43 Series · SOC 43-9081
Proofreaders and Copy Markers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $51,120
- Median / year
- $79,290
- Top 10% earn
- -0.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 4,580
- US workers
Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn a median of $51,120 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $51,120, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,510 (10th percentile) to $79,290 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 4,580 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($68,120), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn a median of $51,120, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 36% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #16 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.6% by 2033.
- $51,120
- Median annual wage
- Top 64%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #16 of 54
- in Office and Administrative Support
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $68,120. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers (SOC 43-9081) pays a national median of $51,120 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,510 at the 10th percentile to $79,290 at the 90th, with a mean of $54,800 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 4,580 Americans work in this occupation across 26 reporting states and 23 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $68,120, which is +33% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $66,620 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$51,120
per year
Median Hourly
$24.58/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$54,800
average
Employment
4,580
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Proofreaders and Copy Markers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$51,120 Bottom 36% higher than 36% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Proofreaders and Copy Markers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Proofreaders and Copy Markers sits on the slower-growing side at -0.6% growth and $51,120 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.6%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.5/100K
Injury Rate
1/100
Danger Index
4.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Proofreaders and Copy Markers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Mark copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks.
- ▸ Read corrected copies or proofs to ensure that all corrections have been made.
- ▸ Correct or record omissions, errors, or inconsistencies found.
- ▸ Compare information or figures on one record against same data on other records, or with original copy, to detect errors.
- ▸ Route proofs with marked corrections to authors, editors, typists, or typesetters for correction or reprinting.
- ▸ Consult reference books or secure aid of readers to check references with rules of grammar and composition.
- ▸ Typeset and measure dimensions, spacing, and positioning of page elements, such as copy and illustrations, to verify conformance to specifications, using printer's ruler or layout software.
- ▸ Consult with authors and editors regarding manuscript changes and suggestions.
- ▸ Archive documents, conduct research, and read copy, using the internet and various computer programs.
- ▸ Write original content, such as headlines, cutlines, captions, and cover copy.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,510
25th Percentile
$41,170
Median
$51,120
75th Percentile
$62,390
90th Percentile
$79,290
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 26 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $68,120 | +33% above national |
| 2 | New York | $59,740 | +17% above national |
| 3 | California | $57,490 | +12% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $57,160 | +12% above national |
| 5 | New Jersey | $56,700 | +11% above national |
| 6 | Ohio | $55,560 | +9% above national |
| 7 | Maryland | $53,920 | +5% above national |
| 8 | Washington | $53,890 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Missouri | $52,920 | +4% above national |
| 10 | Kansas | $51,160 | same as national |
| 11 | Illinois | $50,060 | 2% below national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $49,450 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Georgia | $49,200 | 4% below national |
| 14 | Virginia | $48,090 | 6% below national |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $47,510 | 7% below national |
| 16 | Kentucky | $46,380 | 9% below national |
| 17 | North Carolina | $46,140 | 10% below national |
| 18 | Iowa | $44,680 | 13% below national |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $43,630 | 15% below national |
| 20 | South Carolina | $42,900 | 16% below national |
| 21 | Utah | $42,840 | 16% below national |
| 22 | Texas | $41,990 | 18% below national |
| 23 | Indiana | $40,920 | 20% below national |
| 24 | West Virginia | $36,730 | 28% below national |
| 25 | Florida | $35,610 | 30% below national |
| 26 | Michigan | $35,530 | 30% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 23 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $66,620 | +30% above national |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $59,740 | +17% above national |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $57,840 | +13% above national |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $55,360 | +8% above national |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $55,320 | +8% above national |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $55,280 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,020 | +8% above national |
| 8 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $54,900 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $54,890 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $53,020 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $52,440 | +3% above national |
| 12 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $52,250 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $51,970 | +2% above national |
| 14 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,920 | 2% below national |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,370 | 5% below national |
| 16 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $46,040 | 10% below national |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $45,740 | 11% below national |
| 18 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $44,160 | 14% below national |
| 19 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $42,840 | 16% below national |
| 20 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $42,140 | 18% below national |
| 21 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $41,600 | 19% below national |
| 22 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $39,040 | 24% below national |
| 23 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,240 | 31% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Proofreaders and Copy Markers make? ▼
What state pays Proofreaders and Copy Markers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Proofreaders and Copy Markers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Proofreaders and Copy Markers? ▼
Is Proofreaders and Copy Markers a good career? ▼
How does Proofreaders and Copy Markers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Proofreaders and Copy Markers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Proofreaders and Copy Markers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $62,390/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $68,120/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.