Proofreading is one of the best and unique jobs to make money online. The very fact that this Job could fetch you more than $45,000 a year worths giving it a try. I never knew this job is lucrative as this until I read about the annual salary of a proofreader in a recent US salary statistics.
what is it that proofreaders do?
They simply read long stories, Academic Write-ups, editorials, preview projects and books just to look for errors, like grammatical spellings, wrong punctuations etc and correct them.
Data or information has always been one of the core fuels that is driving the world forward. The need for them is endless. With data playing such a crucial role it is important to take care that it is authentic and flawless.
These days, knowledge is increasing and there is high demand for information on the Internet. Many of which requires credible Write-ups that will suit the demands of online info seekers.
Meanwhile, an information can loose credibility or authenticity if it is not properly written and disavowed of little grammatical, punctuation and other known little mistakes.
Therefore in today’s world that is completely content-driven, and piles of information stocked everywhere on the internet, it is imperative that you proofread and correct any piece of information you want to share across.
There is therefore high demand for expert proofreaders who have eagle eyes and can easily spot out errors or mistakes in any Write-ups. Guess what, there are many companies out there that seek you.
There is full-time, part-time, remote, or online proofreading jobs in the market currently. Depending on whatever you’re looking for.
What exactly is Proofreading?
To keep in simple words, proofreading is to look for and mark the grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors present if any in a document.
It is the final stage in a book editing process. A proofreader is the last editor who reviews the book after it is formatted and designed. They look for spelling errors, correct usage of punctuations and missing words or phrases.
They also check for unwanted space and take a final review of the overall layout. They primarily look for minor errors and correct them before publishing. Suitable for editing all types of books..
Proofreading and editing are not the same. Editing is the process of checking repetition, mistakes, inconsistencies, text, flow, and structure.
On the other hand, Proofreading is the process of reexamining the final draft of writing to check the consistency and accuracy in formatting, punctuation, spelling, and grammar. So both of them are completely different and have individually important roles.
So, having the knowledge of what proofreading is, let’s now talk about the earning capacity and the requirements.
Income Potential Of Proofreading Jobs
There is no free launch, and a worker deserves his wage. Noting can motivate a man than having a good job and he getting his good pay.
Considering the aforementioned thoughts you will agree with me that proofreading is a great source of income. It’s service is required in every industry, educational institutions, publishing houses, social media, businesses, etc.
Most of the companies either pay hourly or per word or project. But pay per hour is the most known method or rate of payment in proofreading.
So, If you are a freelancer you can earn anywhere between $25-$44 per hour. And if you work for a company then you can start earning from $15 per hour.
According to some of the most popular job review platforms such as Glassdoor, Salary.com, etc., the average salary of a proofreader is $52,294 per annum.
Is there need for Beginner Proofreaders to get trained?
Yes, training is needed for beginners proofreaders before getting started and it will ease your journey to make more out of it. Luckily, you can get a free training spot here. Nevertheless, if you are sure of yourself and you believe you have what it takes, then you’re good to go.
Even then, you can consider joining ProofreadAnywhere.com FREE Training by Caitlin Pyle, a professional proofreader. She has created a FREE 76 Minute Free Workshop that teaches beginners how to make money from home offering proofreading services. Plus how to find clients and how to create side income as quick as possible.
BASIC Requirements Of Online Proofreading Jobs
Considering the income potential, the nature of the the job and the fact that proofreaders are in high demand, there are some necessary requirements needed to be a potential proofreader along which are:
Required Skills and Education
First things first. Your skills must be very sharp regarding this profession as proofreading is the key process to ensure that everything is perfect. If you lack skills then the whole purpose may fail.
- Impeccable reading and comprehension skills
- Close attention to detail
- Must be flexible to meet the demand
- Good vocabulary
- Excellent spelling and grammar skills
- Punctuation and text formatting skills
- Basic computer knowledge
- A lot of concentration and patience.
Educational Requirements:
Most of the companies also look for your educational background along with your skills to hire you for online proofreading jobs. So, the following should be your academic background:
- A bachelor’s degree in English and Communications
- A degree in Journalism or literature
- Any certifications in Proofreading or editing
Meanwhile. Some companies give credence to your experience or the quality of your work while some will easily hire you depending on your education or skills.
Required Materials
skills and education apart, it is expedient that you are equipped with some important tools that would help you do online proofreading jobs. Since this job is mostly online you must be technically strong.
- A good computer
- Reliable Internet connectivity
- Grammar and spell checking tools like Grammarly
- Google Docs to store and share your documents
- Proofreading tools like Ginger
While these tools may not do your job completely, these are the best ones that would help you proofread easily.
Websites That Offer Online Proofreading Jobs
Proofreaders are often refers to as editors, revisors, content developers, editorial personnel, etc., in some of these websites/companies. So be conscious of the name/title of each work/project you see and don’t ignore by looking at the title of the job. Once check into the website before confirming.
If you are a freelancer here are certain places where you can find some great proofreading jobs. You can just visit these websites and find deals that you have been looking for.
1. Fiverr
By now, you probably must have heard of fiverr. It is one of, if not the world’s largest online market place for all sort of freelance services. If you are a freelancer then it will be easy for you to find a job here. Create an account and login to Fiverr to get connected with the world’s best businesses. It is a great marketplace to get online, proofreading jobs.
You will get Freelance services in the site for at least $5. To charge more money, you need to add more services to your gigs.
Moreover, seek to get more customer reviews and ratings, if you have good customers review and rating, you can expect more orders on good prices from clients.
Above all, Fiverr is wonderful but not very palatable for early beginners. Getting customers’ ratings and reviews take time.
2. Upwork.
Another freelancing website that connects individuals and businesses to conduct business routines. Upwork fulfills all the hiring needs of freelancers, independent contractors, and businesses. You can find almost any kind of job here.
Head on to Upwork and just enter proofreading in the search bar instead of searching the whole internet for a great gig. You can do all this by creating an account with them. To succeed in Upwork, you must create an irresistible profile that shows your qualification. In Upwork, you approach clients, not clients approaching you.
Visit upwork
3. FlexJobs
On Flexjob you can find some great and flexible work from home jobs in any sphere, which means you can find a special section dedicated to proofreading jobs. The best thing is you can also find jobs by location.
All you need to do is create your account on Flexjobs website and login to find the jobs suitable to you. To get access to all remote online jobs on this site, you must pay a membership fee of $15 monthly. Without this membership subscription, access may be denied or limited. Meanwhile, there is a 30-day guarantee.
That is you can demand for a refund of your money if you are not satisfied with the platform and wish to discontinue.
4. Guru.com
This is another place to find different freelance online jobs. Companies find freelance workers here for commissioned rates. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced candidate Guru.com has opportunities listed for everyone.
Login into their website and find proofreading jobs that suit your capabilities.
If you are a beginner proofreader and your willing to go into the business, then accept Guru.com as my recommendation.
Whether you have no experience, little experience or several months of experience, you will be able to find a proofreading gig on Guru.com.
5. LinkedIn
This is another employment-oriented website where you can find almost any job you wish. You need to create a profile on their website and share your details so that you can find jobs suitable to your qualifications and skill set.
Proofreading jobs are also available here and you can try your luck by applying via the LinkedIn website. This is not only for freelancers but anyone who is interested to find a proofreading job.
Companies That Hire Proofreaders:
Now here is a list of all the popular proofreading and editing services companies that hire proofreaders to get their job done. Whoever is looking to work with companies rather than individual projects or clients can find this section useful.
6. Domainite
Domainite is the best freelance site for an online proofreader who has no experience. The limitation here is that this platform is one of the lowest paying sites. As a beginner, you can use this platform to gain experience in proofreading.
You can build mastery in proofreading jobs to be able to compete effectively on bigger sites like Upwork and Fiverr. To get accepted as an online freelancer into this platform, you must fill an application form which includes a sample letter to prove the degree of proficiency of your skill.
7. ProofreadingServices.com
ProofreadingServices.com works for industry leaders such as Vogue, IBM, Harvard University, etc. They also offer translation, publishing, and resume and cover letter services apart from proofreading and editing.
They have full-time and part-time remote opportunities that welcome applications from around the world. If you wish to join them then complete a 20-minute test on their careers page.
They pay their online proofreaders between $19 to $45 per hour depending on the turn around time.
VISIT proofreading service here
8. Polished Paper
This is a professional English editing and proofreading services company. It operates in North America, HongKong, Sydney, London, and Johannesburg.
They look for editors/proofreaders who have exceptional English language skills along with a lot of experience as well as expertise in the field with diverse educational qualifications. So no matter what is your degree you can join them if you meet the other criteria.
If you would like to join them you can register and upload your resume on the Polished Paper website after which you need to take a 35-minute test to get qualified.
9. Scribendi
They have both in-house and freelance online proofreading positions. The in-house position is a full-time job and is based in Chatham, Ontario, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Scribendi looks for a bachelor’s or master’s degree along with desirable experience in the candidates. It also expects them to have an in-depth knowledge of more than one proofreading style.
You can earn between $15 to $20 an hour. To apply you need to send the resume and cover letter to scribendi.hr@scribendi.com.
10. WordVice
Wordvice accepts editors/proofreaders with extensive experience and advanced degrees only. They also expect the candidates to have knowledge and application of different formatting styles like APA, Chicago, etc. This is a remote position and you are guaranteed good freedom and flexibility. You need to submit the resume, complete a sample test to get hired. You are allowed to include the pay rate in your application.
11. Lionbridge
This is an American based localization and AI training data services company. Lionbridge has a list of different jobs from almost every field on its careers page from across the world. Similarly, you can also find some great proofreading jobs as well.
This place is good for beginners to start with. No matter which part of the globe you are you can find an online proofreading job here.
According to Glassdoor reviews, the average salary of a Lionbridge proofreader can be $46978 per annum.
12. ProofreadingPal
ProofreadingPal company looks for proofreaders who have either a graduate degree with a minimum of 5 years of experience in professional proofreading and editing services. You can also be currently enrolled in any graduate or post-graduate program and still apply to this job if you have a 3.5 GPA.
You also need to have other preferable experiences such as using different formatting styles, etc. If you meet these criteria apply by visiting their website.
The pay starts from $20 an hour for proofreaders here.
13. Cactus Communications
This is a global scientific communications company that helps in making research available and accelerate it around the globe. You can find full-time, work from home, and freelance proofreading and editing opportunities here.
According to Glassdoor reviews, you can make an average of $10 per hour at Cactus Communications.
14. Scribbr
This Netherland based company has several openings for editors and proofreaders. To work with them you need to have a bachelor’s degree and must be available for at least 10 hours a week. They prefer experienced candidates.
They have flexible schedules for you but may require to work full-time during busy periods. Scribbr pays €20-€25 per hour.
15. SmartBrief
This is a digital media publisher focused on business news. SmartBrief usually hires work from home proofreaders and editors.
Though they don’t have any openings currently you can keep a check on their careers page to apply as soon as there are openings available. They pay $15 per hour.
Conclusion
if you are indeed good at grammar skills and finding errors, then, you can take advantage of proofreading jobs.
You have several options to be successful here such as freelancing, full-time and part-time jobs, or you can start your business. So don’t miss this fruitful opportunity of making money
Knowing that you probably must have had experience with proofreading jobs. Kindly let us know your thoughts.
FAQs
