Flawless grammar and spelling skills are essential for any freelance writer. But if you have eyes for spotting such mistakes effortlessly, you can make a promising career out of Proofreader. Many people use this skill and make $35,000 to $40,000 per year just by doing proofreading jobs. And you can do it too!
Freelance proofreaders and editors are always in demand nowadays with the growing numbers of articles and documents published every day all over the internet.
Big Publishing houses, bloggers, journalist always reach out to proofreaders to make their articles perfect and error-free before they go ahead and publish them.
As a proofreader, you can make their lives easier and earn money in the process. Many freelancers make a full-time income by doing remote proofreading jobs. Not only this, as a proofreader, you they also flexibility to work from home at their own comfort and time preference...and you can do it too!
The question is, how you can get such proofreading jobs that pays you well!
Sometime back, I published my detailed guide on How to Become an Online Proofreader and make money online. I got quite a few emails from my readers asking me how they can find good proofreading jobs.
So in this post, I will list down the best online proofreading jobs for every level. No matter if you are a beginner, intermediates, and even experts with years of experience.. I have something for you all!
As a beginner, you can start with low-paying jobs which don't need much experience. Once you gain experience and get a few positive reviews or testimonials, you can always increase your rates and earn even $50 per hour as a proofreader!
Disclaimer: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means when you make a purchase I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Please read the affiliate disclaimer for more details.
If you haven't read my detailed guide on how to become a proofreader yet, let me give you a quick summary of what proofreading is before I go to the proofreading jobs.
If you read it already, skip to the proofreading jobs section below or consider this as a memory refresher!
What is Proofreading?
Proofreading is the process of reading a document to find out the common spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. This is considered to be the last step before content goes out for publication or presented to an audience.
So as you can see, if you want to be a proofreader, you must have eyes for spotting even the tiniest mistakes that others will miss. And for this, you need to have a good grasp of the English language, especially spelling and grammar.
How is Proofreading different from Editing?
Editing has a much broader scope than Editing. An editor mainly focuses on the document's overall structure and modify it to give it a better flow. They can do things like rewriting or removing specific sentences or phrases to make them look more natural and improve their overall readability, clarity, and tone.
Proofreaders, on the other hand, will look for misspellings, punctuation mistakes, etc. In general, proofreading takes much lesser time than editing. However, both must have the one common quality - eyes for details.
How do I start Proofreading?
There is no such professional degree available for proofreading, which you will complete, and expect proofreading assignments to come your way!
And to be honest, there isn’t much of a high profile requirement either to get proofreading jobs. All you need is basic language skills, an eye for spotting spelling and grammatical mistakes...that's all.
That being said, some companies do give preference to proofreaders who have prior experience or have gone through some training program on proofreading.
Caitlin Pyle, a renowned proofreader and course creator, earns more than $36,000 per year just by doing remote proofreading jobs on part-time.
She has created a fantastic FREE 76-minute workshop that will teach you how to make money online from home as a freelance proofreader.
The course will cover all the basics of proofreading, make money working as a proofreader, how to get more clients and scale it further, and most importantly, if proofreading is the right job for you.
How much can I earn as a Proofreader?
According to Glassdoor, the salary of a proofreader can be $27,000 to $65,000 per year, with an average of $42000.
Salary.com also confirmed the same salary.
However, as I mentioned earlier, your actual earning will be based on many factors such as your experience level, job location and work-hour preference, budgets set by clients etc.
30+ Best Online Proofreading Jobs (for Beginners and Pros)
If you are just starting, you can quickly set up your proofreading portfolio by completing a few remote proofreading jobs for bloggers, authors or small websites.
Review all the job requirements, deadline carefully and decide if the listed jobs are the correct fit for you and you can deliver. Make sure you deliver high-quality work to get positive reviews or testimonials from your clients. This will help you build reputation and authority much faster.
Once again, Before you apply for any of the jobs, I highly recommend you going through Caitlin's Free Proofreading Training Program.
To make it easier for you, I will start with the best companies, are offering online proofreading jobs for beginners.
Best Proofreading Jobs for Beginners
1.Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the best platforms for freelance jobs. You can use it to start online proofreading services as well. Here, the jobs or tasks are commonly known as gigs. Apart from proofreading services, you will also get the options to offer add-on services such as Editing, guest blog posting, SEO, article writing etc, to make extra money.
One good thing about Fiverr is there is no such special educational or training requirement to join Fiverr as a freelancer.
Most freelancers offer their services for $5 when they join. However, you can give your customer additional options such as faster delivery, Bulk Job orders discount by charging extra. Once you finish a few jobs and receive positive reviews, you can set higher prices for jobs.
Here are a couple of examples of Proofreading Gigs on Fiverr
2.Upwork
Upwork is another popular platform that has high rated freelancers offering different services, including proofreading and editing jobs. The platform is quite popular among freelancers across the US, Canada, Australia, UK and India.
3.Flexjobs
Flexjobs is a work from home job portal for part-time, freelance jobs which will let you work at the comfort of your home and make money online. All you need is a comfortable place at your home and a solid internet connection, and you are good to go
Flexjobs has a dedicated job section for editing and proofreading jobs.
However, one point to note is that Flexjobs also has a $15 per month membership. With this membership, you will also get access to different other remote online jobs exclusive to paid members only.
For any reason, if you don't like to keep the membership, you can cancel it anytime.
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a robust platform for professionals, yet a lot of people often people underestimate the power of it. LinkedIn gives you the option to with other people or potential clients who could be interested in your services.
Create your LinkedIn profile to showcase your proofreading and editing skills. You can also add testimonials or reviews received from other clients.
Start writing small articles or blog posts in your LinkedIn profile on different niches to portray your writing and proofreading skills. This will increase your chance of getting hired by various companies.
5.Proofreading Services
ProofreadingServices.com has both part-time and full-time online proofreading positions, but to qualify, all proofreaders must pass a 20-minute screening test before getting proofreading work.
They have flexible working hours and with pay range from $19 to $46 per hour based on different eligibility and deadline criteria. However, the earning is more than the U.S average hourly wage rate for proofreaders.
6.Lionbridge
Lionbridge offers different types of work from home for proofreaders, but if you go by the job description, they might look a little bit other than regular proofreading jobs. So, You can look for the available positions and countries as per your need.
For example, they have an open position as Social Media Evaluator (Japan). In this, you have to rate the relevancy, accuracy and quality of ads and other content targeted to you on social media. So, you will review the ad texts to make them more relevant to the target audience.
However, you need fluency in the language and a better understanding of the local culture for these type of jobs.
7.Gramlee
Gramlee always looks for talented proofreaders in their team! But, the only requirement is you have to be a Grammar nerd.
One good thing about Gramlee is their 24/7 availability of work from home editing jobs. The only challenge is their stringent deadline where you need to proofread 3000- word documents within 24 hours.
Grammarly doesn't seek any degree or previous work experience or apply, but it always helps if you have some training.
8.Polished Paper
Polished Paper is another website where you can apply for proofreader jobs. But for this, you need to create an account with them and upload your resume.
Polish Paper has a screening process, where you need to take a 35-question editor test. The questions are based on APA, and MLA formatting guide. So make sure you are well aware of it before you take the test. And this is something which you will need in future once you are selected for the jobs.
Since they have not mentioned any eligibility criteria or educational experience, I would suggest applying for their jobs even if you are a beginner.
9.Scribe Media
Scribe Media is formerly known as Book in a Box until they rebranded and reorganized completely.
As of now, Scribe doesn't have any open position for editing or proofreading jobs. But they are still hiring freelance ghostwriters for their company.
You can submit your essays or small articles to showcase your writing and editing skill at the time of applying.
10.Domainite
Domainite doesn't need any special training, certification or previous experience to apply for their open jobs. All you need is impeccable writing skill. You can submit a sample of your work to prove your proofreading and editing skills.
Apart from this, you can also upload any other relevant documents which might help in proving your skill.
Best Proofreading Jobs for College Graduates with English Degree
Some companies do require previous experience or an English language degree from the job applicants. So, before you apply for any job, make sure you have gone through the job description and qualify for applying.
Let's take a look at some of the companies that hire professional or experienced proofreaders.
11.Proofread Now
Proofread Now occasionally hires proofreaders and editors. So I would suggest bookmarking their websites and keep checking it from and time for open positions.
To get hired, you need to have at least five years of proofreading experience. On top of that, you must successfully pass their editing test, which is quite difficult.
12.ProofreadingPal
ProofreadingPal is a great place to work with if you are a professional proofreader. They have a strict two-proofreader model where they edit and proofread every document twice by professional proofreaders.
To join ProofreadingPal, you must answer a short independent contractor questionnaire, and their representative will get back to you with their decision within 5 to 10 business days. If you get selected, you can earn $500 to $3,000 per month.
13.Scribendi
Scribendi is the world’s fastest-growing community of professional editors. They started in the year 1997 and, as of now, they have more than 400 professional freelance editors.
One good thing about Scribendi is you can set your own working schedule as per your comfort.
You can join Scribendi from any country. All the payments will be made to your PayPal Account in USD. To get accepted into their platform, you have to be an English native speaker with at least three years of experience in editing.
14.Wordvice
Wordvice always seeks qualified and experienced freelance editors for their open positions. Their job mainly includes dissertations, admissions essays, editing research articles and thesis.
As a freelancer, you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world so long as you have an internet connection. To get accepted into their platform, you will need a graduate degree.
Wordvice mainly offers part-time freelance, which means you can do it as per your preference. However, the payment terms and deadline will be set by the clients.
15.Kirkus Media
Kirkus Media frequently posts jobs for proofreaders and editors. So, bookmark their website and keep checking it at regular intervals.
Apart from this, they also offer Book review jobs. If you are interested, you can give it a try. All you need to do is write a review of 300-350 words on different books. These books can be from any niche.
To apply for this job, you need to send them an email at their official address with your resume, a list of writing and reviewing sample. Their team will go through your documents and get back to you if you are selected.
16.Editor World
Editor World hires independent contractors for proofreading jobs. However, to qualify and get hired, you must have a degree in English, speak English as your first language. Previous proofreading experience is also considered.
They also take a short editing test that you must pass before getting editing jobs.
17.Cactus Communications
Cactus Communications hires editors and proofreaders, mainly with a medical background. But, periodically, they also hire general proofreaders.
To get hired, you need to have a bachelors degree and previous experience in proofreading work for the healthcare industry.
As a proofreader, you can earn up to $4000 per month. Apart from this, they offer an extra 20% bonus for consistent, high-delivery works.
18.Scribbr
Scribbr is located in Netherland. They have editing opportunities in multiple languages, such as English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Their work is mainly focused on editing dissertations, writing APA style references. Apart from that, they also check for plagiarism in documents.
They have more than 400 academic editors who are engaged in proofreading student term papers.
If you are fluent in any of these languages and have a college degree, you can have a good career with them.
19.Sibia Proofreading
Sibia Proofreading offers remote proofreading jobs as and when required. So you might not always find a job here.
Sibia mainly hires people who have editing and proofreading experience in science-based projects. If you are interested, bookmark this website and keep coming back to and check for open positions.
20.Wordy
Wordy gives online proofreading and copy-editing services to many clients. They usually hire editors and proofreaders for remote proofreading jobs through online advertisements.
However, they have not mentioned exact qualification or eligibility criteria on their website. So, make sure you read the job description well and contact them if you need more details.
21.Writer’s Relief
Writer’s Relief offers remote editing jobs for cover books, novels, essays, short stories and poems.
Their screening process is so complex that only the top 2% of all the applicants make it to the last round and get proofreading jobs. So you have to best of the best if you want to get a job here.
Writer’s Relief gives pretty competitive rates to their successful hires. They take new people for their open positions place throughout the year.
22.EditFast
EditFast has open positions for skilled writer, proofreaders and editors, and writers.
To join EditFast, you will need a College Degree. Any kind of proofreading training and previous experience will also be an advantage. To get new projects, all applicants need to take an editing test. Once they pass the result, EditFast will start assigning work to them.
One cool feature of Edit Fast is, you will get your own profile page once you a receive a positive review from the client. This will help you notification whenever a new work is posted.
23.Wordfirm Inc.(Managed Editing)
Wordfirm Inc. mainly provides editing, proofreading, substantive editing, and writing services to its clients.
To join Wordfirm, you need to complete an insanely lengthy independent contractor application form. This will help them to determine the most suitable job that can be assigned to you.
It is mandatory to have a bachelor’s degree in any subject and five years of relevant experience to apply for their jobs.
24.English Trackers
English Trackers mainly hires professional academic editors who are Native English speaker, having 2 years of professional academic editing experience. Ph. D with experience counts as an advantage.
Apart from this, they also offer online editing jobs for college students, which is great if you want a few extra bucks while studying. They offer flexible working hours, so you can work at your convenience.
Payments are made on the 15th of every month through PayPal accounts.
25.Book Editing
Book Editing offers online book editing jobs that you can complete from the comfort of your home. If you are a copy editor, a proofreader with previous experience, you will find a great career opportunity.
But you have to first pass their find-the-errors proofreading test being considered for this position.
This is a great career opportunity for you if you are looking for long-term book editing jobs from home.
26.WordsRU
WordsRU hires qualified editors who must have a Master’s Degree, PhD or relevant professional experience in any academic discipline. If you get selected, you have the option to work on weekend at your comfort.
You can work as an independent contractor and negotiate your payment with them personally. Their requirements are mainly focused on manuscripts editing and academic formatting styles.
27. Start Your Own Proofreading Business
If you are passionate about proofreading, You can also start your independent proofreading business. This will let you set your own rates and build a stable client base over time. Another benefit is that you don't need to pay any fees to third parties since there will be no middle-man.
You can also pick clients from freelancing websites and let them know about your business.
Other Proofreading Companies You can consider
- 28. Kibin
- 29. American Journal Experts
- 30. Edit 911
- 31. IXL Learning
- 32.Guru
- 33.Enago
- 34. Grammar Chic
Wrapping Up
Proofreading is indeed a great option; you are looking for remote work opportunities. Many people are currently making a full-time income from proofreading jobs at the comfort of working from home.
Also Read: Complete Proofread Anywhere Review- The Best Online Proofreading Training Program
If you have good knowledge of English grammar and spelling, proofreading could be your thing for sure. I hope this list will help you to get the right opportunity and get started with your journey.
If you know any other companies offering proofreading jobs, I would love to hear about it from you in the comment section below.
If you are also looking some other opportunities to make money online from home, you can also check my post 35+ Best Ways to Make Money Online in 2021.