Proofreaders and Copy Markers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for proofreaders and copy markers is $51,120, or $24.58 per hour. About 4,580 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $68,120 in District of Columbia to $35,530 in Michigan.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 26 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $68,120 | $32.75 | 50 | 2.66 |
| 2 | New York | $59,740 | $28.72 | 1,030 | 3.61 |
| 3 | California | $57,490 | $27.64 | 300 | 0.55 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $57,160 | $27.48 | 190 | 1.74 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $56,700 | $27.26 | 160 | 1.27 |
| 6 | Ohio | $55,560 | $26.71 | 100 | 0.64 |
| 7 | Maryland | $53,920 | $25.92 | — | — |
| 8 | Washington | $53,890 | $25.91 | 60 | 0.53 |
| 9 | Missouri | $52,920 | $25.44 | 110 | 1.22 |
| 10 | Kansas | $51,160 | $24.60 | 90 | 2.18 |
| 11 | Illinois | $50,060 | $24.07 | 300 | 1.66 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $49,450 | $23.77 | — | — |
| 13 | Georgia | $49,200 | $23.66 | — | — |
| 14 | Virginia | $48,090 | $23.12 | 90 | 0.70 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $47,510 | $22.84 | 230 | 1.27 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $46,380 | $22.30 | 70 | 1.19 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $46,140 | $22.18 | 70 | 0.45 |
| 18 | Iowa | $44,680 | $21.48 | 110 | 2.36 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $43,630 | $20.98 | 60 | 0.74 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $42,900 | $20.63 | 40 | 0.53 |
| 21 | Utah | $42,840 | $20.60 | — | — |
| 22 | Texas | $41,990 | $20.19 | 200 | 0.47 |
| 23 | Indiana | $40,920 | $19.67 | 80 | 0.85 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $36,730 | $17.66 | 50 | 2.63 |
| 25 | Florida | $35,610 | $17.12 | 200 | 0.68 |
| 26 | Michigan | $35,530 | $17.08 | 140 | 1.05 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do proofreaders and copy markers make?
The median annual wage for proofreaders and copy markers in the United States is $51,120, or $24.58 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $34,510, and the top 10% earn $79,290.
How many proofreaders and copy markers are employed in the U.S.?
About 4,580 people work as proofreaders and copy markers nationwide.
Which state pays proofreaders and copy markers the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $68,120, followed by New York ($59,740) and California ($57,490).
Which state pays proofreaders and copy markers the least?
Michigan has the lowest median at $35,530.
Where are proofreaders and copy markers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is New York at 3.61×.