You Can Make Money As An Online Proofreader

Content is one of the most important aspects of putting up a website. Website owners who want to have quality content on their websites usually hire a proofreader to ensure that their content is free of errors.

You can make money as an online proofreader by catching spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and specialized job sites. Typical earnings range from $15 to $50 per hour depending on your speed, skills, and client needs.

This service is also needed by eBook authors. If you are looking for a way to earn income online, you should consider becoming a freelance proofreader.

You can make money from online proofreading if you have excellent reading and writing skills. The following tips will help you get started and succeed as an online proofreader.

• What does a Proofreader do
• How much can you Earn
• Advantages and Disadvantages of working as a Proofreader
• Developing the needed skills
• Finding proofreading jobs
• How to recognize genuine opportunities
• Get jobs from freelance sites

What does a Proofreader do?

A proofreader checks documents for typos, misspellings, inconsistencies, and grammar mistakes. Proofreaders will take content that is already written and give it the final check to fix mistakes so it is error-free upon publication.

Read Also: Make Money Online With Freelance Article Writing

Proofreaders can earn money to review anything that has written content, such as:

• novels
• textbooks
• children’s books
• online or university course content
• website pages
• blog posts
• presentations and slides
• newspapers
• magazines
• pamphlets
• legal documents
• transcripts
• court reports
• podcast notes
• resumes
• scholarship essays

How much can you Earn as a Proofreader?

Below are the survey results from the freelance proofreaders I interviewed about how much they typically earn per hour.

The amount of money a proofreader makes varies. From my experience and interviews with other freelance proofreaders, you can expect to make between $25-$44 per hour as a proofreader.

• Many book proofreaders charge $.02 per word
• Charging $25-$45 per hour is common
• Freelance proofreaders can increase rates after gaining more experience

If you choose a proofreading niche like proofreading court transcripts, you can earn more per hour.

Advantages and Disadvantages of working as a Proofreader

Advantages

There are many pros to freelancing you don’t get with a traditional job. If you learn how to become a proofreader, you will enjoy more:

• Freedom – to be home with your kids, leave your 9-to-5 job, and work with who you want, when you want, where you want
• Flexibility – to work when it fits best in your schedule
• Financial Security – side hustles can help you to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck, get rid of debt, take family vacations, and have extra fun money

Plus, proofreading is something you naturally do for free anyway. Why not get paid for those incredible eagle eyes you were blessed with?

Disadvantages

Although freelancing, being your own boss, and making money from home are truly awesome, the downsides are:

• Recurring clients – Finding retainer clients can be challenging as a proofreader unless you find someone who has recurring work for you each month.
• Income cap – There seems to be a cap on the hourly rate people are willing to pay for proofreading. It’s hard to earn more than $50 an hour proofreading alone, so you may need to add additional services like blog, copy, or ghostwriting to earn more per hour.

The more experienced you become in your craft and the more efficiently you work, the higher your income will be.

Developing the Needed Skills

While grammar and business skills can be taught, there are some things you need naturally in order to become a proofreader. The most important proofreading skills are:

• In-depth knowledge of the English language
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Meticulous
• Meet deadlines
• Familiar with Microsoft Word

So if you have all of those skills, becoming a freelance proofreader might be perfect for you.

There are some basic skills that you need if you want to make money from online proofreading. Some people have a natural ability to spot errors in documents while others have to be trained. Even if you easily spot errors, it is still important to get trained.

When you are trained as a proofreader, you will be able to work as a professional. You will be equipped with better skills and you will be familiar with symbols that are used by professionals in the industry. This will make it possible for you to get better jobs online.

You used to need an expensive 4-year degree in English or Journalism to work as an editor or proofreader. But many people don’t know that becoming a proofreader no longer requires such a heavy time or financial investment.

All you really need to become a proofreader with no prior experience is:

• 1-2 months to get the proofreading training online
• Less than $600 for all the training you need

How so?

Invest in a legitimate Online Proofreading Course to learn how to make money proofreading from home.

Finding Proofreading Jobs

If you search on the internet, you will discover a lot of companies that are looking for proofreaders. You can build your career as an online proofreader by working for a well-established company.

Make sure that you check out the reputation of any company that you want to work with. Working for reputable companies will help you to avoid scams that are found all over the internet. Do not be enticed by advertisements that ask you to pay for positions.

How to Recognize Genuine Opportunities

In order to earn from online proofreading, you have to know how to recognize genuine opportunities. Reputable companies will want to know about your experience and ability to handle the tasks that will be given to you. You will not be asked to make any upfront payments. You can find a list of reputable companies by visiting work at home forums.

Get Jobs From Freelance Sites

Proofreading jobs can also be found on freelance websites. Register on a few of the top online job boards and create a good profile. Make sure that your profile highlights the relevant proofreading experience that you have.

This will help you to get better consideration when you bid for jobs. It is also vital to have your own website. A website gives you a very good way to advertize your business so that people can know that you are a professional. You can promote your website in a variety of ways.

Further, here are more online proofreading job listings:

• Indeed has job listings for proofreaders here
• Upwork has freelance proofreading jobs here
• Utilize LinkedIn to find proofreading jobs here
• Scribendi hires editors and proofreaders here

You can also network with anyone who would need proofreaders, such as bloggers, authors, and business owners who create important documents like tax documents, court reports, and product manuals.

Read Also: Make Money Online Easily – Write And Sell Ebooks

Today, several people from different parts of the world make money from online proofreading. The market for online proofreading will continue to increase as an increasing number of people read electronic text. This is a freelance job that you can start immediately if you have the required skills.

Training is also available for people who need to upgrade their skills.  If you are ready to put in the hours and the commitment that is needed, you can start earning regular income online as a proofreader.

10 Websites That Provide Proofreading Jobs for Freelancers

Here’s a list of websites that offer proofreading jobs:

1. Scribendi

Scribendi is a platform that focuses on editing and proofreading services, offering website, academic and admissions essay proofreading. The company hires remote editors globally and offers reliable payments and a flexible work schedule on the condition you complete at least one project every three months.

The criteria to qualify for the Scribendi proofreading team include being a fluent speaker and holding a university degree in any field. It’s also necessary to have at least three years of editing or proofreading experience and a minimum proofreading speed of 1,000 words an hour.

2. CACTUS

CACTUS is a platform that hires freelance academic proofreaders and editors to edit content produced in fields such as medicine, life sciences, engineering and physical sciences. To become a freelance proofreader, you require a master’s or doctorate in a subject relevant to these fields. Although not mandatory, this company prefers candidates with editing experience.

3. Domainite

Domainite is a website that provides services such as direct mailing, website design and marketing. It can offer an ideal platform for new proofreaders. To apply for a proofreading account, complete an online application form and edit the sample it provides. This company requires proofreaders to have experience tracking changes in word processing software.

4. ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal offers proofreading tasks for recent graduates, current university students and editors with a minimum of five years of proofreading experience. This company supplies a short questionnaire for candidates to provide contact details and express professional interests. ProofreadingPal takes five to 10 working days to respond to your application.

5. Gramlee

Gramlee provides proofreading and editing services at £0.025 per word for projects up to 3,000 words. Senior editors on the platform receive projects exceeding 3,000 words and earn more. Gramlee proofreading candidates complete a questionnaire about their experience, with questions suggesting the company prefers candidates with proofreading and editing experience.

6. Reedsy

Reedsy provides proofreading and editing services to new and bestselling authors. Creating an account on this platform is free, and when authorised, your profile features in the Reedsy Marketplace. For each project you complete, you keep 90% of the income generated. Reedsy matches proofreaders to clients via an algorithm.

7. Polished Paper

Polished Paper is a platform that hires proofreaders with intermediate- to advanced-level editing skills. You register for an account by providing your details and uploading your CV. Candidates then take an editor test with 35 questions and, if successful, attend a follow-up interview.

8. Scribbr

Scribbr offers editing services for student dissertations and theses. Its proofreaders are fluent English speakers who meet the application requirements. Candidates demonstrate their knowledge of academic writing, technical grammar skills and editing principles. Scribbr also offers a training programme in editing theses and dissertations for proofreaders who pass the initial editing test.

9. Proofreading Services UK

Proofreading Services UK is a platform that offers opportunities for proofreaders with all levels of experience. Work includes proofreading content for businesses, authors, job candidates and academics. Proofreading candidates complete a 20-minute preliminary test to assess their suitability.

10. EditFast

EditFast is a platform that allows proofreaders to create a web page to enable potential clients to review their details, make contact and submit projects. Clients either select their preferred proofreader or let the platform assign for them. To set up an account, create and upload your CV using the CV-building tool, complete the editing tests, sign a non-disclosure agreement and build your web page. EditFast activates the accounts of successful candidates and takes a 40% fee for projects you complete.

FAQ

How to earn money online proofreading?

You can get paid to proofread online by applying to remote platforms, joining freelance marketplaces like Upwork, or pitching directly to clients. Typical pay ranges from $18 to $46 per hour depending on your speed, turnaround time, and experience.

How much does it cost to proofread 1000 words?

For 24-hour turnaround on a 1,000-word document, expect to pay $30 to $90 depending on the provider. For same-day turnaround at 2 to 8 hours, where available, prices typically range from $50 to $150 for 1,000 words.

What qualifications do I need to be a proofreader?

What skills or qualifications do you need to become a proofreader? There’s no particular qualification required to start proofreading, although they can certainly help you attract clients. And some projects will require a relevant degree or postgraduate qualification.

Are proofreaders still in demand?

Yes, proofreading remains in high demand, but the nature of the work is shifting. While AI tools catch basic grammar, humans are still heavily relied on to preserve brand voice, context, formatting consistency, and cultural nuance.

Source: uk.indeed.com