Proofreading Rates – Per Word and Hourly With Charts
| Candace Osmond
Candace Osmond
Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.
Are you new to the proofreading industry? One question you might have is how much your services should cost.
You can set your proofreading rates per word based on your skill level, the deadline, genre of writing, and other factors. I made this guide to help both proofreaders offering services and writers looking to hire.
Learn how to price proofreading services using this comprehensive breakdown.
Who Should Use a Proofreader?
Professional proofreaders can be used in many ways, and a variety of factors can determine these wide range of services.
- Writers who are not an English speaker
- Writers, authors, and academics who are always searching for good online proofreading services
- A skilled writer who wants basic editing
- Almost anyone working in the publishing industry
- Teachers and students writing academic documents
- Someone looking to learn more about practical proofreading skills
- Those needing personal essay proofreading
- Authors using a ghostwriter and need basic style editing
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What is the Average Rate for Proofreading per Hour?
Proofreading hourly rates are not common because proofreaders cannot guess how long it will take to finish your document. You’ll only see a few freelancers do this, ranging anywhere from $10 to $100 an hour for specialized proofreading services where the scope of the work is established upfront.
Charging by the hour is not ideal because honesty may be an issue. The proofreader might intentionally take a long time to submit so they can charge more.
Some clients give you a quick deadline so they will pay less. But they usually get put off before the contract, especially if you charge more than usual.
The time you put into editing doesn’t necessarily dictate the quality of your work. If you’re a beginner who writes in English as a second language, you’ll take longer to finish. Meanwhile, experts take less time to get the job done.
Another problem to consider with charging by the hour is paying for the whole service even if you didn’t like it.
I only recommend charging by the hour if you’re an expert proofreader with systematic rates. Your client will be happier if you can guarantee a quick, high-quality submission.
Payments will be much easier and fairer when you charge by bulk words. The final cost is easy to calculate, and you can pay ahead of time. Just remember that editing standards and the level of editing offered differ from one provider to the next.
How Much Does It Cost to Proofread 1000 Words?
Most talented proofreaders charge editing fees. The average proofreading rate per word is $0.013-$0.016. That’s equal to about $13-$16 per 1000 words. But the rates may depend on several factors, including the turnaround time, proofreader’s expertise, and the genre of writing.
Here’s a guide on the average proofreading rates for different writing genres so you can understand an editing price quotation.
Business or Self-Help
Rate Per Word: $.0158
Rate Per 1000 Words: $15.80
Children’s
Rate Per Word: $0.0148
Rate Per 1000 Words: $14.80
Historical Fiction
Rate Per Word: $0.0139
Rate Per 1000 Words: $13.90
Literary Fiction
Rate Per Word: $0.0147
Rate Per 1000 Words: $14.70
Rate Per Word: $0.0152
Rate Per 1000 Words: $15.20
Rate Per Word: $0.0135
Rate Per 1000 Words: $13.50
Sci-Fi or Fantasy
Rate Per Word: $0.0130
Rate Per 1000 Words: $13
Thriller, Mystery, or Crime
Rate Per Word: $0.0137
Rate Per 1000 Words: $13.70
Young Adult
Rate Per Word: $0.0131
Rate Per 1000 Words: $13.10
Delivery time is also a crucial factor in determining proofreading rates for services. Here’s a sample of proofreading rates per 1000 words.
You might find freelance proofreaders who offer their services much cheaper. But you’ll never know whether they’re a professional or not. There are also a lot of agencies and companies that offer meager prices for low-quality services.
Always interview a proofreader before hiring them. Ask them about their previous experiences, look for their portfolio, and check their reviews. You should also ask them if you can get a refund for any errors left in your work.
How Much Should a Proofreader Charge Per Page?
Charging by the page is another unreliable way to set proofreading rates. Your page count depends on the format of the document. A 500-word essay can reach two to three pages if there are huge margins and spacing. The font size and type may also affect the page count.
Average Freelance Proofreading Rates
The average freelance proofreading rate is $0.013-$0.016 per word or $13-$16 per 1000 words. Freelance proofreaders who offer copy-editing services alongside their proofreading careers have higher rates.
If you treat freelance proofreading as a full-time job, you can earn as much as you’d do with some 9-5 jobs.
How Do You Set Proofreading Rates?
Set Per Word or Per Hour (per word is best!)
Hourly rates are only ideal for proofreaders who have been in the industry for a long time and are looking for full-time employment. But hourly rates will not please your clients if you’re a beginner working on long-form content. It will also lead to several conflicts and confusion.
Charging per word is more practical than an hourly wage for beginners and advanced proofreaders. Whereas hourly rates are hard to tell before finishing the job, charging per word is fixed. Clients will quickly sign a contract with you without any risk.
It’s also easier to set the rate depending on your level of expertise. For example, if you’re a beginner, you might charge $0.012 per word. As you get more experience and expand your portfolio, you can start charging $0.015 per word.
Determine the Amount of Work with a Proofread
Tip for professional editing: do not give your freelance rates right away. Instead, ask the client for the exact copy of the work. This process is essential because some types of documents are more challenging to proofread than others. You might encounter texts with more mistakes, which ideally cost more.
Some clients will not give you the entire document because you’ll have access to their work without the contract. You may ask for an excerpt of the text to evaluate and sample proofread. Try proofreading the small piece of text and submit it to your client to give them an idea of your skills.
This strategy is beneficial for both proofreader and client. Discuss the deadline and the payment, sign a contract, and start your work.
Consider the Deadline
Some proofreaders have strict terms for how they will be compensated according to the deadline. For example, the rate for a 3-day turnaround time is different from a 5-day deadline. But sometimes, it’s better only to raise the price for last-minute deadlines.
Ideally, proofreaders can finish a 2000-word essay in 24 hours. So you shouldn’t accept a 10,000-word paper due in three days unless you’ll receive extra compensation. The additional price is essential since you will be working in your personal time.
It’s also essential to inform your client if they are setting unrealistic expectations. Let them know it’s impossible to turn over an entire research article in 24 hours, especially if the subject is beyond your expertise.
Proper communication can make negotiation smoother. They will understand your situation, and you can protect yourself from burnout.
Account for Your Experience
Like other services, proofreading costs depend on the service provider’s experience. If you’ve been in the industry for a long time, you deserve to charge higher. That’s because you have encountered the same types of documents and errors in your years of work.
But familiarity with the job is not enough. Continuous professional development is also crucial so you can justify your higher rates. Some proofreaders have been in the industry for years yet have the same skill level.
You can also start receiving training for a specialization. A proofreader or a proofreading company might specialize in translated documents. Others offer different rates for proofreading in US and UK English.
Check the Type of Document You’re Proofreading
Another consideration for setting your proofreading rates is the type of document. Even if you’re only responsible for mechanical errors, the process still differs according to the genre. For example, documents full of jargon are more challenging to proofread than casual writing.
Set your rates according to the difficulty of the genre. Or you can stick to one or two types of writing and charge more for them. For example, you might be an expert proofreader specializing in academic articles, research reports, and theses.
Other proofreaders even have sub-specializations for which they charge more. You can charge more for academic articles in the social sciences if you have a degree in this field.
However, you can set lower prices if you’re not yet a pro in your niche. You’ll eventually become an advanced proofreader in your field with enough experience and practice.
Defend the Case for Your Rate
There are times when clients set unrealistic expectations yet want to pay less. Suppose a customer opposes a freelancer’s rates, some lower prices with the belief that any client is better than none. But you shouldn’t do this if you want to be a successful freelancer.
Defend the case for your rate. It helps to be transparent in how you set them. Let them know that you charge fairly according to the genre, your expertise, and the turnaround time. You may even compare your competitive prices to other agencies.
You have the skills to help these people and know the industry better than anyone. So there’s nothing wrong with negotiating.
Set Your Proofreading Rates Correctly
Fair compensation matters when you’re providing proofreading jobs and services. Set your rates according to your ability, the document type, deadline, and the length of work. You can even consider the cost of living in your location.
I hope this article has helped you decide how much you should charge per word. Keep honing your proofreading skills to increase your value. Check out our post on ideas for proofreading business names .
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Last updated on Oct 18, 2021
Remote Proofreading Jobs and 26 Places to Find Them
About the author.
Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.
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.
With working from home becoming more common than ever before, remote proofreading jobs are gaining a lot of traction. Amongst the online jobs you can do, checking grammatical and spelling mistakes sounds like one of the easiest ones to pick up. But what exactly does this kind of work entail, how much would it earn, and most importantly, how do you search for legitimate as well as rewarding proofreader jobs? These are all valid questions, the answers to which you can find right here.
What is proofreading?
To proofread is to go over a document’s final draft with a fine-tooth comb, searching for grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Unlike the job of a copy editor, you don't have to concern yourself with language style or voice. It may seem simple, but it requires a thorough understanding of not just the English language but also the appropriate manuscript formatting styles.
Web content, academic papers, and many other types of writing — To proofread and correct each of these kinds of content requires a thorough understanding of its preferred language and formats.
Because of their project-by-project nature, it is common for the gigs you get in this sector to be online, freelance proofreading jobs.
Becoming a proofreader and securing remote jobs
Luckily, you don’t have to go through intensive training or education to become a proofreader. Preferably, you'd have a bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, or a field relevant to the kind of content your hope of proofread. (To proofread for a medical company, you'd need background in medicine, for example.) Other than that, a certificate of completion for a proofreading course can make your profile much more appealing to potential clients. To get started on the right foot, consider:
🎓 Taking a training course via societies such as the Editorial Freelancers Association ( the EFA );
📝 Brushing up on style guides (APA, Chicago, and AP Styles);
💻 Creating a profile and following relevant groups/hashtags (this may include creating your own website, a LinkedIn, or a professional Twitter account);
✅ Being flexible about the kind of job you take on (work from different industries with projects involving copy editing tasks such as checking for word choice and spelling ).
You can get more tips in our comprehensive guide on how to become a proofreader. If you’re all clear about the set up, let’s discover all the places that you can find remote jobs for proofreaders.
26 places to find remote proofreading jobs
Below are all the sites that offer legitimate freelance proofreading jobs. We’ve divided the list into two parts: one for those with experience and qualifications, and one for those without.
If you’re going into proofreading with certificates, graduate qualifications, or expert experience, here are the sites that you should check out.
1. ProofreadingPal
Specializing in academic proofreading, ProofreadingPal prides itself on having a highly experienced staff. Because its scholarly projects, the editing skills required by this site are very advanced and specific. To secure a remote proofreading job on this site, you need to be a postgraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or have a graduate degree along with minimum five years of experience.
If you have a PhD in a writing-intensive discipline, Edit911 is a good candidate for some remote work. Its proofreading services also tend toward high-level academic editing, so experience is crucial. And as it caters to a worldwide audience, having a strong grasp of a few manuscript styles will be plus.
WordsRU is great for those who work from home, because it welcomes job applicants from all over the world, as long as they have at least a Master’s degree or higher. It offers a wider range of services for customers, including fiction manuscripts and web content, so its proofreaders receive a variety of projects.
4. American Journal Experts
Similar to WordsRU, AJE offers online proofreading jobs for those who have been or are currently enrolled in higher education at universities approved by the Carnegie Classification . And as the name suggests, this online proofreading opportunity is more suitable for those based in America.
You may or may not have a PhD or a Master’s degree, but if you do have a strong track record in book editing and proofreading, Reedsy is the place to be. Our marketplace connects thousands of indie authors with publishing experts (like you!) who are looking to get hired and help them produce high quality titles. On average, our professionals set a proofreading rate of around $600-$750 per manuscript, though each project varies. (Note that you can set your fees per hour, per word, or per project.)
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6. Polished Paper
Focusing on business and academic editing, Polished Paper 's proofreader jobs are also suitable for experienced professionals. Instead of proving their qualifications, applicants are asked to complete a 35-question test to demonstrate their editing skills before getting accepted.
7. Managed Editing
Having worked mainly with non-profit organizations and prestigious institutes, Managed Editing chooses its freelance proofreaders carefully. A successful applicant will have at least five years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree, although most of its editors and proofreaders have higher qualifications.
8. Wordvice
Apply to Wordvice for a more international experience: the company offers editing and proofreading services on essays and business documents for second-language English users. You must have a minimum of two years of experience and a graduate degree to join this team of freelancers. (And needless to say, the remote jobs they have are available to proofreaders across the world!)
9. Start your own freelance business
This basically means creating your own website (don't forget to have a contact section with your email address in it!) along with a LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook account to spread the word about it. As you are your own boss, you can work from home, a coffee shop, or wherever else you want! Use your credentials and professional connections to attract customers. Combine that with impeccable proofreading services and you’ll grow your freelance business in no time.
If you’re just starting out or don’t have higher education qualifications — don’t worry, there are plenty of beginner-friendly sites where you can find proofreading gigs and begin amassing professional experience.
10. Scribendi
If you do have some experience in content production, i.e. you’ve been a copywriter or have edited your university newspaper, you can apply to Scribendi . Its online proofreading jobs are focused on academic writing from high school to university level, so having a Bachelor’s degree is a must.
11. Scribbr
Scribbr ’s services are tailored to a younger academic audience, and while it doesn’t ask for specific qualifications, applicants do go through a thorough vetting process. To become a remote proofreader at Scribbr, you have to pass a language test and complete several assignments for evaluation (for which you will receive feedback). If you’ve taken an editing course, you should be able to do well.
12. Proofreading Services
Every remote proofreading job available here focuses on academic and business writing. Prospective proofreaders can join the staff part-time or full-time by getting at least 95% on the site’s 20-minute test , which mainly focuses on grammar and spelling.
As an education-oriented publication, CACTUS Communications is constantly on the lookout for academic editors who can help it produce clear, engaging content. It does require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, but you don’t need any prior work experience in editing and proofreading to find exciting opportunities.
14. Writer’s Relief
A resourceful website for authors, Writer’s Relief also provides book editing and publishing services which you as a remote proofreader can get involved in. Since they have copy editors going over the clarity and cohesion of the writing beforehand, you’ll just have to focus on catching the little mistakes that slipped through.
Prompt provides coaching services for college applicants, helping them with personal statements and essays. You will need to have been a university student yourself, and as the coach you’re expected to give more feedback than just online proofreading. It’s a good opportunity if you want to start with academic editing.
16. OneSpace Freelancers
OneSpace is a site made for new freelancers. There aren’t as many job postings on this site as on other proofreading services, but you do get support and feedback from their staff. They provide advice on how you can work better as a freelancer and build your business. So while you would't necessarily find remote work on this space, it's a good way to learn the craft of maintaining your freelance proofreading business in the long run.
17. Gramlee
From their tagline ("You write, we edti edit.") and service email address, you can already get a sense of how laid-back the staff at Gramlee would be. They welcome proofreaders with no qualifications, as long as they work hard to learn and fulfill the team’s guarantee of 24-hour turnover.
Upwork is one of the biggest marketplaces for freelancers, and the remote jobs for editors and proofreaders you can find on here are often for technical and copy writing. Projects are usually on the smaller side, which means there isn’t always demand for highly experienced workers. Still, it's a good place to get started on your online proofreading career.
19. Flexjobs
Short for flexible jobs , this job board only posts work that you can do from home, so you don’t have to narrow the search yourself. There are plenty of proofreading jobs across many industries and countries for you to choose from, some of which are even full-time collaborations.
Indeed ’s interface is probably a familiar sight if you’ve looked for work before — it’s a platform that has everything from full-time positions to freelance gigs in all kinds of industries. Though it might take some digging, there are good remote jobs proofreaders can discover.
21. MediaBistro
MediaBistro is a job board made specific for media-related jobs. You can filter your search to show only remote entry-level editing jobs to see if there’s anything available. Signing up also gets you a job alert round-up when new relevant jobs are posted.
22. Get Editing Jobs
Here’s another editing-focused job posting site . You can search for remote proofreading jobs and it will automatically show you recent postings that fit the bill. You’ll then have to apply to the jobs on your own.
23. Domainite
Domainite provides digital marketing services, from web designing to content writing and editing to its clients. You can easily sign up by filling in its form and sending in a writing sample. The scope of the work might go a little beyond the proofreading job, though you will acquire more skills that way!
Are you interested in marketing books? Visit our post on where to find book marketing jobs here .
24. Freelancer
This site allows you to bid on a proofreading opportunity you can do remotely, and try to win the client over. There are a lot of projects available, so if you lose out on a bid for one, you can always find another!
❗ Note: Some of the rates you see here are much lower than the average as freelancers try to undercut to appeal to clients. Keep that in mind in formulating your own quotes and offers .
25. Lionbridge
Lionbridge is an international platform that offers marketing and business content creation services for firms across the globe. Specifically, its freelancers “test out” firms’ content — giving them feedback, not just on a linguistic point of view but also user experience and SEO. It's a bit of technical proofreading, if you’re interested.
Though it does not provide the highest paying remote proofreading jobs, Fiverr is still a good opportunity for new freelancers to start their careers. It’s relatively easy to sign up to and create a profile that will attract customers, most of whom will be searching for competent beginners rather than experienced experts.
Hopefully this list will help you find your next remote job and kickstart your career, whether you’re a full-timer looking for side jobs or an aspiring freelancer. Remember to do your research and know what your proofreading service is worth to avoid being undercharged. With that, and a wish of good luck, we’ll send you into the world of freelance proofreading!
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