing like research papers. Scholarly dissertations (like that for a PhD) might be a little bit below that. These types of writing are intellectually demanding and require some familiarity with the subject matter and the vocabulary.
Lesser-paying projects might include student writing (like essays) and business copy (like blogs and website content). This type of content is intellectually lighter, the stakes are lower, and the volume is higher.
Then there are personal projects, which could really be a mixed bag. Someone self-publishing a memoir on Amazon Kindle might pay $10 for you to read the whole thing and share your thoughts, or they might pay $500. It really depends on what you can find posted on sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
Editing vs Proofreading – What's The Difference?
Editors are responsible for changing content to improve clarity, sentence structure, and phrasing. Some editors are also responsible for making SEO changes or even monetizing content. In contrast, proofreaders are only responsible for fixing typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies within content.
These days, many editorial roles require proofreading as well since companies don't want to pay for both roles. However, many media companies and blogs still hire individual proofreaders.
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What Skills & Tools Do You Need As A Proofreader?
Here are some necessary skills and useful tools to have under your belt if you want to make money proofreading:
- Attention to detail
- Proficiency in grammar and spelling
- Grammar-checking tools like Grammarly
- Ability to meet client deadlines and time management skills
- Research abilities
- Ability to create and stick to various style guides
- Knowledge of citation styles like APA, MLA, etc
- Ability to work independently
Of course, you also need a computer or laptop and decent internet connection. But that's a given if you want to sell your skills as a freelancer these days.
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Pros & Cons Of Proofreading Jobs
Pros:
- Low barrier to entry and no startup costs
- Lets you work remotely or from home
- Flexible hours
- Hourly pay is competitive
- More technical roles can pay very well
Cons:
- Finding your first clients can take time
- AI is slowly replacing many proofreading jobs
- Some proofreading gigs require a degree
- Beginner proofreaders generally earn under $25 per hour
Final Thoughts
If you want to get paid to proofread, we hope this list of sites and resources helps you get started.
There are even more websites out there you can consider. And if you find clients on your own through LinkedIn or social media, you can launch your own proofreading business without forking over freelance service fees.
Ultimately, this side hustle idea has a ton of potential. So, pick a couple of ideas to find your first clients and get your name out there!
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