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Hiring a proofreader? Need to know how and where to find the best candidates? Here is a comprehensive guide to finding the best proofreaders. Read on!

What is Proofreading? Proofreading means carefully going through a text and checking for errors before it goes into publishing. It requires checking a piece of writing for grammar, spelling, typos, formatting issues, etc. Proof readers are the people who are proficient in proof reading articles of different industries. 

If you are a recruiter looking to hire a proof-reader for your project, this guide will help you through the step by step process to hire for professional proofreader roles such as interview questions to ask, skills to look for, popular job boards, certifications, hiring rates, and latest market trends, etc.

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Hiring market for proofreaders

According to the May 2017 report of the Bureau of Labour Statistics, Proof readers and copy markers are in high demand in the Newspapers and Publishing industry. For every book published, a proof reader is hired. There is no dearth of professional proofreading jobs in the market.

With an estimated 14,200 proofreaders for hire currently available in the United States, the freelance proofreaders market is competitive. According to CareerExplorer, the proofing and editing job market is expected to grow by 1.4% between 2016 to 2026. The U.S will need 7,100 proofreaders over the next 10 years.

The reason behind this growth is the large number of digital content getting published on the internet every second in the form of blogs, websites, online businesses, etc. The Proofreader community in the U.S is majorly located in California, Illinois, and New York.

A proofreader’s average salary ranges from $45,888 to $59,717 annually. An expert Proofreader can expect to earn anywhere between the above range based on the complexity of the article and years of experience of the proofreader. Professional proof reader candidates are hired by,

1. Employment Services
2. Newspapers/Book/Directory publishers
3. Professional Scientific/ Technical Services
4. Motion Picture and Video services
5. Advertising/ PR

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Top 15 job titles for proofreaders

Here is the list of top 15 job titles that companies are hiring proofreaders, 

1. Medical Editor/Proofreader

This job role requires proofreaders who can not only correct grammar, spelling mistakes, sentence construction but are also fully aware of medical terminologies. A professional course or workshop is required for the candidate to develop medical proofreading skills as it requires medical knowledge as well.

2. Associate Copy Editor/ Proofreader

An associate copy editor/proofreader is required to proofread direct mail, digital collateral, etc for any grammatical error, spelling mistake, formatting issues. This job role requires 2-4 years of experience in the relevant field.

3. Editorial Assistant

An Editorial Assistant is an entry-level job where the employee is required to do menial tasks such as scanning documents, scheduling meetings, managing calendars, etc. Although it is great for learning as an editorial assistant may sometimes get an opportunity to write articles, fact-check stories, proofread texts, etc.

4. Web Editor

Web Editors are responsible to curate and publish content online. They are required to create videos, write blogs, and check images, text, or any other content present on an employer’s website. They typically have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, web design, or related fields.

5. Web Content Editor

The job role of a web content editor includes writing and editing articles, uploading work through a content management system, working with design software, social media updates, online scientific journals, etc. A previous experience as a writer or editor is desirable.

6. Content Manager

Content Managers are given the task of creating, maintaining, and improving the content to achieve an organization’s business goals. They also share content to create brand awareness amongst the masses. Their role requires them to identify best practices by monitoring web traffic.

7. English Proofreader

The job of a proofreader is to ensure that the content is free of typographical, grammatical, spelling, typos, syntax, punctuation, formatting, and other such errors before it go into publishing. Stronghold of English knowledge is mandatory for the job.

8. Senior Proofreader

A senior Proofreader is a high-level job role where the employee is required to check the accuracy of corrections done by other writers/editors/proofers. They also perform administrative functions as per the role. Their role is to coordinate with other proofreaders for assignment completion. A minimum of 3 years’ experience is expected.

9. Academic Proofreaders and Editors

An academic proofreader has the same skills and knowledge set as the general proofreader with additional knowledge of the subject. They are experts in proofing papers, journals, reports, letters, conferences, posters, research, etc. They hold specialization in proofreading for academic purposes.

10. Student Assistant – Proofreader

This job is an entry-level role that requires knowledge of English grammar and usage. Typical duties of a student assistant involve light copy editing, comparison proofreading, etc. Knowledge of MS Office is desirable.

11. Technical Proofreader

A technical proofreader needs to completely understand the subject matter, unlike a general proofreader. The job requirement is to go through the content and look for errors and mistakes before sending it off for publishing. 

They need to be equipped with the knowledge of proofreading as well as technical subjects to be able to proof the document more accurately and precisely.

12. Book Proofreader

A book proofreader proofreads a book for errors before it goes into publishing. It ensures the accuracy, consistency, and quality of the book. Book Proofreaders work in different genres based on their interest and strength. 

13. Legal Proofreader

As a legal proofreader, the employee is required to proofread complex legal documents for spelling, syntax, consistency, grammar, firm style, etc. They also have to create, format, and edit legal documents as per firm specifications by using different software applications.

14. Recipe Card Editor/Proofreader

A Proofreader with excellent attention to detail and error-finding skills. They need to be adept in proofreading with an emphasis on the food industry. The job role requires the person to review, proofread, and quality control recipe cards daily. 5 years of experience with previous experience with recipe style guides is desirable.

15. Publisher Proofreader

A publisher proofreader is a person who works as a proofreader in a publishing company such as a magazine, newspaper, etc. Most numbers of proofreading jobs are available in the publishing industry as every single article that goes into publishing needs to be proofread beforehand.

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Qualifications to look for in proofreaders

Proofreaders often hold a bachelor’s degree in English or journalism. These bachelor programs are usually four years long including courses in speech, communication, grammar, English writing, etc. Although many expert proofreaders have been known to have no degrees or certifications. 

Finding an internship and then working on the craft has made them skilled in editing and proofreading. Graduates from other disciplines apart from English and journalism can also succeed in the field by demonstrating a good understanding of grammar and vocabulary. The best universities offering English programs are,

1. University of Idaho
2. Washington State University
3. Michigan State University
4. Iowa State University
5. Towson University 

Few industries require proofreaders to have industry knowledge for e.g legal industry, medical industry, etc. A university degree in the specified domain is required for technical proofreading jobs.

Understanding editing software such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, QuarkXpress, etc is desirable for recruitment purposes. A certification or course would help in establishing a candidate’s expertise in the English language. Here are some of the best proofreading courses to consider,

1. Writing and Editing MasterClass by SkillShare
2. Proofreading Power basics by Udemy
3. Essential Proofreading – Editorial Skills One by The Publishing Training Center
4. Becoming a Proofreader by Proofreading Academy
5. Proofreading and CopyEditing 101 by Universal Class

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Skills to look for in proofreaders

Find a proof reader by assessing them based on the below technical and non-technical skills,

1. Grammar and Spelling skills are the most basic skills that editors and proofreaders should possess to succeed in the field.
2. Computer proficiency is required as most of the proofreading editing work happens on the computer these days. A basic understanding of editing software is a must.
3. Writing and Editing skills help proofreaders in editing the written document fluently. They should also be proficient in proofreading symbols.
4. Quick reading skills would help a proofreader to go through an article quickly and edit more content in the given time.
5. Vocabulary skills are essential for editing proofreading jobs to catch spelling mistakes and typos in the text.
6. Punctuality is a desirable attribute as it helps proofreaders finish their work within the given deadline.
7. Attention to Detail is a key skill that proofreader editor candidates showcase in order to find the most trivial of errors in the text. 
8. Good concentration is needed to focus on the work without getting distracted by external factors. 
9. Self-motivated individuals will be able to work without supervision. See if they are self-disciplined in their working manner.
10. Teamwork skills in a proofreading editor show that they will be able to communicate properly with fellow writers, proofreaders, editors, etc.

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Certifications to look for in proofreaders

Hiring a Proof editor gets easier if you know what you are looking for throughout the recruitment process. Here are some certifications to keep an eye out for while hiring proofreaders,

1. Certificate in Editing and Proofreading Course by ACS distance education can be done online, through correspondence or e-learning method. This course provides knowledge and skills over the duration of 600 hours to work as a freelance editor or proofreader.
2. Poynter ACES Certificate in editing by Poynter News University includes six courses with six assessments. It equips you with the knowledge of standards, essential skills, and best practices in editing. The complete course fee is $150.
3. English Proofreading Skills Certification for AP style by Brainmeasure assesses your English and proofreading skills through a 40-minute test based on which your evaluation score is generated. A hard copy of this certificate can be attained by paying $50.
4. Proofreading Boot camp by Inklyo is an online course that covers everything from proofreading skills and knowledge to the business of being a proofreader. The course is 40 hours long priced at $199.
5. Proofreading and Copyediting 101 by Universal Class helps a person gain copyediting and proofreading skills irrespective of their education and professional background. The course is priced at $55 without CEU certification and $80 with an online certification.

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Rate per hour of proofreaders

According to Payscale, the average hourly rate of a proofreader is USD 17.82. Proofreader hourly rate varies based on their experience and skill set. Proofreaders can quote charges depending on the complexity or quality of the document.

Hourly rates can be anywhere between $20- $60. The annual average proofreader salary in the U.S is $52,945. These can go as high as $100 if the proof-reading requires translating the document as well. In the UK, the minimum suggested rates by the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading is £25.40 per hour.

The rates also depend on different specialty areas. A social science proofreader will get anything between £11 and £18 per hour. Entry-level freelancers might charge less as they wish to gain more experience by working on more projects. In India, the average salary is quite low for proofreading edit jobs.

Asian countries provide workforce at a lesser price without compromising on quality. A proofreader gets paid ₹110 per hour in India with the highest salary being offered in Mumbai at ₹180 per hour. The salary increases as the number of years of experience increases. The national average salary for proofreaders in India is ₹4,84,183.

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Top 10 job boards to find best proofreaders

If you are thinking “ I need a Proofreader” but don’t know where to look. We have curated a list of the best marketplace for proofreaders available online. Post your job requirement on multiple sites to reach more people. These online job boards are great for hiring freelance editors and proofreaders.

1. Indeed
2. Fiverr
3. Upwork
4. LinkedIn
5. unremot.com
6. BloggingPro
7. MediaBistro
8. JournalismJobs
9. FlexJobs
10. Freelancer

The above job portals have multiple profiles of proofreaders with varying rates and experience. You can hire a proofreader amongst the many options available based on your project requirement and budget criteria. 

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Top 10 companies hiring Proof Readers and salaries offered 

1. Cactus Communications is a technology company that focuses on scientific advancement. The entry-level salary is $2,950/month.
2. Aquent is a staffing company specializing in providing marketing and creative industries with temporary employees. It provides $32.26/hr at entry-level.
3. 24 seven is a staffing agency that recruits employees for the digital marketing industry. The entry-level pay range is $36-$38/hr.
4. R.R Donnelley is an American Fortune 500 company that pays $20/hr to entry-level proofreaders.
5. Cella is a creative staffing agency for creative, marketing, and digital industries. They offer a salary of $22/hr.
6. Uhlig is a leading provider of cross-media publishing and communication services. An entry-level proofreader gets a salary of $14/hr.
7. Tax Analysts is a non-profit organization that provides tax news and analysis. It pays $40,963/year at entry-level.
8. Allen Press is a company that prints and publishes scientific, academic and scholarly journals. Entry-level proofreaders are paid $13/hr.
9. WLT Group provides business process outsourcing to large companies globally. The entry-level salary is $14/hr.
10. Gleim Publications is a leading organization in helping for accounting exam preparation. It offers $16/hr at entry-level.

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Top 10 interview questions for proofreaders

Here are the top 10 interview questions you should ask to find the best proofreader for your project. These questions will help you assess the proofreading and editing proficiency of a candidate.

1. How did you get into proofreading and editing?

Rationale: It helps the recruiter to get insight into a candidate’s proofreading journey and what steps they took to build their career. 

Sample Answer: I started out by writing for a university magazine and took a personal interest in going through the other articles to find errors. After getting my degree, I applied for an internship to further hone my skills and get real time proof editing experience. 

2. What are the most common mistakes found during proofreading?

Rationale: This helps in analyzing a candidate’s expertise and proofreading experience.

Sample Answer: The most common mistakes found in proofreading are the confusion between they’re/their/there, where/were, and you’re/your. Many people seem to be missing out on the correct usage of apostrophe these days.

3. What do you suggest are some of the best ways for people to proofread their own work?

Rationale: Helps recruiters to see if the candidate is well versed with editing and proofreading methods.

Sample Answer: I would suggest people to go through their finished content before submitting it over. Several proofreading tools such as Grammarly, Ginger are available in the market that help you find errors and corrections in the text.

4. Do you have suggestions for new proofreaders?

Rationale: See what does a candidate feel is essential to be a good proofreader.

Sample Answer: Keep practicing every day and stay focused. Develop a keen eye to catch more errors. Proofreading needs good writing and reading skills which need to be developed over a period of time.

5. What are some of the worst mistakes you have found?

Rationale: Helps you to see how keenly the candidate works to find mistakes and errors in a document.

Sample Answer: Candidates should be able to list out the worst mistakes according to them that they have found not just in professional work but in their daily life as well. It might be something they spotted in a newspaper, magazine, billboard, etc.

6. How do you go ahead with planning, organizing, and prioritizing your work?

Rationale: Helps a recruiter to understand the working process of the candidate.

Sample Answer: Everyone has their own way of working but it is important that their working style should align with your needs. 

7. What kind of documents have you proofread in the past?

Rationale: Past experience of a candidate will help in understanding if they will be fit for the role and have any existing experience.

Sample Answer: Candidate must show previous work samples and if possible past employer reviews. 

8. Describe your proofreading methods?

Rationale: Check if their proofreading methods fulfill your requirements.

Sample Answer: Candidates should share their proofreading methods along with examples from previous work. Also, look if they hold any interest in working with the company’s methods. Which proofreading method are they most comfortable working with.

9. What are your weaknesses and strengths when it comes to proofreading?

Rationale: This question will help you judge a candidate’s strong areas and improvement areas.

Sample Answer: Candidates should be honest about their strengths and weaknesses with relevance to proofreading. Also, see if they mention what steps they are taking to work on their weak areas. 

10. Give an example to me when you encountered and overcame a professional obstacle.

Rationale: Helps recruiters to assess problem-solving skills of a candidate and how they behave in adverse situations.

Sample Answer: The candidate should quote real-time examples from their professional lives where they faced an obstacle and how did they manage it. What was the final outcome and what was the learning from that particular incident?