proofreading jobs for beginners

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26 Easy Proofreading Jobs Online (NO Experience Needed)

By: Author Mitch Glass

Posted on Last updated: December 14, 2023

Online proofreading jobs come with many perks — especially for all you grammar snobs out there.

You can work:

✔️ Wherever you want (one of the best jobs for digital nomads ) ✔️ Whenever you want ✔️ As much (or as little) as you want.

And the pay isn’t too shabby either. 

There’s just one problem:

Experience.

Many work-from-home proofreading jobs ask for loads of it, which begs the question…

Is it possible to find proofreading jobs online with no experience?

You bet it is.

Here’s exactly how to do it.

Table of Contents

What is a proofreader?

Who uses proofreaders, is it hard to get proofreading jobs from home with no experience, freelance proofreading vs. freelancing writing: which is better, how to find proofreading jobs online (no experience), 1. polished paper, 2. edit my english, 3. other companies to find entry-level proofreading jobs online (no experience), “recommended” proofreading companies that do not actually hire proofreaders without experience, 2. flexjobs, 3. other job boards to find proofreading jobs for beginners, facebook groups to find proofreading jobs online without experience, how to become a proofreader online, step-by-step, frequently asked questions.

A proofreader is an expert at correcting written language. They’re the ones tearing apart documents in red pen, hunting for mistakes, grammar mishaps, and formatting issues. 

Proofreaders are often confused with copy editors. Proofreaders focus on grammar, spelling, and formatting — the objective stuff. Editors, on the other hand, also scrutinize the structure, flow, and accuracy of the writing.

As a proofreader, you can work as a generalist or specialize in certain niches. 

You might feel like niching down will limit your number of potential clients. But specializing in one area — like medical, legal, or academic papers — can often make it easier to land work. 

Becoming an expert in certain proofreading niches can also lead to higher-paying jobs.

Proofreading is similar to transcription and scoping. Before diving headfirst into the world of proofreading, it’s worth investigating transcriptionist jobs and scopist jobs as well. 

Proofreading is a big deal for companies. If they publish content with errors, they instantly lose credibility with potential customers. 

Because of this, many do not trust software to catch mistakes for them. They want a second set of human eyeballs. 

Some examples of people who hire proofreaders include:

• Authors (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.) 
• Businesses (brand content, manuals, reports, etc.)
• Brands on social media
• Bloggers and content writers
• Marketing companies
• Entrepreneurs writing website copy
• Job seekers writing resumes and cover letters
• Academics publishing studies and research papers

Work-from-home proofreading jobs are flexible and low-stress, but is it really possible to start with no experience?

Of course it is. Every successful proofreader had no experience at one point.

The trick is finding ways to build that experience. The more you have, the easier it gets to find work. 

That said, there is a difference between no experience and no skills. 

To get proofreading jobs, you need to actually know how to proofread. 

That means memorizing spelling and grammar rules like the back of your hand. This is the hardest part. 

But if you learned it once upon a time in elementary school, you can learn it again. 

Just grab an English proofreading book , start studying, and — when you’ve mastered the skills — search for freelance proofreading jobs from home using the strategies below. 

If you want to cut down on the learning curve and start earning faster, you can also take an online proofreading course . 

That said, before paying for anything, it’s a good idea to take this free proofreading class . It’ll help you decide if proofreading is really for you, then show you tricks for attracting your first clients.

I’ve dug through various proofreading courses, so before pulling your wallet, check out my reviews to choose the best one.

• Proofread Anywhere review
• Knowadays review

If you decide proofreading is not for you, don’t fret. There are plenty of awesome freelance job options for beginners . 

If it is for you, here’s everything you need to know. 

How much do proofreaders make an hour?

According to salary data collected by Indeed, the average proofreader in the United States earns roughly $25 per hour (or almost $60,000 per year).

As a proofreading beginner, your rates depend on the quality of your clients and your work speed. 

You’ll likely have to work up to that $25-per-hour rate, but it’s doable. 

The maximum pay for freelance proofreaders is generally less than for freelance writers. 

This is because a good freelance writer is much harder to replace than a good proofreader. 

In a way, proofreading is easier than writing because you don’t have to “create” anything. All you have to do is modify what someone else already created. 

If you’re number one priority is a high income, look into freelance writing. 

I’ve personally made as much as $100/hour (after years of experience), so I can attest to the income potential.

I even made a free course to help you earn your first $1,000 as a freelance writer.

FREE 5-DAY COURSE

Learn the simple step-by-step process I used to easily land my first freelance clients and build a business I can run while traveling the world.

By signing up, you'll also be added to my legendary email list and receive exclusive travel lifesyle tips I don't share anywhere else. 

That said, if the idea of staring at a blank page sounds daunting to you, then writing might not be your jam.

In that case, proofreading is an awesome option — here’s how to find proofreading jobs online.

There’s more than one way to find proofreading jobs online with no experience.

You can either work for a proofreading agency that sends you work and acts as a “middleman” between you and clients. Or you can use job boards and other resources to find and work with clients directly. 

Both options are viable ways to get proofreading jobs from home fast, but let’s start with proofreading agencies. 

Companies that hire proofreaders

If you don’t want to do the grunt work of finding clients on your own, you can join a proofreading company that finds work for you. 

Since you’re essentially working with a middleman, your rates won’t be quite as high. But if you consider the time you save searching for clients (time you’re not paid for), then it may work out in your favor. 

There’s a handful of companies that hire proofreaders with no experience, which makes it a great place to find entry-level proofreading jobs online.

But wait — do you need qualifications to be a proofreader online? 

Some companies may not require previous experience, but they do require a college degree of some sort. (Those are usually the academic proofreading jobs.)

Here’s a list of companies to find proofreading jobs for beginners.

Polished Paper is an awesome company for work-at-home proofreading jobs. They offer proofreading and editing services to clients who need a second set of eyes on:

✔️ Novels ✔️ Blog entries ✔️ Screenplays ✔️ Dissertations ✔️ Journal articles ✔️ Application essays ✔️ Personal statements  ✔️ Business documents ✔️ Resumes/cover letters

Their website doesn’t say anything requiring prior experience. But you will need to pass a 35-question test that shows you know your stuff. 

Edit My English is another online proofreader job that doesn’t require experience.

To proofread for Edit My English, you must be a U.S. citizen and have a degree from a U.S.-based university. 

All editors set their own hours, typically from 10 to 40 hours per week. You earn per page and receive 60% of the client payment. The faster you work, the higher your hourly rate.

There’s a whole slew of proofreading companies that don’t require experience.

To start your job search, check out:

• Kibin . A proofreading company that specializes in academic editing. Kibin needs freelance proofreaders who can offer fast, overnight turnaround times. You must pass a grammar/editing test to be approved. (Note: Kibin mentions that they hire “experienced editors” on their editor’s page, but experience is not mentioned as a requirement on their application page).
• Gramlee . A proofreading company for editing dissertations, copywriting, and other documents. Prior experience is not specified as a requirement.

Many articles online recommend proofreading companies to new proofreaders looking for jobs without experience. 

The problem is, most of the companies they recommend actually DO require experience. Some don’t even offer proofreading services at all!

That’s annoying. And it can end up wasting loads of your time.

To avoid that, here’s a list of recommended proofreading companies that require experience. 

Most of them do not specify how much proofreading experience you need, so feel free to check them out anyway if you have a little experience.

Note: You can save these as potential companies to work for in the future. Just not as your very first job.

• Sibia Proofreading . Proofreading company for fiction manuscripts, job applications, business memos, and doctoral dissertations. 
• Proofreading Pal . Proofreading services for authors, students, businesses, resumes, cover letters, etc.
• Proofreading Services . Proofreading company with 10K+ clients in over 100 countries.
• Edit Fast . Proofreading company for any type of document.
• Words RU . Proofreading company for any type of document. 
• Reedsy . Proofreading for fiction and non-fiction books.
• Wordvice . Proofreading for academic documents written by students, researchers, and business professionals.
• Proofreading.org/Cambridge Proofreading . UK-based company that hires US and UK editors. Purely academic proofreading. Several years of experience is required, plus a college degree and subject matter expertise. 
• Scribbr . Proofreading services for essays, theses, dissertations, etc. Must be a native English speaker with at least a bachelor’s degree, work a minimum of 10 hours a week, and have previous experience proofreading academic texts.
• Scribendi . Proofreading services for academics/students, authors, businesses, and individuals (resumes, cover letters, etc.). 3+ years of experience required in editing, writing, document production, or language-teaching, and an average proofreading speed of 1,000-1,500 words per hour to apply. 
• Quality Proofreading . Proofreading services for students, businesses, and individuals (resumes, cover letters, etc.). Must have an advanced degree from a UK/US institution and 3+ years of proofreading experience.
• Proofread Now . Offers proofreading services in both English and Spanish. “Rigorous” testing is required. 
• Wordy . Hires both editors and proofreaders, but the hiring process is temporarily paused. 

Finally, these companies are commonly recommended to new proofreaders, but in reality, they’re not actually proofreading companies:

• Lifetips. A site where you can share tips and knowledge on various topics.
• Kirkus. A book review company.
• Scribe Media (AKA Book in a Box). A publisher and coach for novelists.
• Babbletype. A translation and transcription service
• Domainite. An editing company (different skill set than proofreading).
• Cactus Global. An editing company (different skill set than proofreading).
• Jobsforeditors.com. An editing company (different skill set than proofreading).

Alrighty, now that we have those time-wasters out of the way, let’s dive into some job boards for proofreaders. 

Job boards to find proofreading jobs from home (no experience) 

Some of these job boards are specific for proofreaders. But most of them are general freelance marketplaces where you can search for proofreading gigs.

On these marketplaces, each job listing has its own specific experience requirements. Some require it; others don’t. Before applying, read each description carefully. 

Upwork is one of the most popular job boards to find online proofreading jobs – or any freelance jobs, for that matter. 

Upwork was originally formed in 2015 after Elance and O-Desk merged. 

Upwork has job postings for nearly every type of freelancing service, including graphic designers, IT specialists, writers, and you guessed it — proofreaders.

Clients post jobs in the marketplace, then freelancers compete against each other to win the job. 

The platform is known to be a bit oversaturated, so you’ll have to decide if Upwork is worth it to you or not. 

It’s full of opportunity, but also competition. Some people have made $10K/mo and even six-figure salaries on Upwork alone. 

Upwork takes a 20% cut of your pay until you make $500. After that, the fee lowers to 10%. 

Flexjobs is a curated job board specifically for remote and flexible online jobs — including proofreading jobs for beginners.

The nice thing about Flexjobs is that all the job postings on Flexjobs are reviewed by editors to catch scams and sketchy-looking ads.

Flexjobs charges a small monthly fee to use the platform, but you can request a refund if you’re not satisfied (like if you don’t find a job). 

That said, you can see all the proofreading job listings for free . Just type it into the search bar. 

Many listings on these job boards require no experience, but some opportunities do require experience.

• Problogger . Writing and editing jobs.
• Fiverr . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• Freelancer . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• LinkedIn . World’s largest business social site where you can connect with potential employers in your industry.
• Remote.co . Remote job listings in many different fields, including proofreading and editing.
• Indeed.com . Job board for all types of jobs, including remote proofreading and editing opportunities.
• Guru . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• People Per Hour . Freelance opportunities, including proofreading and editing.
• MediaBistro . Editing, proofreading, copywriting, graphic design, and other creative jobs.
• WritingJobz . Writing-related job opportunities, including editing and proofreading.
• The Editorial Freelancers Association . Matches businesses with proofreaders, editors, and writers.
• Kelly Services . Job board for a variety of industries, including proofreading and editing positions.
• Virtual Vocations . Job board for specific remote work niches, including editing and proofreading.

Recommended job boards that do not offer proofreading jobs online

Just like with the “proofreading companies” we covered that aren’t actually proofreading companies, there are also job boards that some sites recommend that don’t actually have proofreading jobs. 

• Lionbridge . Translation and interpretation services only.
• Toogit . Job board that does not have proofreading or editing job postings.

Facebook groups are always a great place to find legitimate proofreading jobs online. 

You can either post your offer and wait for opportunities to come your way, or you can search for clients searching for help. 

It’s worth hanging around the following groups to see if you attract some clients:

• Proofreaders Group . Proofreaders trading tips and news, as well as a place where clients come to find proofreading services.
• Beta Reading/Editing/Proofreading . Independent authors, blog writers, and artists post job opportunities for proofreading services.
• Proofreader Needed Today (general proofreaders and editors) . For proofreaders/editors to post their services and writers to post proofreading job opportunities.
• Binders Full of Remote Proofreading and Editing Jobs . A group where members can share proofreading and editing job opportunities.
• Freelance Content Writers, Content Editor, Proofreader & Digital Marketers . Group to offer job opportunities to content writers, digital marketers, editors, and proofreaders.
• Proofreading and Editing Services . Members can either post job opportunities or request them.
• Transcribing, Editing & Proofreading Services. Find or post job opportunities for transcribing, editing, and proofreading.

Remember, the goal isn’t to spam these groups with your services — that won’t fly.

Instead, interact with the group, help people, build relationships, and mention that you are a freelance proofreader. 

Alrighty, now that I’ve firehosed you with information. Let’s revamp how to become a proofreader online, step by step.

• Commit. Take this free course to be 100% sure proofreading is right for you (and learn how to grab your first clients). 
• Master your grammar. Pick up some proofreading books on Amazon or sign up for an online course.
• Build a minimal portfolio. Do a couple free or cheap projects for people in your network, or create sample projects of your own. You can showcase these in a nicely formatted Google doc, or create a simple website. 
• Cast your lines. Treat finding your first clients like a full-time job. Cast your line in all the places mentioned in this guide.

Once you find your first proofreading clients, give them amazing service, then ask for testimonials and referrals.

The bigger you build your portfolio, reputation, and network, the easier it gets to fill your pipeline with work.

Proofreading is a perfect job for students, especially because the rules of grammar are fresh in your mind. Freelance proofreading is also flexible, so you can work around your school schedule. When freelancing, there is no need to share how young you are unless a client asks. 

Proofreading doesn’t require experience, but the more experience you have, the easier it is to find work. Everyone starts somewhere, and the most important thing is having the skills to be a proofreader. Your main goal is to prove to clients that you can complete the job. 

You do not need any special qualifications to be a proofreader, but if you are specialized in certain areas, it may help you find jobs. A proofreading portfolio showcasing your skills can be more convincing to clients than qualifications that they probably have never heard of. 

The key to becoming a skilled proofreader is practice. The more you proofread, the easier it is to spot mistakes. The easier it is to spot mistakes, the faster you finish projects. And the faster you finish projects, the more you can earn per hour.

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21 Legitimate Proofreading Jobs Sites for Beginners + Tips to Get Started

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Top 21 Places To Look For Proofreading Jobs

Online proofreading: a lucrative work-from-home job, how much money does a proofreader usually make, becoming a proofreader: what do you need, tools that will come in handy for proofreading jobs, different types of proofreading jobs, pros and cons of being a proofreader, tips on finding proofreading jobs, final words.

Interested to work as a freelance proofreader? You’d be happy to know that prospective freelance proofreading jobs pay well, even at the lowest end of the spectrum. According to Glassdoor, as of June 2020, the lowest base pay is at $34,000/year and the highest is at $66,000/year. This means the average base pay is at $45,222/year.

Not bad, considering you’ll be working from home, or where you’re most comfortable and productive.

Depending on your skills, you can expect to earn within the range specified. You can also use Payscale , a salary comparison research site, to determine your pay rate based on your location.

Overall, working remotely as a freelance proofreader comes with benefits, salary-wise. You just need to find a gig that’s legitimate.

There are plenty of remote job websites that you can use to find proofreading jobs. Having a lot of choices can be a good thing, but you will have to vet these choices one by one and create online profiles on websites that you are not even legit.

Fortunately, we took the liberty of listing 20 legitimate online proofreading job websites that are fit for first-time and long-time online jobseekers. If you learn how you can get freelance clients , getting hired for the job would be easier.

Here are some of the best places with a high chance of landing online proofreading jobs for beginners and pros alike:

Fiverr is one of the best websites for any freelancer, including beginner proofreaders. The pay may not match your expectations, but it is a great place to start acquiring experience.

2. Clickworker

If you are looking for quick jobs, Click Worker has a lot of choices. All you need to do is complete a test and gain access to tons of proofreading jobs once you pass.

3. ProofreadingServices

The best thing about Proofreading Services is the flexible schedule of offered jobs and the salary that ranges from $20 to $40 per hour. Although, getting a high rate may be challenging for beginners.

4. SolidGigs

Why waste hours of your billable time looking for jobs when you can sign up for SolidGigs? SolidGigs does the work for you, sending you the best freelance proofreading jobs every week, so you can get back to doing what you do best.

5. FlexJobs

FlexJobs has many proofreading jobs and other positions that require a similar set of skills. This means you can also explore other projects on top of proofreading. Proofreader gigs vary as full-time, part-time, and temporary.

6. Get Editing Jobs

This community of job seekers and clients offer various editing and writing projects. Proofreading jobs may be scarce, but you can try a different keyword to expand your search.

7. LionBridge

LionBridge requires a skills test to get started, but anyone who is naturally good with grammar can pass.

UpWork has tons of proofreading jobs to offer. However, the screening process is the most challenging part. Make sure you buff up your profile to get a better chance to get in. Once you are in, you will need to spend a little amount of money on “connects” to submit proposals.

9. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a legitimate social media platform for freelancers and professionals. The more connections you make, the higher the chance you get to land a legitimate proofreading job.

10. Scribendi

Scribendi is a fast-growing editing and proofreading service who are always constantly searching for the best work-from-home proofreaders.

11. Contena

Joining Contena takes only about five minutes of your time. They offer tons of jobs for freelancers who specialize in writing, editing, and proofreading.

Guru is a great website if you want to market yourself for almost any type of job inside and outside of writing.

13. Wordvice

Wordvice is a great website if you want to take academic writing and proofreading projects. Because of their clients from prestigious universities in the US, you can gain quite a lot of academic editing and proofreading experience.

14. Craigslist

Craigslist has a couple of interesting proofreading job posts, depending on your area.

15. Scribbr

Scribbr has a meticulous screening process, but once you pass, you will gain access to tons of proofreading projects.

16. Cactus Communications

If you are looking to make working remotely a full-time job and your main source of income, Cactus Communications will allow you to choose. However, you might need a college degree for this option.

17. Polished Paper

Polished Paper has a reputation for giving higher pay. However, it is quite challenging to get in, especially if you don’t have enough experience. It includes a test and various levels of screening.

18. EditFast

EditFast allows you to create a profile to market yourself to clients. However, the fee is quite pricey but good enough for building your work experience.

19. ProofreadingPal

This website is the perfect option for students enrolled in college. They usually hire students and professionals with a minimum of 3.5 GPA.

20. Freelancer

Freelancer is similar to sites like Fiverr and Upwork. However, the number of proofreading jobs on this site tend to be fewer.

21. Gramlee

Signing up for Gramlee is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is fill out the application form and wait for a response. It is a great company that offers flexible hours and remote proofreading jobs.

If you reached this point in the article, then it means you decided to give proofreading a shot. So let’s go into the details about freelance proofreading.

What is proofreading exactly?

Proofreaders, from the name itself, read and proofread almost any online content. Whether it is a blog post, marketing copy, social media post, or anything else in between, a proofreader ensures that the specific content or draft is bulletproof and ready for publishing.

Sounds simple, right?

It is simple in theory, but this job does require focus. It is a meticulous job that requires patience, the utmost attention to detail, and a good handle on the English language, including an extensive amount of grammar knowledge.

Although you might be confused with the terms “proofreader” and “editor,” they are two completely different things. A proofreader can be an editor, and an editor can also become a proofreader.

Sometimes, writers become their own proofreaders, depending on the job or client. However, having a different pair of eyes to proofread an article is highly recommended due to what is called writers’ blind spots or a writer’s own errors that they failed to spot.

No matter how good a writer is, there may still be lapses in their work. This is where proofreaders come in to look for those gaps.

When a final draft is ready for polishing and preparing the content for publishing, proofreading comes into play.

Whether it is an essay, a transcript, a marketing ad campaign, or anything else in between, a proofreader’s job is to make sure that there are no typos or grammatical errors.

The proofreader also needs to make sure that the content is written in the preferred style set by the client or company.

With that said, proofreaders are essential in most writing processes. It only means that just like writers, proofreading jobs are also in demand for online blogs, marketing, and most other industries.

What does a Copy Editor Do?

Just to provide a clear distinction, a copy editor comes in earlier in the process of writing and proofing an article. They do the bulk of edits needed to improve a draft beyond typos, punctuation, and grammar.

Copy editors are there to make the content clear and consistent, and then makes notes for revision. It is a whole back and forth process between the writer and the editor before the draft makes its way to the proofreader.

Copy editing requires the same skills as a proofreader, so you will most likely see these two terms linked together when you start your online job search.

Proofreading salaries can range from 30k to 50k annually.

It is so much more than a minimum wage, without the hassle of the commute, waking up early, and more.

Just like any other freelance job, proofreading salaries will be based on the amount of work you put in.

My mindset towards freelancing is kind of like a sole proprietorship, where clients come to you to hire your services, as opposed to the conventional job scheme.

Most proofreaders charge per project, word count, or hourly rate, and a beginner proofreader can charge around $10 per hour. This rate can significantly increase, once you have proven your skills and gained enough experience.

Before looking for any work-from-home jobs, one of the most important skills you need to learn is proper time management above anything else.

You might have the right skills that will fit the proofreading job description but, without the ability to manage your time properly, you won’t be as productive.

With a flexible schedule, procrastination is your worst enemy. When working from home, there can be a lot of distractions such as chores, hobbies, and more.

The best tip I can give you if you end up working remotely is to isolate yourself from all the distractions as much as possible. If you can set up your workstation in an isolated area in the house, such as a separate room, it will help a lot with productivity.

Aside from time management, here are some of the most important skills every proofreader should have or acquire:

• Excellent Vocabulary – Any proofreader should have an extensive vocabulary. You can always learn a new word each day and list them down for future use.
• Top-Notch Grammar Skills – Catching spelling errors may be a part of the job, but it does not stop there. You should also know your subject-verb-agreement rules, proper uses of a comma, and most of all, consistency.
• Advanced Writing Knowledge – Some jobs require a certain degree and a higher level of education. You can always take an e-learning course to land a higher-paying proofreading job.
• Attention to Detail – Proofreaders are like quality assurance personnel. They make sure an article or write-up is error-free before publishing, and to catch all the bugs and errors, you will need to be focused and take your time.

Some clients may prefer speed over quality, but make sure you focus on quality and work on a productive workflow later.

Proofreading doesn’t require a high-end computer similar to what will be required for gaming, music production, or graphic design. Still, you must have a stable and reliable setup.

As an online proofreader, you will be working with a lot of confidential documents. Aside from the computer specs, you also need to ensure a safe and secure working environment.

Here are some tools that will almost always come in handy for online proofreaders:

• Grammarly – This proofreading tool can never beat a human proofreader, but it can help a lot in making your copy air-tight. Plus, you can install it as an extension for most word processing software like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, emails, WordPress, and more.

Aside from Grammarly, there are tons of grammar checking tools you can choose from. Other tools that you will need are:

• The Chicago Manual of Style, AP Stylebook, and Mcgraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook – These books will help you significantly as a professional proofreader. It contains plenty of useful tips for being a more efficient proofreader.
• Google Docs – Most remote teams use Google Docs, Google Sheets, and other apps included in the Google Suite. Why? Because of its excellent collaboration features. Google Docs allows remote teams to work on the same document in real-time without trading emails or direct messages. Plus, it enables project managers to build a system for tracking the progress of the whole team.

Make sure you set up your Google Drive account because you will most likely need it when you become a proofreader.

As a proofreader, you will be required to proofread many forms of content from emails to PDF files to manuscripts. Because there are so many types of content, you can choose to focus on one or two types.

Although there are differences in writing styles, the main goal will always be polishing and freeing an article from grammatical, punctuation, and structure errors.

Here are some examples of content that you may or may not come across as a proofreader:

• Social Media Content
• Court Transcripts
• User Manuals
• Press Releases
• School Tests
• Restaurant Menus
• Medical Transcriptions
• Newsletters
• Legal Transcriptions, and more

Basically, anything you see written online, in newspapers, magazines, or a cereal box most likely went through the eyes of a proofreader.

So, if you are worried about the demand for this line of work, there is enough work out there for proofreaders and editors around the globe.

While there are many advantages to becoming a proofreader, there are drawbacks as well. Before deciding if you are willing to take this route, make sure you weigh out the pros and cons first.

• You get to work remotely
• The flexible schedule allows you to manage your own time and become your own boss
• You can get online proofreading jobs without investment
• You can choose to become a part-time or full-time proofreader
• There is a chance to get proofreading jobs from home even without experience
• Proofreading is a skill that comes naturally to many
• If you want to make it big, you might need to get a degree or undergo formal training
• Deadlines are strict
• Working from home is very different from working in an office, and might take a little getting used to

If you have decided on what kind of proofreading work you want to do, you can do a little quick online search to have a glimpse of what is out there.

With so many options, you are going to need to put the right search term to get more tailored results. Here are some helpful keywords you can type in your search engine, or one of the websites that I will mention later in the article:

• Proofreader
• Academic Editor
• Book Editor
• Online Proofreading Jobs
• Line Editor

Useful Tip: It is possible to find jobs where you least expect it such as social media groups. You can also join freelance groups on Reddit or Facebook to get help and ideas from the community.

Plus, most clients often resort to Facebook groups when hiring freelancers to avoid third-party fees, which has some advantages and disadvantages. When getting jobs outside of these groups, you will be dealing with unverified strangers that may or may not scam you. It is ideal to draft your own contracts for instances like these.

The only advantage, however, is that you can get paid more without the service fees. So, if you decide to take this route, make sure you check out your potential client’s reputation online and ask around within the community.

So, if you have a knack for correcting other people’s mistakes and have a good command of English spelling and grammar, you can become an online proofreader and get paid for it handsomely.

Online proofreading jobs are everywhere, and it is a great place to start your freelancing and independent contractor business.

Just remember to take the job seriously once you get in, and you will never run out of clients or projects.

Becoming a proofreader is more of a business than a job, so the more work you do, the higher you get paid, ultimately leading you to financial freedom.

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Written by Allan Borch

Contributor at millo.co.

Allan Borch is the founder of Dotcom Dollar . With almost 10 years of digital marketing experience, he wants to help entrepreneurs and business owners build and monetize their own successful online business. Connect with him on LinkedIn , Twitter and Youtube .

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31 Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (Up to $35 Per Hour)

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Proofreading Jobs from Home No Experience

Table of Contents

Do you have the skill to correct punctuation and spelling errors?

If yes, then you have what it takes to become an online proofreader with an income potential between $36k-$60k a year.

Online proofreading jobs are in demand, because there is an increase in online content and marketing, which means more job opportunities for proofreaders.

A good number of bloggers and online businesses need help to proofread blogs, books and other digital content. They require a second pair of eyes to check and correct mistakes and edit errors before the article is published and goes live.

There are many online proofreading jobs for beginners who are interested in working either full-time or part-time.

If want to begin online proofreading jobs from home, you will find this to be a flexible work from home option that is not country-specific.

Online Proofreader Job Role

It’s a known fact that businesses and individuals need writing.

Writing covers tons of digital space, from emails to website “About Us” pages to product descriptions to eBooks and more. But what about the rest of the writing process?

Companies don’t just need someone to put pen to paper; they need someone to make sure the writing is clear, clean, and error-free. That’s where proofreaders come in.

Proofreaders make sure that writing is concise and accurate.

It’s great work for a detail-oriented individual who likes a challenge. Knowing what goes into solid proofreading is important, as it lets you earn more and helps you build a stable career.

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is a vital part of editing.

It’s the process of reading through a piece of writing and marking any errors you find so that they can be fixed before publication.

Proofreading is normally one of the last steps before a piece is published, and it’s used to catch smaller errors that might not have been caught in the initial drafts or developmental edits.

Proofreading jobs require you to take a piece of content written by someone (like a blog post or an email) and make it perfect.

It’s the final stage of editing, which involves correcting grammatical errors like misplaced commas and spelling errors.

Proofreaders look for:

• Simple grammar mistakes like improper spelling or punctuation errors.
• Strange sentence structure or word choice which makes the writing hard to read.
• Factual inconsistencies or small plot holes.

Catching and fixing these errors adds polish to pieces and gets them ready for professional publication.

It can make the work appear more authoritative and trustworthy, which is especially important to businesses and individuals looking to be seen as experts on a particular topic.

Here are a few types of online content that require proofreading:

• Blogs/websites
• eBooks, novels
• Email Newsletters
• Online Marketing Material – advertisements and brochures
• Social Media Posts
• Essay editing
• Research papers
• Resumes and cover letters

How Do You Make Money Proofreading?

While some publishing companies will hire in-house proofreaders, most people who make money from proofreading are freelancers.

Freelancers work on a project-by-project basis with a variety of clients; they aren’t full-time employees of a particular agency, and instead, work for themselves.

Getting started as a freelance proofreader is as simple as signing up for a job listing site (or multiple sites) and putting together a proofreading resume, which should focus on your experience and expertise with the English language.

In today’s post we will be taking a look at some proofreading companies that offer online proofreading jobs for beginners.

These sites let companies post listings for individual projects or longer-term contracts that you can apply to work on remotely.

Do You Need Qualifications to Become a Proofreader?

Since proofreading is often done on a freelance basis, there’s no one set of qualifications a proofreader needs to start working in the field.

Findings on Indeed suggest that proofreaders should be proficient in various academic writing styles, as well as familiar with editing software like Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word.

Many employers will administer their own proofreading competency tests to applicants, which on its own is enough to get many entry-level proofreading jobs.

How Do You Become a Proofreader?

If you are good with the red marker and can spot errors easily, you are halfway there.

The next half requires you to learn about the proofreading industry, how to run a proofreading business from home and to land clients.

For that I would recommend you take a look at this online training – Proofread Anywhere . It teaches you everything you need to become a proofreader.

Don’t forget to check out this free online proofreading workshop , so you can learn to use your word skills to make money from home.

How Much Do Online Proofreaders Make Per Hour as a Beginner?

According to Salary.com , the hourly rate for entry-level proofreaders are $20 an hour, the average pay rate is $26 an hour and the highest level of pay is $33 an hour.

So, a proofreader with no experience can still expect to make at least $20 an hour, making it more lucrative than many entry-level jobs.

Read our interview with a stay-at-home mom earning $1,000+/month with Proofread Anywhere’s online training .  

How to Land Entry Level Proofreading Jobs Online

Caitlin Pyle, creator and owner of Proofread Anywhere , has created a comprehensive online training suitable for aspiring proofreaders with no proofreading background or experience.

She has taught over 15,000 students in the last 7 years to become online proofreaders.

If you would like a taster session, feel free to watch Caitlin’s introductory video on proofreading, to see if this is the career  you are interested to pursue.

Proofread Anywhere’s online training teaches:

• How to proofread research papers, blogs and books
• Everything you need to know about proofreading
• How to find potential prospects
• Avoid common mistakes made by beginner proofreaders
• Practical step-by-step lessons
• Everything from basics to marketing!

The training also gives you access to a support team and a student community to help provide guidance and answer question as a new proofreader. 

For proofreaders not knowing where to start, this would be the best way to land entry level proofreading jobs online, with support and assistance to help you along the way.

Check out Cailtin’s free online video workshop to understand how to start and run a proofreading business at home.

31 Legitimate Online Proofreading jobs from home

The first few on the list are entry-level online proofreading jobs, while the options further down are for more experienced proofreaders.

While these are just some places to find remote proofreading jobs, social media and networking can land you more gigs. Joining Facebook blogger groups can help you connect with online business owners – a great way to network and find clients.

Let’s now take a look at these proofreading jobs that you can do either part-time or as a full time career.

1. Click Worker

At Click Worker, you get to work on a freelance basis in content creation, proofreading, editing or app testing. With the freedom to work whenever you like, this can be a flexible work at home job for stay at home moms.

Payments to you are made by PayPal either weekly or monthly.

Upwork is one of the best online platforms to find any type of freelance work, including proofreading jobs. 

They offer both short term and long term projects that can last up to 6 months.

Glancing at Upwork, you will see the pay rate for proofreaders are $16-$30 an hour. Definitely a worth checking out Upwork.

Fiverr is the best place to search for online proofreading jobs for beginners.

While the pay can be on the low scale, this makes a good starting point for entry-level proofreading to find work and experience.

Another freelance job board when you can use their search box to narrow down results for online proofreading jobs.

At Guru, jobs are offered at a fixed price or an hourly rate.

5. We Work Remotely

Offering a number of writing and copyediting jobs, We Work Remotely is another site to keep track, when searching for remote jobs.

6. Lionbridge

Lionbridge offer proofreading jobs online. Most of their job openings have very basic requirements which include a high school diploma.

7. Clear Voice

Clear Voice offers freelance proofreading jobs that hire worldwide.

The type of jobs they have available range from writing to proofreading. You get the opportunity to work as a freelancer, following a flexible work schedule.

Payments are made to you weekly or monthly by PayPal.

8. Polished Paper

To apply for an opportunity with Polished Paper, you will need to submit an application form and upload your resume. And the final stage is a 35 questionnaire editor test.

9. Kirkus Media

They are looking for freelance book reviewers in English and Spanish.

Reviews need to be 350 words and due 2 weeks after the book is assigned. Submit some of your writing samples to increase your chance of being accepted.

10. Babbletype

The criteria for eligibility is that you are a native English speaker with a fluency in English and basic grammar knowledge.

They pay weekly via PayPal and is a great place to start for beginner proofreaders.

11. Proofreadingservices.com

Pay is between $19-$46 an hour and you can apply from any country.

You will need to complete a 20-minute preliminary test to begin the application process. They have both full-time and part-time work opportunities.

12. Get Editing

They offer freelance editing and proofreading jobs.

If you sign up to their email listing, you will receive weekly new job openings in your inbox.

13. Writing Jobz

Writing Jobz offer a wide range of work for writers such as copywriting, essay writing and proofreading.

With over 100 jobs posted daily on a variety of topics, Writing Jobz can be the best place for freelancers to find proofreading work.

14. Ubiqus On Demand

Primarily a job site for transcriptionists, Ubiqus also offer jobs for proofreaders and copywriters.

15. Cambridge Proofreading

They are actively recruiting remote academic editors.

A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement due to the academic nature of the work.

You can expect to be proofreading and editing a wide range of materials but predominantly dissertations and theses from ESL students and academics.

Typical rates of pay are $20-30 per hour, depending on your editing speed.

16. Domainite Editing Jobs

You can apply by filling out an online application form. They require you to edit a sample as part of the application process.

17. Gramlee Jobs

Their website accepts clients that need editing completed within 24 hours. 

This means there is constant work coming in through the door – more opportunity for you. You can submit your application form right here .

18. Edit Fast

Edit Fast offers part-time proofreading jobs from home.

They will send you notifications when there is potential work available from clients, so you need to sign up with them to be notified.

19. English Trackers

They have a job board directory that you can check regularly to see if there is a suitable job vacancy.

You can also sign up with them to get weekly job listings delivered to your inbox.

20. eCorrectors

Whether you are a professional proofreader or a translator, you can apply with eCorrector. Just email them your resume to be eligible.

They occasionally hire proofreaders and freelance editors. Good to check them out to see if they are hiring.

You can choose to work either full time or as a freelance proofreader. If you see a job that doesn’t suit you, subscribe to get email alerts to be notified of new job openings.

They have been on the top 20 list of the best telecommuting jobs by Forbes in 2016.

To apply you need to have a degree in the subjects listed here.  Prior editing experience is not necessary but can be an advantage.

24. ProofreadingPal

They require you to have a minimum of 5 years of work experience and you can earn up to $3,000 a month.

If you are eligible to apply, there is an online independent contractor form that needs to be completed and you should hear back from them within 5-10 business days.

25. Scribbr

Scribbr offers a wide range of essay editing jobs online.

They provide work from home proofreading jobs with a flexible schedule – accept/decline job offers according to your preference.

You will also need to be a native English speaker and be available for work at least 10 hours a week.

If you are interested in editing papers online – try Scribbr.

26. Wordvice

You need to be a qualified and experienced freelance editor to apply.

They don’t specify how many years of experience is needed, although typical work involves editing research articles, thesis, and essays.

27. Sibia Proofreading

Currently not accepting new applications. But be sure to check back to apply.

28. Proofread Now

They require you to have a minimum of 5 years of work experience to apply. You can sign up to their newsletter to be notified of new job openings.

29. Words RU

They are looking for highly qualified proofreaders from any country. They are currently hiring, so you can apply if you meet their requirements.

30. Scribendi

Experience is required for editors and proofreaders to apply.

31. Managed Editing

You will need to have a college degree and at least 5 years of editing experience in order to apply.

How to Find Online Proofreading Jobs?

If you are looking for freelance proofreading jobs on a large platform, here are a couple of places you can find work.

Freelancing is a great way for entry level proofreaders to build a portfolio.

While searching for a job, apart from using online proofreading companies, also browse the internet using keywords such as editing jobs, copy editing jobs, or remote proofreading jobs to broaden your search results.

Job boards:

Job board directories are also great to find new jobs on a regular basis. Because of their massive reach and database, you have more jobs to choose from, with new vacancies added frequently. Here are two of the biggest websites that hire remote workers.

• People Per Hour
• Pro Blogger
• Virtual Vocations

Start your own website

If you want to ride solo and be your own boss, the best thing to do is to  start your own website .

It costs less than $100 a year to have your own site, which you can use to promote your proofreading services.

You can set your own rates, offer discounted pricing and also provide special offers on certain services.

Create a blog section on your website to showcase samples of your work. You can also post reviews of customer satisfaction on your site.

How do you promote your work?

It’s great when you own your business, but the big question is where can you find clients especially if you are just getting started?

• Start a Facebook page and promote it to family and friends. Word of mouth is the best way to get started as a beginner.
• You can share your services on relevant Facebook groups.
• My best option is Pinterest. It can get the word out a lot faster. You can create pin images of your website and direct readers from Pinterest to site. Here is a more detailed post on how you can do this.

Enroll in Caitlin’s FREE proofreading workshop to see if this is the right career for you.

3 simple ways to tell if proofreading is for you..

• Are you good at catching typos and misplaced punctuation ?
• Do you often correct texts on social media?
• Cringe when a restaurant menu has a misspelled word?

Want to explore further?

Use your proofreading skills to branch out into these 4 online editing jobs that are also high paying.

• Transcription – As a transcriber, you will need to convert a set of live or pre-recorded audio files into text. You can put your proofreading skills to use in this career, as it requires you to type out an error-free document.  Transcribers earn up to $45,000 a year.
• Freelance writing  – Every writer needs their content to be proofread, and as a proofreader, you are going to be able to spot errors instantly. You can offer your writing service on freelance websites or on blogs and websites. Highlighting your proofreading skills will land you high paying gigs, and give you higher chances of being accepted.
• Blogging – Start your own website and put your writing skills to use. There are many bloggers making a 6 figure income working from home, blogging.
• Sell a book  – As a proofreader, you will be able to create an error-free book. You can consider this option if you are looking to make a passive income from home. 

Get Paid to Proofread Online

Proofreading for money is a relatively simple field to break into.

As long as you’re able to prove your mastery of the language, give consistent work of high quality, and manage your own schedule, finding proofreading jobs from home is a great way to earn money on your own schedule.

If you are happy to edit papers for money, this is definitely the career to consider.

Online Proofreading Jobs

17 comments.

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Brittany!

Thanks for such a gorgeous piece of information. I am new in this world and want to start an online job. But I don’t know how to do. Pls tell me how to join/ start. I did PhD in textiles and apparel designing. This site gives me a inspiration. Thank you once again for such sincere effort.

Thank you for the great info it helps a lot specially on my part I’m a newbie in this and don’t have any idea what kind of work is proofreading. Thank you thank you

Thanks for such a gorgeous piece of information. I am new in this world and want to start an online job. But I don’t know what to do. This site gives me a inspiration. Thank you once again for such sincere effort.

I want to become a reviewer of books

Wow that’s a really great list, so many companies, I didn’t know that there is so many who can hire you. Definitely saving this list : )

Great info, Awesome content , thanks for sharing.

Great content, I’ll be trying some of those things out, thanks a lot

Thank you so much for your very helpful info , which is of great assistance for me , it is somewhat difficult for a person who spent much of his life as a regular full time employee . Thank you again .

Your blog is very informative for a person who has punctuation correction skills but they don’t have an idea about proofreading but they are seeking for a job. I found your blog very helpful. Thanks!

Very informative.Thank you for sharing.More power and God bless!!!

Nice. How can I register. I need a link please

The link for 7. Clear Voice opens to Click Worker.

Thanks Brittany, I have updated the link.

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Last updated on Oct 18, 2021

Remote Proofreading Jobs and 26 Places to Find Them

With working from home becoming more common than ever before, remote proofreading jobs are gaining a lot of traction. Amongst the online jobs you can do, checking grammatical and spelling mistakes sounds like one of the easiest ones to pick up. But what exactly  does this kind of work entail, how much would it earn, and most importantly, how do you search for legitimate as well as rewarding proofreader jobs? These are all valid questions, the answers to which you can find right here.

What is proofreading?

To proofread is to go over a document’s final draft with a fine-tooth comb, searching for grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Unlike the job of a copy editor, you don't have to concern yourself with language style or voice. It may seem simple, but it requires a thorough understanding of not just the English language but also the appropriate manuscript formatting styles.

Web content, academic papers, and many other types of writing — To proofread and correct each of these kinds of content requires a thorough understanding of its preferred language and formats.

Because of their project-by-project nature, it is common for the gigs you get in this sector to be online, freelance proofreading jobs.

Becoming a proofreader and securing remote jobs

Luckily, you don’t have to go through intensive training or education to become a proofreader. Preferably, you'd have a bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, or a field relevant to the kind of content your hope of proofread. (To proofread for a medical company, you'd need background in medicine, for example.) Other than that, a certificate of completion for a proofreading course can make your profile much more appealing to potential clients. To get started on the right foot, consider:

🎓 Taking a training course via societies such as the  Editorial Freelancers Association ;

📝 Brushing up on style guides (APA, Chicago, and AP Styles);

💻 Creating a profile and following relevant groups/hashtags (this may include creating your own website, a LinkedIn, or a professional Twitter account);

✅ Being flexible about the kind of job you take on (work from different industries, projects involving copy editing ).

You can get more tips in our comprehensive guide on how to become a proofreader . If you’re all clear about the set up, let’s discover all the places that you can find remote jobs for proofreaders.

26 places to find remote proofreading jobs

Below are all the sites that offer legitimate freelance proofreading jobs. We’ve divided the list into two parts: one for those with experience and qualifications, and one for those without.

If you’re going into proofreading with certificates, graduate qualifications, or expert experience, here are the sites that you should check out. 

1. ProofreadingPal

Specializing in academic proofreading,  ProofreadingPal  prides itself on having a highly experienced staff. Because its scholarly projects, the editing skills required by this site are very advanced and specific. To secure a remote proofreading job on this site, you need to be a postgraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or have a graduate degree along with minimum five years of experience.

If you have a PhD in a writing-intensive discipline,  Edit911  is a good candidate for some remote work. Its proofreading services also tend toward high-level academic editing, so experience is crucial. And as it caters to a worldwide audience, having a strong grasp of a few manuscript styles will be plus.

WordsRU  is great for those who work from home, because it welcomes job applicants from all over the world, as long as they have at least a Master’s degree or higher. It offers a wider range of services for customers, including fiction manuscripts and web content, so its proofreaders receive a variety of projects.

4. American Journal Experts

Similar to WordsRU,  AJE  offers online proofreading jobs for those who have been or are currently enrolled in higher education at universities approved by  the Carnegie Classification . And as the name suggests, this online proofreading opportunity is more suitable for those based in America.

You may or may not have a PhD or a Master’s degree, but if you do have a strong track record in book editing and proofreading,  Reedsy  is the place to be. Our marketplace connects thousands of indie authors with publishing experts (like you!) who can help them produce high quality titles. On average, our professionals set a  proofreading rate  of around $600-$750 per manuscript, though each project varies. (Note that you can set your rates per hour, per word, or per project.)

JOIN REEDSY

Find exciting new projects

We connect publishing professionals with our community of 1,500,000 authors.

6. Polished Paper

Focusing on business and academic editing,  Polished Paper 's proofreader jobs are also suitable for experienced professionals. Instead of proving their qualifications, applicants are asked to complete a 35-question test to demonstrate their editing skills before getting accepted.

7. Managed Editing

Having worked mainly with non-profit organizations and prestigious institutes,  Managed Editing  chooses its freelance proofreaders carefully. A successful applicant will have at least five years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree, although most of its editors and proofreaders have higher qualifications.

8. Wordvice

Apply to  Wordvice  for a more international experience: the company offers editing and proofreading services on essays and business documents for second-language English users. You must have a minimum of two years of experience and a graduate degree to join this team of freelancers. (And needless to say, the remote jobs they have are available to proofreaders across the world!)

9. Start your own freelance business

This basically means creating your own website (don't forget to have a contact section with your email address in it!) along with a LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook account to spread the word about it. As you are your own boss, you can work from home, a coffee shop, or wherever else you want! Use your credentials and professional connections to attract customers. Combine that with impeccable proofreading services and you’ll grow your freelance business  in no time.

If you’re just starting out or don’t have higher education qualifications — don’t worry, there are plenty of beginner-friendly sites where you can find proofreading gigs and begin amassing professional experience. 

10. Scribendi

If you do have some experience in content production, i.e. you’ve been a copywriter or have edited your university newspaper, you can apply to  Scribendi . Its online proofreading jobs are focused on academic writing from high school to university level, so having a Bachelor’s degree is a must.

11. Scribbr

Scribbr ’s services are tailored to a younger academic audience, and while it doesn’t ask for specific qualifications, applicants do go through a thorough vetting process. To become a remote proofreader at Scribbr, you have to pass a language test and complete several assignments for evaluation (for which you will receive feedback). If you’ve taken an editing course, you should be able to do well.

12. Proofreading Services

Every remote proofreading job available here focuses on academic and business writing. Prospective proofreaders can join the staff part-time or full-time by getting at least 95% on  the site’s 20-minute test , which mainly focuses on grammar and spelling.

As an education-oriented publication,  CACTUS Communications  is constantly on the lookout for academic editors who can help it produce clear, engaging content. It does require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, but you don’t need any prior work experience in editing and proofreading to find exciting opportunities.

14. Writer’s Relief

A resourceful website for authors,  Writer’s Relief  also provides book editing and publishing services which you as a remote proofreader can get involved in. Since they have  copy editors  going over everything beforehand, you’ll just have to focus on catching the little mistakes that slipped through.

Prompt  provides coaching services for college applicants, helping them with personal statements and essays. You will need to have been a university student yourself, and as the coach you’re expected to give more feedback than just online proofreading. It’s a good opportunity if you want to start with academic editing.

16. OneSpace Freelancers

OneSpace is a site made for new freelancers. There aren’t as many job postings on this site as on other proofreading services, but you do get support and feedback from their staff. They provide advice on how you can work better as a freelancer and build your business. So while you would't necessarily find remote work on this space, it's a good way to learn the craft of maintaining your freelance proofreading business in the long run.

17. Gramlee

From their tagline ("You write, we edti edit.") and service email address, you can already get a sense of how laid-back the staff at  Gramlee  would be. They welcome proofreaders with no qualifications, as long as they work hard to learn and fulfill the team’s guarantee of 24-hour turnover.

Upwork  is one of the biggest marketplaces for freelancers, and the remote jobs for editors and proofreaders you can find on here are often for technical and copy writing. Projects are usually on the smaller side, which means there isn’t always demand for highly experienced workers. Still, it's a good place to get started on your online proofreading career.

19. Flexjobs

Short for  flexible jobs ,  this job board  only posts work that you can do from home, so you don’t have to narrow the search yourself. There are plenty of proofreading jobs across many industries and countries for you to choose from, some of which are even full-time collaborations.

Indeed ’s interface is probably a familiar sight if you’ve looked for work before — it’s a platform that has everything from full-time positions to freelance gigs in all kinds of industries. Though it might take some digging, there are good remote jobs proofreaders can discover.

21. MediaBistro

MediaBistro  is a job board made specific for media-related jobs. You can filter your search to show only remote entry-level editing jobs to see if there’s anything available. Signing up also gets you a job alert round-up when new relevant jobs are posted.

22. Get Editing Jobs

Here’s another  editing-focused job posting site . You can search for remote proofreading jobs and it will automatically show you recent postings that fit the bill. You’ll then have to apply to the jobs on your own.

23. Domainite

Domainite  provides digital marketing services, from web designing to content writing and editing to its clients. You can easily sign up by filling in its form and sending in a writing sample. The scope of the work might go a little beyond the proofreading job, though you will acquire more skills that way!

Are you interested in marketing books? Visit our post on where to find book marketing jobs . 

24. Freelancer

This site  allows you to bid on a proofreading opportunity you can do remotely, and try to win the client over. There are a lot of projects available, so if you lose out on a bid for one, you can always find another!

❗ Note: Some of the rates you see here are much lower than the average as freelancers try to undercut to appeal to clients. Keep that in mind in formulating your own freelance quote .

25. Lionbridge

Lionbridge  is an international platform that offers marketing and business content creation services for firms across the globe. Specifically, its freelancers “test out” firms’ content — giving them feedback, not just on a linguistic point of view but also user experience and SEO. It's a bit of technical proofreading, if you’re interested.

Though it does not provide the highest paying remote proofreading jobs,  Fiverr is still a good opportunity for new freelancers to start their careers. It’s relatively easy to sign up to and create a profile that will attract customers, most of whom will be searching for competent beginners rather than experienced experts.

Hopefully this list will help you find your next remote job and kickstart your career, whether you’re a full-timer looking for side jobs or an aspiring freelancer. Remember to do your research and know what your proofreading service is worth to avoid being undercharged. With that, and a wish of good luck, we’ll send you into the world of freelance proofreading!

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All the Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (50+)

Last updated September 12, 2023 By Dylan Houlihan 8

Note: We may earn a commission from affiliate links on this page. These do not affect our ratings or recommendations.

Have a good eye for detail? Love to read? If so, these online proofreading jobs for beginners might suit you perfectly.

Stick around to learn:

• How to find freelance proofreading clients
• Which companies are hiring independent contract proofreaders (both beginners and experts)
• Where to find work from home employment in proofreading and editing

This is a great resource for new proofreaders and editors, or veterans looking for job leads. Screening out the scams I came up with over 50 opportunities and client-finding techniques to help you stay paid!

Before we get into the paid jobs though, if you ARE new to proofreading (or simply want a refresher), let's go over some important basics:

Table of Contents

What is proofreading, proofreading vs. editing.

• 6 Skills Every Proofreader Should Have
• Do These Proofreading Jobs Require Training?

Types of Proofreading and Editing Jobs

• What to Search for When Job Hunting

How to Find Freelance Proofreading Jobs

Companies with contract proofreading jobs, companies with work from home proofreading jobs, other ways to make money as a proofreader, final thoughts.

Proofreading is the act of finding and removing errors from a piece of writing.

A proofreader is typically the last one to read through something before it gets published.

If you think about it, proofreaders are sort of like exterminators. But instead of looking for bugs in buildings, they inspect documents for errors involving:

• Punctuation

Then they crush them (with a red marker).

Proofreaders will also typically make sure a document follows a specific style guide (e.g the Chicago Manual of Style ).

Keep in mind, proofreaders don't actually change a piece of writing. They simply make sure it's free of errors.

Rewriting sentences and such is actually an editor's job, but the two are often mistaken as being the same.

Let's clear that up next:

Learn how to make an extra $500+ a month with this FREE beginner's guide. Includes 7 main money-making strategies ranging from easy to advanced + dozens of mini-opportunities in-between.

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As you browse through the online proofreading jobs below you'll quickly notice that many of them put proofreading and editing in the same basket.

This makes sense as proofreading is a type of editing, but it doesn't show the full picture.

There are actually multiple types of editing, including:

• Developmental editing – This typically happens first. A developmental editor helps a writer, well, develop their ideas.
• Line editing – This type of editing is all about the style 😎. Line editors essentially help make writing sound better.
• Copy editing – Most commonly confused with proofreaders, copy editors look for punctuation, grammar, spelling mistakes, etc. just the same, but they also help writers make sentences sound better by suggesting different word usage, fixing inconsistencies, and more.
• (and finally) Proofreading – As mentioned above, a proofreader goes through at the end and looks for all the errors the copy editor missed. They're the last line of defence.

There are technically more , but those are the common ones you'll see.

So why does all this matter?

It matters because you as a proofreader can make more money — more consistently — by expanding your skillset.

You don't have to learn how to do every single stage of editing, but if you're going to try to make money proofreading, it's probably a good idea to know how to at least do copy editing as well.

This will open you up to more job opportunities and make you more marketable, allowing you to charge more and offer more value to your clients.

Also, as a proofreader, you already possess most of the skills needed to copy edit, so it's an easy service to add on to your offerings.

Speaking of skills…

The 6 Skills That Make a Good Proofreader

Although there are quite a few proofreaders out there, there aren't a lot of high-quality ones.

That's because there are certain skills — both proofreader specific ones and more general work from home skills — that set the best proofreaders apart from the mediocre.

Why is this a good thing for you?

Because if you can learn these skills and package them with your proofreading services, your clients will love you.

Here they are:

• Language expertise – You don't need to know every single grammar rule or every word in the dictionary, but you should be very familiar with the language you plan on proofreading in. You should also know where to reference certain facts and language rules when in doubt.
• Attention to detail – If you want to be able to spot every little mistake down to that last misplaced comma, your eyes need to be sharp.
• Communication – Your clients won't want to wait around for days trying to get a hold of you. You need to be committed to responding to them as soon as you can. Good customer service is what sets apart the good from the great.
• Ability to meet deadlines – A lot of proofreading work involves tight deadlines so a good work ethic is essential. If you can offer quick turn-around times, you can charge more, too.
• Patience – As a proofreader, you may have to read the same thing several times to catch every last error. It can get pretty repetitive.
• Tech skills – You don't need to be a tech wizard to make money proofreading, but you should know how to work a computer, be willing to learn new things, and know your way around Microsoft Word (knowing how to use the Track Changes feature is essential for many online proofreading jobs).

Do These Beginner Proofreading Jobs Require Training?

The word beginner can be misleading. Let's make things a bit more clear:

These jobs are for trained proofreaders who are just entering the world of paid proofreading.

They're not just for any random person who wants to work from home.

Although proofreading can seem like an easy-entry online job, it requires a lot more than just familiarity with a language. That's a start, but you also need to understand:

• Style guides
• Grammar rules
• Punctuation; and more.

I know it's a hassle (in an ideal world you'd be able to start making money right away), but clients and contracting companies want to hire proofreaders who know what they're doing.

By getting training, you'll also be more confident in your services, which will make it easier to sell your services/skills.

And get this:

You don't have to go back to school for years or invest thousands of dollars before you can make money proofreading.

You don't need a degree either.

Instead, you just need to learn the rules of proofreading and editing, how to work with different types of writing/clients, and how to market yourself.

So where can you learn these things?

Well, the best (and fastest) way is to take a course.

The Best Proofreading Courses

There are two good proofreading courses I'm familiar with.

One is taught by an actual proofreading and editing company, the other by a professional proofreader.

Proofreading Academy

Proofed Inc. (one of the job providers below) created this course to fill their demand for qualified workers. It teaches digital proofreading and copy editing for various clients and documents.

It's a pretty unique opportunity for one main reason:

Anyone who passes with a score of over 80% on the final assessment gets a guaranteed freelance position at Proofed.

The course also has some info on how to find freelance work , so it's really the best of both worlds.

Read our full Proofreading Academy review to learn more, or sign up for the free trial of the course .

Proofread Anywhere

This course was created by Caitlin Pyle, who I interviewed for my “ How to Become a Proofreader ” guide.

After proofreading for several years, Caitlin created Proofread Anywhere to help others learn how to make money proofreading.

What makes PA stand out is that it focuses not only on how to proofread but also on the marketing and business side of things.

Caitlin will show you how to find clients, get hired, and keep those clients.

Watch Caitlin's free webinar here to learn more :

Proofreading and editing work has a lot of niches. You can work with various clients, including:

• Businesses; and

And going even further, you can work on a variety of documents, including:

• Cover letters
• Web content
• Books (non-fiction and fiction, different genres)

As a beginner, you don't have to worry about this too much right now, but as you gain experience, it can be a good idea to niche down into a particular type of work.

By niching down, you can not only choose to do work you find more enjoyable, but you can also charge more and sell to clients more easily because you'll be seen as a specialist rather than just a general proofreader.

What to Search for When Looking for Proofreading Work

If you want to uncover all the potential opportunities your skillset will suit, it's helpful to have a list of terms to search for.

Here's a good starter list (you can add more as you come up with them):

• Proofreader
• Proof reader
• Proofreading
• Proof reading
• Proof-reading
• Copy editing
• Line editing
• Line editor
• Copy editor
• Content correction
• Content development
• Content reviewer
• Editorial manager
• Editorial assessment
• Copy marker

These terms are also important for another reason: freelance profiles. Including some of them in your profile will give you a better chance of showing up in search results.

For example, if a client searches for a “blog proofreader” having that keyword in your profile is optimal.

This will all make more sense after you check out the freelance proofreading jobs below…

Alright, we're getting into the good stuff now:

These days, tons of content is published daily, both online and offline. People are starting blogs, self-publishing books, creating podcasts, running Youtube channels, and more.

With a lot of content creators not having enough workload or budget to employ full-time proofreaders or editors, they turn to freelancers instead.

And that's why freelancing is one of the best ways to make money as a proofreader or editor:

As long as content is being created, freelance proofreading jobs are ALWAYS going to be out there for the taking.

If you're willing to go out, market yourself, and talk to clients, you can create a good income for yourself. You can set your own rates, choose who you work with, and more.

(There are of course pros AND cons to freelancing, but many would agree that the pros outweigh the cons.)

If you're ready to give it a shot, here are some places where you can find freelance proofreading jobs:

Reedsy has over 100,000+ authors, self-publishers, and traditional publishers in their community, so it's a great place for aspiring book editors and proofreaders to find work.

To get started, sign up and create a profile. Add a photo, describe your work experience, add your location, services offered, preferred genres, etc.

If you're a good fit, Reedsy will add you to their marketplace where your profile will be public to potential clients.

As far as rates go, you can set your own, but Reedsy does list a few averages:

• Developmental editors average $7/page
• Copy editors $5/page; and
• Proofreaders $3/page.

Note that you get to keep 90% of what you earn. Reedsy takes the other 10% as a fee for using the platform (which I'd say is quite fair).

Upwork is easily one of the biggest freelancing marketplaces on the web. That means there's a lot of work available, but also a lot of competition.

It also means there are a lot of crappy jobs on the platform and a lot of people willing to work for very low wages.

Still, many have found a lot of success with Upwork. Some swear by it.

If you're willing to lower your wages a bit in the beginning, it can be one of the best places to get your first paid gigs, portfolio pieces, and client testimonials.

As you grow your profile, Upwork can also turn into an automated source of clients as higher-rated profiles are more likely to show up in searches.

For example, look at this successful proofreader/editor I found with a quick search:

She's earned over $100,000 and she charges a $40/hour rate. There are plenty of other similar profiles on Upwork as well.

All in all, I'd say it's worth creating a profile here, especially if you're a beginner. Most of the competition is low quality (I know because I've hired here before), so if you're willing to work hard you can definitely succeed.

3. Freelancer

Freelancer is another one of the largest general freelancing sites. Their job board has a good number of proofreading and editing jobs at any given time.

When you find a job that interests you, you can bid on it. You can also see what other freelancers have bid, which is helpful, but it also sometimes creates a “race to the bottom” situation.

Another way to land proofreading jobs on Freelancer is with service offerings.

Here's an example of a proofreader service offering:

Note that you don't actually create these yourself. It's not like Fiverr (see #6).

Instead, you can become a provider of an existing service offering.

If you're willing to offer the proofreading service pictured above at the price listed ($10 USD as of writing this), you could apply to become a provider of that service.

Then, the next time someone purchases it, you'll have a chance of being selected for that work. I'd say this is an awesome opportunity for beginners.

4. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is one of the only job search sites with a membership fee. For that reason, most people skip right over it.

However, the fee is there because FlexJobs hand-screens every job and company on their platform. That means only legitimate proofreading opportunities are posted, meaning you avoid any annoying scammers.

Many of the jobs are fully remote too. Check these out:

To check out the other jobs available, you can try searching FlexJobs here .

5. ProBlogger

The ProBlogger job board is mostly filled with blog writing jobs, but there's a category for editing and proofreading jobs as well.

To find it, click the “Advanced Job Search” feature:

Here you can also sort to find remote jobs, freelance and contract positions, or full-time/part-time employment positions.

Fiverr is another huge freelance marketplace. It's all about clients finding YOU though, rather than you applying to job postings.

For that reason, the key to this platform is optimizing your service offerings.

You need to get yourself ranking for certain keywords. Otherwise, clients will never find you.

So how do you rank your services?

Well, a big part of it is getting reviews, but that's something you won't have as a beginner. You can technically get a friend or family member to buy your service and rate you or find clients elsewhere and refer them to your Fiverr page, but that can be a hassle.

Luckily, there's another important factor that you CAN control:

Some search keywords on Fiverr are much more competitive than others.

For example, look at the results for “proofreading”:

Over 15,000 services to compete with!

Now look at the results for “blog proofreading”:

Only 565 services.

That's still a lot, but much less to compete with.

Bottom line?

Get creative with your proofreading/editing service offerings and focus on less competitive keywords.

7. Craigslist

There are two ways to find potential online proofreading jobs on Craigslist:

• Search for jobs in the jobs section
• Make a post advertising your services

If you don't have any luck with method #1, #2 may be your best bet. (Remember though, since you're looking for remote jobs, you don't have to stick to just your own city.)

Here's an example of someone advertising their editing services on Craigslist:

Because Craigslist is so familiar to so many different people, there's a chance it will be the first place they look for proofreading and editing services. It's worth a try for that very reason.

8. Hubstaff Talent

Hubstaff Talent is a completely free to use freelance marketplace. They won't charge you a dime to sign up and you don't have to pay anything to them after landing a job. It's pretty cool.

There are a couple of issues with it though:

While they have an entire category of editing and proofreading jobs, it's not very active. I only found 12 jobs when I looked.

The next problem is the pay rates. Look at the hourly rate on this job posting:

$3/hour for content writing AND editing! That's absolutely whack.

Luckily you can just ignore jobs like that, but really, they shouldn't even be allowed to post such a low hourly rate.

Ah, Reddit. An interesting spot on the internet. It's a place where you can find everything from memes to, yep, proofreading jobs for beginners.

There aren't any super active subreddits dedicated specifically to freelance proofreading and editing, but there are some good subreddits I know of that work as general job boards:

• /r/slavelabour – Yep, the name explains a lot here. Don't expect to make much, but it can be a good place to start.

Here's an example editing job I found here:

• /r/forhire – Here people post jobs and freelancers (like you) can post offerings. Make a post that says something like “[For Hire] Essay Proofreader” and see what happens. Anything goes here.
• /r/hireawriter – If you're interested in expanding your services to freelance writing as well, this is a good place to start. (Check out my post on how to find online writing jobs as well).
• /r/jobs4bitcoins – Similar to the above two except you get paid with Bitcoin. Download Coinbase if you don't already have a wallet to receive funds.

Note: There's also this subreddit where you can do free proofreading in exchange for experience and reviews.

Guru is similar to Upwork and other freelance platforms, with minor differences. Because it's a bit less known it may be easier to land proofreading jobs here, but there are also fewer jobs posted.

To get started, browse the editing and proofreading job categories, found here:

Or simply search for jobs with the keywords I mentioned above.

11. LinkedIn

Tons of companies hire through LinkedIn. With a quick search I found over 900 potential gigs:

Tip: Next to your search where it shows your location, change it to “Worldwide” or “Remote” to find more freelance proofreading jobs.

Other than just searching for jobs, be sure to optimize your profile too.

This profile is a good example of what I mean by optimize:

His “about” section is well-written, he has a photo, he's listed himself open to job offers, he has relevant experience, and even has “the Proofreader” in his title.

For a really good guide on LinkedIn optimization, check out this book .

12. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is a general freelancing site that's based in the UK, but open internationally to clients and freelancers.

With a quick search, I was able to find quite a few recent proofreading and editing jobs here:

Since PPH is an international site, there are many translation, editing, and proofreading jobs in other languages as well.

13. ServiceScape

ServiceScape offers four main service categories, with one of them being proofreading and editing.

They currently have editors for languages like English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, and more.

They also work on a variety of documents: book manuscripts, research proposals, admission essays, business documents, theses, web content, and pretty much every sub-category under the sun.

The only thing that's not so good about ServiceScape are the super high fees. They take a 50% commission on all sales!

If you're willing to eat the fee, start by setting up a ServiceScape editor profile.

Once you're in the directory, clients can find your profile and hire you. As you gain good reviews, your profile will become even more prominent.

14. Mediabistro

Mediabistro curates writing, editing, and proofreading jobs from companies all over the web.

To find them, you can either look through the writing and editing section:

Or you can just search directly for the keywords I listed above. This may actually yield better results as you won't have to sort through writing jobs.

15. WriterAccess

WriterAccess has jobs for proofreaders, copy editors, line editors, and fact-checkers who are from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or South Africa.

To pass the application process, you'll have to be really good at what you do. WriterAccess will thoroughly test your skills before they accept you into the platform.

Freelancers who make it through are awarded access to an exclusive job board plus a free learning portal, support, and more.

Approved freelancers are also listed in the talent database. Here's a preview of that for editors:

As you can see, the top editors charge around $0.08-$0.10+/word, and have hundreds of projects under their belt. There's definitely work to be had here!

Payment happens via PayPal and you keep 70% of everything you earn.

16. BloggingPro

BloggingPro curates jobs from around the web, including editing and proofreading jobs, which you can find by category:

As you can see, only 4 results were returned when I looked. Still, it's worth checking this site every once in a while.

Most of the jobs you'll find are fully remote, some are location-based. There's a mix of positions too, including contract, freelance, full-time, part-time, temporary, and internships.

17. JournalismJobs

JournalismJobs is another curator job board specifically for those in media.

I couldn't find many proofreading jobs here while writing this, but I was able to find plenty of opportunities for editors. Most of them were employment positions, some were freelance.

What's nice about this board is that you can filter jobs by industry. For example, if you want to work with newspaper publishers, you can sort the results for those.

They also have a “Featured Jobs” section on their home page :

As you can see, there are 6 editing jobs there, one being a personal finance editor which is neat!

18. Get Editing Jobs

This one is pretty self-explanatory. They curate thousands of online editing jobs from around the web and they have their own exclusive postings as well.

The site isn't beautiful, but it gets the job done. Create a job seeker account here to get started.

19. FreelanceWriting.com

Here's one last job curator for you. This one sources jobs from places like Craigslist and Indeed, but they also have their own exclusive job postings.

To find the right gigs, just filter for Editing / Proofreading jobs and you're good to go.

You can also use the keywords I mentioned above to filter your results even further. The filter options on this site are really nice.

20. Find a Proofreader

This one isn't exactly a job board, it's a directory. If you're a proofreader, editor, copywriter, or anything else word related, and you're from the UK, you can pay to add yourself to the directory.

The idea is that people looking for proofreaders and editors will come onto the site, see your service listing, and then hire you

For the small fee they charge, it may be worth it to sign up and see what happens. But, I wouldn't expect a tsunami of hungry clients to bombard your inbox just by signing up.

21. Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are what helped me land my first freelance writing client . It was easy as pie too. Someone posted a job, I applied, and that was that.

The key to this method is to hang out in groups where your target client may be. That doesn't mean groups with other proofreaders — although those can be good for networking and learning — I'm talking groups with bloggers, book authors, and other target clients.

Like these:

Once you're in groups like that, keep your eye out for people looking for proofreading and editing help. Then, pitch into conversations that you can provide value to.

Eventually, you may become well-known enough that people reach out to you for your paid proofreading services.

You can also keep an eye out for job postings, or, if the group allows, you can post your services directly. Just don't be too salesy, don't spam, and don't do anything else that might get you kicked out.

22. Inner Circle

This is always one of the best ways to find freelance clients if you're just starting out:

Tell people you already know about your services!

For example, if you have a friend who's in college, offer to proofread a couple of essays. Even if you're doing it for free at first, you can use those as portfolio pieces. And who knows, you're friend might know others who could use your service as well. Domino effect, yo.

23. Cold Emailing

Cold emailing can work really well if you do it right. However, I'd recommend having some testimonials and portfolio pieces before you try it. That way if you do get someone interested, it'll be easier to sell to them.

Once you're ready, check out this guide . It outlines how a copywriter used cold emailing to grow their freelance business, but it can be applied to freelance proofreading too.

Tips for New Freelance Proofreaders & Editors

Ok, now that you know how and where to find freelance proofreading jobs, here are some tips to help you land your first client and beyond:

• Don't be afraid to offer free work or starter discounts – It sucks, but if you can offer your work in exchange for a good review or testimonial FIRST, that's going to help you land future clients.
• Ask for referrals – Clients aren't always going to refer people to you right off the bat. Don't be afraid to ask!
• Ask for testimonials – Same thing as above. If your client liked your work, don't be afraid to ask for a testimonial.
• Create a website – This isn't necessary at the beginning of your freelance proofreading career, but once you have some clients it will give you a place to showcase testimonials and past work. It's also a place for potential clients to learn more about what you can do for them. Check out my guide to starting a blog to get started.

If you'd rather have someone else provide the clients for you so you can focus on the actual proofreading side of things, becoming an independent contractor for a big proofreading or editing company is probably your best bet.

That being said:

A lot of beginner proofreaders try to start out with contract proofreading jobs, but I honestly think it's better to start out with freelancing.

Well, most of the proofreading companies I'm about to mention have high requirements. They get dozens of applicants coming to them per day and they want the BEST of the best.

Some of them also work in particular proofreading industries (like science, academics, or law), so they want their proofreaders to have a degree or even PhD.

Still, feel free to apply to these companies as you attempt to land freelance clients. Just don't neglect the freelancing side of proofreading. That's where your business can really thrive.

Note: Be sure to read carefully through each of the online proofreading jobs below. Some are more beginner-friendly than others.

24. Clickworker

Clickworker is one of the biggest micro job sites around, and some of the tasks on their site involve copy editing and proofreading.

This is a great option for beginners because the barrier to entry is lower.

To get started, you'll first need to sign up and complete some text creation jobs. After that, you can take a proofreader assessment test. If you pass the test (you only get one try so make it count) you'll start receiving paid proofreading jobs in your dashboard.

To learn more, read my full Clickworker review and earning guide .

25. Mechanical Turk

Mechanical Turk is owned by Amazon and it's another one of the biggest micro job sites . They'll occasionally have online proofreading jobs as well as text verification tasks and other similar things available.

For example, one of their big categories is audio transcription and editing:

Companies can pretty much post any task imaginable on this site though so it's worth signing up and seeing what's available.

If you want to learn more, read my full MTurk review & earning guide .

26. Proofed

Proofed works with a variety of clients including students, authors, people with dyslexia, and more.

They say their ideal job candidates are passionate proofreaders and PhD holders with years of experience behind them. BUT:

Remember: If you're a beginner proofreader, Proofed offers a Proofreading Academy course. If you graduate with a score of 80 percent or higher you'll be able to qualify to work with them. Learn more here .

Once you're ready, apply here by completing the form and attaching a single-paged CV and cover letter. 

27. Lionbridge

Lionbridge has a variety of jobs available, including employment positions and remote freelance opportunities.

On the employment side of things, I've seen content editor jobs in multiple languages.

I couldn't find anything proofreading related on the freelance side of things during the time of writing this, but feel free to take a look for yourself .

28. Babbletype

While their site isn't super flashy, Babbletype has been in the game for over 20 years so it's worth checking their hiring page every once in a while for opportunities.

At the time of writing this Babbletype isn't looking for new editors or proofreaders, but they do hire occasionally. They also hire transcribers and translators.

29. Gramlee

Gramlee doesn't directly require a degree or years of editing experience, so they're more beginner-friendly than most.

However, they receive hundreds of applications per week so the more qualified you are, the better.

Take a look at one of their editing examples to see the type of copy editing they do:

Gramlee says they edit not just for grammar, but also for “structure, redundancy, irrelevant or ineffective words, and overall readability.”

If you think you can provide the same quality of work, fill out their short application form .

30. Scribbr

Scribbr provides proofreading and editing services to over a million students each month, so they have a pretty consistent demand for editors.

At the time of writing, they have editing positions available in Dutch , German , English , and French – possibly more in the future.

To qualify, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree, be available for at least 10 hours a week, and have experience in editing academic texts.

Here's a preview at how the system works:

As you can see, Scribbr will designate jobs to you automatically, you'll follow their editing system using MS Word's Track Changes feature, and that's pretty much all you need to worry about.

As far as earnings go, Scribbr editors earn around €20-€25/hour, or about $25-$30 USD.

Sound good? Apply here .

31. R3ciprocity

R3ciprocity is a great opportunity for beginners because of its unique IOU type system.

See, instead of strictly charging writers for editing services, R3ciprocity allows writers to edit other people's work to earn credits, and then exchange those credits to get their own writing edited.

Cool, right?

That's not all either:

For beginner editors, as your skills improve and you complete more work, R3ciprocity may give you the opportunity to become a paid editor. You can then exchange the credits you earn for cash payouts to your bank account.

To get started, just sign up , pass a few tests, and start reciprocating!

32. Stickler

Stickler has been around since 2004, dealing primarily with academic documents.

To apply , you'll want to have academic editing experience as well as familiarity with Harvard and APA styles. Quick turn around time is important as well.

Because Stickler doesn't explicitly state the need for a degree or PhD, this could be a good option for beginners. If you've helped proofread or edit your college friends' papers and you're familiar with the proper style guides, it's worth applying.

33. ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal offers a variety of services, and therefore has a variety of jobs for proofreaders:

On top of having several types of jobs, ProofreadingPal uses a two-proofreader model, which means an even higher demand for proofreaders.

To get hired, you'll need to be either:

• Enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in a recognized American college or Uni with a minimum GPA of 3.5; OR
• Have a graduate degree with a minimum of five years as a professional proofreader.

#1 means this could be an awesome work from home job for college students .

Editors here reportedly earn between $500 to $3,000/month too. Learn more here.

Scribe is a large media company that helps authors write and publish books. They have freelance and full-time positions available, but for now, let's go over the freelance side:

At the time of writing they have three freelance positions available:

• Content writer
• Ghostwriter

So yeah, no proofreading or editing jobs at the moment, but you can sign up for job alerts on their site . They've hired proofreaders in the past.

And hey, if you're willing to expand into writing, feel free to apply for the positions above. They pay a minimum of $50 USD/hour.

35. Scribendi

Scribendi is a Canadian proofreading company that's been around since 1997. They deal with pretty much every type of document you could think of:

Hiring both in-house and online editors and proofreaders, there's some great opportunity here. (More info on the in-house positions below.)

To apply as a freelancer, you'll need a university degree in a relevant field, three years of experience in editing, and lastly, you can't reside in certain U.S. jurisdictions. Learn more here .

If you're hired, jobs will be offered to you automatically, with set prices. You can choose to decline or accept any offer you receive.

Prompt is all about helping students improve their writing skills. Their “writing coaches” help students with college admission papers, essays, and more.

To apply, you'll need an undergrad degree at the least. Prior teaching experience is a bonus.

Less than 2% of candidates actually get hired at Prompt so don't expect the application process to be easy.

Check for open positions here .

37. Cactus Global

CACTUS has one of the cleanest proofreading sites, with their job page sleek and straight to the point. They offer contractual, freelance, and full-time editing positions:

To get all the details, check out their current openings here .

As you'll see, Cactus focuses mostly on editing in specialized fields like healthcare, life sciences, and medicine. For that reason, they typically require applicants to have a PhD, master's, or bachelor's degree in one of those subject areas. Thorough experience can be accepted as well though.

38. Wordvice

Wordvice is a fairly new proofreading company that opened in 2013. Since then, they've reportedly edited over 130 million words. Talk about fast growth!

As you can see from the image above they offer 3 main categories of editing and proofreading services: academic, admissions, and business.

You can also see that they have several positions open. They're looking for freelance editors, translators, researchers, content writers, tutors, and more.

To apply as a freelance editor, you'll need:

• To be enrolled in or have completed a degree program
• A minimum of two years experience as a professional editor
• Advanced knowledge on MS Word tools
• Familiarity with styles such as APA, AMA, MLA, and CMOS
• and more (the rest can be found on this career page .)

After applying, you'll go through a review process, have to complete an editing sample, and then you'll potentially be hired. From there, a supervisor will designate tasks to you directly (no bidding for work!).

39. Dotdash

Formerly known as About.com, Dotdash pretty much dominates the internet with thousands of articles spread across several topics and websites.

With all the content they publish, they hire both freelancers and full-time in-house editors.

For freelance proofreading work, you can find jobs at a variety of Dotdash content sites:

Be sure to check their career page frequently for new opportunities.

Tip: If you find their career page hard to navigate, you can also fill out their simple application form for job notifications.

40. Edit911

Unlike other entry-level proofreading jobs, Edit911 has a gold standard that most similar companies can barely compete with. Applicants must:

• Have a PhD in English or another writing-intensive discipline
• Be published writers
• Have teaching or book editing experience
• Be familiar with various style guides; and
• Be proficient in MS word and other software apps

In other words, getting into Edit911 ain't easy. 75 percent of qualified applicants go on to fail their entry test (which they require a 100% score on).

If you dare to apply, submit a resume and sample writing here and you'll get a response in 48 hours.

41. Book-Editing.com

Book-editing.com offers freelance positions related to ghostwriting, copyediting, proofreading, and consulting.

One of their main requirements is they're looking for applicants who're 100% freelance, with consistent availability. If you have a day job, they don't want ya.

You'll also need:

• 5+ years of editing experience
• A portfolio of published books that you have edited; and
• To be based in the US

If that sounds like you, apply here .

If you pass the application tests, you'll be added to Book Editing's freelance network. Here, clients can find you and hire you at your own chosen rates.

42. EditFast

EditFast allows freelancers to register and activate a web page (basically a profile) that clients can view.

Here's an example of one:

To qualify to set up a page of your own, you'll need a degree from a recognized university, a wide variety of reading interests, and past editing/proofreading experience.

If you meet those requirements, apply here .

Once your page is added, if a client sees it and likes it, they can contact you directly for your services.

EditFast also distributes work to qualified editors but they make no guarantee that every editor will be given a client.

Also, although payments are agreed on by the editor and the client, the commission passes through EditFast via PayPal. EditFast charges 40 percent on all earnings.

43. ProofreadNOW

ProofreadNOW caters to all sorts of clients: marketers, advertisers, book writers, and other professional authors. They even work with a few Fortune 500 companies. 

Along with English, they also offer Spanish and Chinese proofreading and copyediting services.

To apply to become a freelancer, you'll need a minimum of five years of experience as a professional proofreader. You'll then need to take some editing tests to prove your skills.

If you're interested, check their employment page here . If they're not currently hiring, sign up for job notifications here .

44. Polished Paper

To apply as a freelance proofreader for Polished Paper, start by submitting your resume here .

If you qualify, you'll then have to take a 35-question editor test. Score excellent or above to get the chance of being supervised by a senior editor who will peer-review your work for accuracy.

After a while of working for the company, you may even get the chance to become a senior editor yourself, which means a better salary and other benefits.

45. Editor World

Editor World offers academic editing, book editing, business editing, ESL editing, and proofreading for all sorts of documents.

Right now they're only hiring those with PhDs or science backgrounds, but they'll typically hire anyone with at least a bachelor's degree and some prior experience.

Check their application page for the most up-to-date requirements.

If you're hired by Editor World, your profile will be added to their database of editors. Here's a preview of that:

Note that they don't have hundreds of editors on the platform, so it's not as competitive as, say, a freelance job board.

Also, to improve your chances of getting hired as a beginner, Editor World gives clients 20% off for choosing new editors.

Wordy hires editors from all over the world but consists of a workforce that is largely based around the UK, US, and Australia.

They do copyediting and proofreading for 56 subjects so there's plenty of work variety here.

As far as earnings go, Wordy says that their editors and proofreaders make a little over US$35 per hour or US$8.50 for every 400 words.

If you want to apply, head here . You can take editing tests for US and UK English. If you fail, you can apply again after 6 months.

Processing your application takes around 14-21 days, so you can expect a reply within that time period.

47. WordsRU

WordsRU mainly deals with academic, book, and business proofreading and editing.

To apply, you'll need a Master's degree, PhD, or similar professional experience in any academic discipline. You'll also need two years of professional editing experience. To learn more, head here .

48. Sibia Proofreading

Editors that are accepted by Sibia Proofreading are equipped with at least a bachelor's degree from a top-tier university, with editing experience on top.

Although they currently don't have any open editor positions, you can always check their contact page every so often to see when they're hiring.

Kibin focuses mainly on helping students improve their writing. Their main service is essay editing.

Although it isn’t explicitly stated, basing off their current editors it seems like Kibin requires freelancers to have at least a Bachelor’s degree.

The application process seems tough too: only 1% of applicants go on to get hired.

If you think you can be part of that 1%, apply here .

50. Edit 24-7

Edit24-7 focuses on light editing and proofreading, allowing authors to maintain their writing style while not sacrificing grammatical and typographical quality.

This light editing philosophy allows Edit24-7 to charge lower prices and have a fast turnaround rate. Their primary focus is not to change your content, organization, or writing style, but to make sure that your writing is at the best state it can be.

If you want to apply, head here . You'll need to send in a writing sample with a resume or description of relevant experience before beginning the extensive application process.

51. Cambridge Proofreading

Cambridge Proofreading works with students and businesses, editing and proofreading a variety of documents.

Here's a small preview at some of the types of documents they've worked with:

Statistically speaking, less than 1 percent of applying freelancers are actually hired because of their intensive selection process. The company's minimum requirements for applying include being a native English speaker and having a Bachelor's degree.

Earnings are around $20-$30 USD/hour (via PayPal) on a flexible schedule. You'll also get feedback on your work from other editors which is a great bonus.

Learn more here .

52. English Trackers

English Trackers regularly hires freelance proofreaders, writers, and editors for academic texts, websites, books, business documents, and more.

With these documents, they offer editing and rewriting services:

The rewriting service is basically just an upgraded form of editing.

To apply, head here . You'll need to be a native English speaker with 2 years of academic editing experience. A PhD helps, but it's not required.

53. First Editing

I can't tell if First Editing is hiring employees or freelancers, but either way, they want candidates to have at least 25 hours/week available for editing work.

Other than that, their requirements are pretty open. They have guidelines on the type of applicants they're looking for, but they range quite a bit.

As long as you're a native English speaker, are familiar with MS Word, and have experience editing books or academic documents, take a shot and apply here .

All of the proofreading jobs I've mentioned so far have been independent contract/freelance opportunities. And while those are typically more flexible, they don't always offer consistent work.

They don't usually offer any benefits either (like paid time off or sick days).

With remote employment though, you can get benefits and a predictable salary — you just need to sacrifice a bit of flexibility.

To start, remember that these job boards I mentioned above occasionally have remote proofreading jobs available:

• Hubstaff Talent
• BloggingPro
• JournalismJobs
• Mediabistro

Be sure to check them out regularly or subscribe to them so you don't miss anything.

You can also try:

• ZipRecruiter
• and any other big job sites (but you already know this)

Now let's look at some companies that regularly hire in-house proofreaders and editors to work from home:

54. Scribendi

You can apply to be an in-house proofreader at Scribendi if you have:

• A bachelor's degree
• An average proofreading speed of 1,000-1,500 words an hour; and
• A skill set for style guides like APA and CMOS.

As a full-time employee, you'll receive health benefits like medical and dental packages, allowance, vacation time, and so on.

55. Lionbridge

As I said above, Lionbridge occasionally has full-time editing positions or other language-based positions available on their career page .

56. Dotdash

If you head over to the Dotdash careers page and look under “Editorial/Content” you'll find a handful of full-time editing positions.

These jobs have high requirements (including specific location requirements) but they pay well and include benefits.

57. Proofreading Services

ProofreadingServices.com offers full-time and part-time remote proofreading jobs.

I'm not sure if they provide benefits, but proofreaders here earn around $19-$46/hour, with a lot of flexibility.

The application process isn't easy though. You'll have to score 95% or above on their 20-minute test just to be considered.

Here's a preview of the test (don't tell anyone I showed you!):

You can apply from anywhere in the world, so give it a shot !

Head over to the full-time openings at CACTUS to find a variety of editing positions at any given time.

Right now they have some academic editing jobs available:

To apply, one of the main requirements is to reside in India as that's where CACTUS is headquartered.

59. Scribe Media

Working as a full-time employee at Scribe means competitive pay, profit sharing, a full benefits package, and more.

Find Scribe's full-time openings here .

60. Lifetips

Lifetips produces a TON of content so they're looking for in-house editors with search engine marketing experience to help manage it all.

Salary and full medical benefits are included and it seems as though you can apply from anywhere in the world.

Bonus: Company Career Pages!

Another great way to find work from home proofreading jobs is by simply going to the sites of content companies and looking for a “jobs” or “careers” page.

I've just tested this out with some well-known personal finance sites — like NerdWallet — and was able to find open positions in content editing, marketing, design, and more.

Tip: Do this with your favorite companies that you regularly follow. Being already familiar with someone's content makes you an ideal candidate for editing and proofreading their stuff.

Weirdly enough, proofreading jobs aren't the only way you can make money as a proofreader. There are other ways to use your skills (like your killer attention to detail and love of words) to make money.

Here are five examples:

Write Paid Book Reviews

If you want to get paid to read and write reviews of books that have already been published, this opportunity is a pretty cool one. And yes, it's real.

In fact, multiple sites hire freelance book reviewers. Here are some popular ones:

• Kirkus Reviews
• Reedsy Discovery

If you love reading, this is like a dream job.

Scoping is sort of like copy editing, but for court reporters. As a scopist, you'd be editing steno notes rather than blog posts or news articles.

Because this job is pretty unknown to most of the world, it's a bit less competitive than most gigs. Just look at what this proofreader who pivoted into scoping said:

To learn more, take this free mini course .

You can tutor in proofreading or editing or go wider and teach English! Your proofreading skills and language mastery makes you a great candidate here.

For example, you could teach English to kids in China through a platform like Magic Ears (no degree required) or VIP Kid (degree required).

For more opportunities, check out these online tutoring jobs for teachers and college students .

Transcription

Transcription is the art of turning audio into written text. That audio could be an interview, video, podcast, you name it.

If your typing speed is good, this is a great potential opportunity to take on. Your eye for detail as a proofreader will transfer into transcription perfectly.

If you're interested, check out this free intro course . It goes over the basics of general proofreading.

Here are some further readings to learn more:

• How to Make Money Transcribing (Beginners Guide)
• Online Transcription Jobs for Beginners

Freelance Writing

This one is a bit more out there but if you really have a way with words, you could pivot into freelance writing. With an editing and proofreading background, you'd have a huge advantage over other less experienced writers.

Learn more:

• How to Find Online Writing Jobs With No Experience
• How I Found My First Freelance Writing Job

As you can see, proofreading and editing is still a very in-demand service.

If you've just finished your proofreading training and you want to start making money and gaining experience as soon as possible, these online proofreading jobs for beginners are your best bet.

If you haven't taken training yet, check out your best options here , and then use the resources above to start making money! Good luck!

Know of any other beginner-friendly proofreading jobs? Have experience with any of the companies above? Any tips for finding proofreading clients? Leave a comment!

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September 22, 2021 at 7:12 pm

I am from India and would like to know if there are medical transcription jobs/freelance for remote. I have many years experience as proof reader, editor in medical transcription with HIPAA compliance.

November 6, 2021 at 1:31 pm

I’d recommend looking more into the jobs above — I’m hoping to have them sorted by location soon enough but it’ll take some time.

For transcription, start at my transcription jobs guide . Many of them accept workers worldwide.

Let me know how things go!

August 3, 2021 at 1:33 am

Hi. I registered at clickworker as a proofreader but I can’t find their assessment test!!

August 4, 2021 at 7:06 pm

Make sure you have your profile set up fully and then do some other tasks around Clickworker. The assessments usually show up after you’ve already been working on the platform for a bit and/or when they need more proofreaders. Hope that helps.

August 8, 2021 at 12:05 am

The profile is already fully set up. But what is (tasks around Clickworker)? I did not find something like this on the site! Can you please show me where can I find them

August 8, 2021 at 12:40 pm

Try checking out this Clickworker guide . Should help! If you have questions after that let me know.

July 22, 2021 at 12:18 pm

I want to have an online at home proofreading job. I don,t have much experience.

July 22, 2021 at 7:10 pm

Hi Kelly. Honestly, since you said you don’t have much experience, if you can afford it, I’d say the Proofreading Academy course with the guaranteed work opportunity at the end is your best bet. I have a review of the course here if you want to learn more about it.

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35 Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (Make $50+/Hr!)

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Last Updated on November 12, 2022 by Rebecca Lake

Looking for a flexible way to earn a part-time or full-time income from home?

Online proofreading jobs can be a great way to make money on a daily basis. It’s possible to launch a part- or full-time career as a proofreader without previous experience.

There are numerous companies that offer remote job opportunities for entry-level proofreaders and experienced proofreaders. Some online proofreading jobs are offered on a part-time basis, while others are full-time.

Today, we’re sharing tips on how to become a professional proofreader, along with some of the best legitimate proofreading jobs.

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What Is Proofreading and What Do Proofreaders Do?

Proofreading is the process of reviewing written documents and checking them for spelling mistakes, typos and grammatical errors.

A proofreader’s job, in a nutshell, is making sure a piece of writing is error-free. It’s a little different from editing, which involves reviewing text for tone, correct sentence structure, flow and overall style.

Online proofreading jobs can involve reviewing a wide range of writing, including:

• Infographics
• White papers
• Case studies
• Academic papers
• Social media posts
• Technical reports
• Legal documents
• Medical documents

Proofreaders can work as generalists, proofreading a wide range of online content. Or they may specialize in a single type of writing, like legal or medical documents.

Are proofreaders in demand?

Proofreaders are in high demand across a wide variety of industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Some of the industries hiring online proofreaders include:

• Newspaper, periodical and book publishers
• Business support services
• Scientific and technical services
• Employment services
• Advertising and public relations services
• Content creators, including bloggers and influencers

The freelance marketplace for online proofreading jobs has plenty of potential to grow as more businesses harness the power of online marketing. The great thing about starting a proofreading career is that prior experience is not necessarily a prerequisite.

What are the basic requirements to become an online proofreader?

As mentioned, you don’t need previous experience to be a good proofreader if you’ve mastered the right skills.

Those skills include:

• Thorough understanding of grammar
• Solid spelling skills
• Good grasp of proper capitalization and punctuation
• Familiarity with different style guides

Some online proofreading jobs may require you to be a native English speaker, but that’s not always the case. There are plenty of potential clients who may be willing to work with you if English is your second language but you’re fluent.

Proofreading could be a natural fit if you’re detail-oriented. In terms of the educational background needed, some online proofreading jobs may require a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree.

However, it’s still possible to become a full-time proofreader without a university degree. Many beginner proofreaders learn everything they need to know to get started by taking an online course.

Want to get paid to proofread?

Sign up for a FREE webinar to learn how to make money proofreading online!

How much money do online proofreaders make?

The average online proofreader earns $52,307 annually, according to ZipRecruiter. At the low end, some proofreaders are making around $14,500 per year, while those at the higher end are earning a six-figure income .

Online proofreaders can easily earn a part-time or full-time income from home . A good hourly rate to target for beginner proofreaders is somewhere in the $25 to $50 range.

How do online proofreaders make money? The answer depends on whether a proofreader is hired as an independent contractor or an employee.

Proofreaders who work as independent contractors can set their own rates and charge:

• By the word
• By the page
• By the hour
• By the project

If you’d like to run your own business, becoming an online proofreader can be a great way to do it.

Proofreaders who are hired as employees, on the other hand, typically have their salaries set by the company they’re working for. There may, however, be room for negotiation and employees may get some nice perks or benefits that independent contractors don’t.

Related post: How to Make $10,000 a Month: 25 High Paying Side Hustle Ideas

35 Best Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

When it comes to finding proofreading jobs online, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, consider what type of proofreading gigs you’re interested in. For example, if you’re looking for flexible options, then you might want to look for a freelance proofreading job that allows for remote work.

Next, check out what’s required of the job itself.

When creating job postings for open positions, companies might include a little detail or a lot. If you’re looking for online proofreading jobs for beginners, then it’s important to understand what the job involves and how those requirements match up with your skills and experience.

Finally, take a look at the pay. 

When you’re just starting as a freelance proofreader, it’s tempting to lowball yourself just to get work. But that can be a big mistake.

If you start out accepting low rates of pay, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of doing that over and over again. So consider what you want your target hourly rate to be, then focus your search on jobs that pay that amount. 

Ready to find available proofreading jobs? Here are 35 places to start your search.

Upwork is an online job marketplace that connects freelancers with companies that want to hire them. 

While this online platform does have its critics, Upwork can still be a good place to find your first proofreading job. I used it in the early days of my freelance career to find work.

If you want to use Upwork, you’ll need to create an account first. Once your account is approved, you can create a profile and start searching for online proofreading jobs. 

You’ll need to send proposals for the jobs you want to apply for. And it helps to have a solid profile and portfolio to catch clients’ attention. 

Fiverr is another online platform that you can use to look for online proofreading jobs for beginners.

With Fiverr, you can create a profile and advertise your proofreading skills.

You can decide which proofreading services you want to offer and how you want to price them. It’s an easy way to start earning money proofreading when you have little to no experience!

Guru is similar to Upwork and it’s another online platform that you can use to find proofreading jobs for beginners.

Just like with Upwork, you’ll create an account and set up your profile. Once you’ve done that, you can browse online proofreading job listings to find ones that fit your criteria.

You can bid on jobs that you want to try and snag. And again, having a strong profile can work in your favor for landing clients. 

4. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is a remote work website that lists online jobs, including proofreading gigs.

What’s different about FlexJobs compared to other job boards is that you’re more likely to find high-paying gigs. It’s an excellent place to look for proofreading jobs that pay four figures a month.

FlexJobs is a paid job board, which means you’ll have to make a small investment to use it. But a FlexJobs membership could be well worth the money if you’re looking for a great platform with a solid reputation.

5. Virtual Vocations

Virtual Vocations is also a remote work job board. 

This one features a ton of online job opportunities, including remote proofreading and editing positions. 

Like FlexJobs, this site does charge a membership fee. But it could be well worth it if you’re able to sift out the proofreading jobs that pay peanuts and focus on quality opportunities. 

6. Clickworker

Clickworker offers online proofreading job opportunities for people who have an excellent command of their native language and enjoy correcting errors.

To make money proofreading through Clickworker, you first have to complete a few text creation tasks. From there, you can take an online proofreading assessment.

This assessment is used to qualify you as a proofreader with Clickworker. Once you’ve done that, you can start taking on proofreading jobs through the site.

Pay is per-word and based on the quality level of the project. 

7. Proofreading Pal

Proofreading Pal could be a great place to look for online proofreading jobs if you already have experience or a college degree.

Proofreaders who use this site can make $500 to $3,000 a month reviewing documents online. 

Right now, Proofreading Pal is looking for new proofreaders who:

• Are currently employed by or enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in an accredited United States college or university and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 OR
• Have a graduate degree with a minimum of five years of professional proofreading and editing experience

This one could be a little tougher to get approved for if you’re new to proofreading and there’s a lengthy application form. But it’s definitely worth bookmarking for later as you gain more experience. 

8. Telus International (formerly Lionbridge)

Telus International offers flexible work at home jobs , including ones that require proofreading.

You register, then complete a skills evaluation. You’ll be contacted when work is available that fits your skills.

You then complete the work at your own pace. And once it’s finished, you get paid!

9. Get Editing Jobs

GetEditingJobs.com is primarily geared toward people who are looking for editing and freelance writing jobs. But you can also find online proofreading jobs here as well.

It’s free to start searching for job opportunities. And to make your job search easier, you can sign up for email alerts to let you know when new proofreading gigs are posted! 

10. ProofreadingServices.com

ProofreadingServices.com offers full and part-time remote proofreading jobs.

The pay is competitive, ranging from $19 to $46 an hour, depending on the project turnaround time. 

You can also work on a flexible schedule, which is good if you’re a stay at home mom , student or you already have a 9 to 5. 

11. LinkedIn 

LinkedIn is a fantastic place to find work as a freelancer or proofreader. 

You can use the LinkedIn Jobs board to search for remote proofreading opportunities. And you can use LinkedIn in general as a networking tool.

The more connections you make on LinkedIn, the more likely you are to encounter someone who needs to hire a proofreader or who can refer you for a proofreading job. 

12. Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is an online marketplace where businesses can go to hire freelancers, including proofreaders.

You can create a profile on the site advertising your services. And you can bid on jobs or create an online portfolio to attract clients. 

13. Polished Paper

Polished Paper is another option for finding online proofreading jobs as you become more experienced. 

This site hires freelance proofreaders to review:

• Dissertations
• Business documents
• Journal articles
• Application essays
• Personal statements
• Resumes/cover letters
• Blog entries

You’ll have to register and take a proofreading test to apply.

But if you have experience proofreading any of those types of content, this could be a great place to find a high-paying gig.

Reedsy is an online community that’s designed to help authors, writers and freelancers come together. 

When you create a profile on Reedsy, you can be matched up with authors or writers to work with. This can take some of the hassle out of deciding which proofreading jobs to apply for. 

15. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is another freelancing community you could use to find at-home proofreading jobs as a beginner. 

Over a million businesses use this site to find freelancers of all skill levels. 

You can decide which freelance proofreading services you want to offer and what type of clients you want to work with. And you can also set your own rates so it’s super flexible. 

16. Wordvice

Wordvice could be a good fit if you’re looking for editing or proofreading jobs online and are a native English speaker.

And if you’re fluent in languages other than English, you could also check out Wordvice’s job listings for freelance translators. 

This site does require a graduate degree to be considered for proofreading work. But you can work online and the hours are flexible. 

17. Mediabistro

Mediabistro offers a mix of both in-house and remote work jobs, including listings for proofreaders.

I used this site to find freelance writing gigs as a beginner.

And a lot of top-shelf companies in the publishing space use it to find and hire freelancers.  

18. American Journal Experts

American Journal Experts offers freelance editing positions but it’s still worth a look if you’re interested in online proofreading jobs that also require editing.

Freelancers can take advantage of flexible work schedules and you can work independently. You’re also provided with comprehensive support in case you need help or have questions as you work through your editing tasks.

19. Robert Half

Robert Half is a lesser-known option for finding online proofreading jobs. But it’s a site that’s worth adding to your job search list if you’re interested in remote or contract proofreading work. 

It’s really easy to find proofreading jobs through the site. You can plug in your keywords in the search bar or set up an email alert and online proofreading gigs are delivered to your inbox.

20. Gramlee

Gramlee is always hiring for online proofreading jobs and online editing jobs. 

Aside from having solid proofreading skills, you’ll also need to be good at time management. Gramlee advertises 24-hour turnaround times for editing and proofreading services so it could be a great fit if you’re able to work at a faster pace. 

21. Writer’s Relief

Writer’s Relief is one of the top 100 websites for writers.

And like Gramlee, they’re always accepting applications for online proofreaders. You’ll need to be located in the United States to submit an application.  

This site offers proofreading services for authors, including reviews of poetry, books, short stories and essays. So it’s worth checking out if you’re the literary type.

22. OneSpace

OneSpace routinely posts listings for freelancers of all backgrounds, including graphic designers, writers and proofreaders.

Finding online proofreading jobs here can be hit or miss since they sometimes have only a few positions available. 

But it’s still one of the best options to bookmark since they pay daily and they offer proofreading gigs for people at all experience levels. 

CACTUS works with over 200,000 clients so there are plenty of opportunities to find online proofreading jobs for beginners here. 

Aside from proofreading jobs, you can also find freelance editing work and freelance translation jobs. 

One of the company’s best features is its task workflow, which makes it easy to accept and submit proofreading assignments so you can get paid faster!

24. Managed Editing

Managed Editing hires freelancers for proofreading jobs so you can earn money where you are, on your own schedule.

There is an application you have to fill out, which is quite detailed. But the more information you can provide about your proofreading skills and experience, the better your odds of getting matched for a paid proofreading job.

25. Scribendi

Scribendi offers editing and proofreading services for businesses.  

This site is unique because it offers specialized proofreading services, including:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) proofreading
• Academic proofreading
• Proofreading for authors
• Proofreading for personal documents
• Editing and proofreading for students
• Business and corporate proofreading services

If you have experience with any of those things, you could unlock a steady stream of online proofreading jobs with Scribendi.

26. Scribie

Scribie is technically an online transcription service. But they do use online proofreaders as part of the service they offer to their transcription clients. 

You’ll have to have a good comprehension of English to apply. There’s also a certification process you have to complete before you can start working through the site. 

27. Edit Fast

Edit Fast helps skilled editors, proofreaders and writers find work. 

It’s really easy to use, too. You create a profile to receive notifications about jobs. If you see a job that interests you, you send the client a proposal.

If the client accepts your proposal, you do the work and get paid!

It’s a passive way to find online proofreading jobs without spending hours surfing job boards each day. 

28. WritingJobz.com

WritingJobz.com is great for finding proofreading and writing jobs you can do from home.

What I love about this site is that you always get paid for your time. So if you have a nitpicky client that wants endless revisions, WritingJobz.com makes sure you’re compensated for that. 

That’s a huge plus and a great reason to consider applying to become a freelance proofreader here. 

29. Domainite

Domainite helps you find paid proofreading jobs online, regardless of skill level.

There is an editing test you have to complete first to apply. And you also need to know your way around Microsoft Word. 

But overall, it’s one of the easier sites to start finding paid proofreading jobs as a beginner. 

30. R3ciprocity

R3ciprocity offers a super simple way to make money proofreading online.

With this site, people submit their work to be reviewed and proofread. As you proofread documents, you earn credits. 

Those credits can then be converted to cash and deposited into your bank account via Stripe. 

This site may not pay quite as much as some online proofreading jobs. But it’s an easy way to get your feet wet and start building up your proofreading experience. 

31. Academia-Research

Academia-Research specializes in academic writing. As in, they hire people to write essays, research papers and other academic content.

But they also hire online proofreaders and copy editors as well. 

You might want to check out this site for work at home proofreading jobs if you have an academic background or just enjoy reading academic writing. 

32. Babbletype

Babbletype offers transcription, editing and translation services to its clients. So if you’re skilled at one or all three, you could easily earn great money from home through this site. 

One thing they look for is the ability to get along well with others. So solid communication skills could give you an edge.

At the moment, they aren’t taking applications for online proofreading jobs. But you could still keep tabs on the site for updates when new jobs open up. 

33. EditorLive

EditorLive could be an option if you’re looking for a full-time online proofreading job and live in Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada or Texas.

This site looks for online proofreaders who have a college degree and can provide at least two references. There’s also a multi-step assessment you’ll need to complete as part of the application process. 

34. MotherWorks

If you’re a stay at home mom who’s looking for online proofreading jobs or any other type of freelance work you’ll definitely want to check out MotherWorks .

This site features remote and online jobs for stay at home moms or any mom who wants to earn an income online. 

You can find proofreading jobs to do from home, along with editing jobs, writing gigs and virtual assistant jobs, to name a few!

35. Scribe Media

Scribe Media offers book coaching, book publishing, book writing and marketing services for authors.

The company regularly hires remote support staff, including online proofreaders, to help authors get their books published and available for sale.

There aren’t as many online proofreading jobs listed here, but it’s worth checking out if you’re specifically interested in working in the book publishing industry.

Start a Proofreading Business

One of the best ways to find online proofreading jobs is to make them for yourself.

So how do you do that?

Simple. You start an online proofreading business and become your own boss.

Here are the pros of starting your own proofreading business:

• You have control over which jobs you take (or don’t)
• You can set your own hours and work when you want
• Earning potential is unlimited since you can set your rates and decide how much to work
• You can connect with some really great people along the way, including clients, editors and other proofreaders
• It can be easier to become an expert in a particular type of proofreading and niche down, which can help you increase your earnings

If you want to start a proofreading business of your own, setting up a website is a good place to start.

For that, you’ll need a domain name and web hosting. NameHero is who I use for my sites, though Siteground is also highly recommended.

Once you’ve got your site set up, you can decide if you want to add a blog element to it. Be sure to read my ultimate guide to starting a blog if that’s something you’re interested in!

From there, you can work on building out your site and portfolio to start getting clients.

What do you need to start an online proofreading business?

One advantage of starting an online proofreading side hustle is that startup costs are typically low. You don’t need much money to get started.

Here’s what you’ll need to launch your profitable proofreading business:

• Editing software (Microsoft Word or Google docs work fine)
• Proofreading software ( Grammarly is great for beginners!)
• A PayPal account or bank account so you can get paid
• Dropbox if you need cloud storage

It’s also a good idea to set up social media accounts so you can start building your brand online.

Do you need to take a proofreading course?

If you do a quick Google search for “how to make money proofreading” or “how to get proofreading jobs online”, you’ll probably come across at least one website advertising online proofreading courses. 

Every course is different but the gist is the same: they equip you with the basic skills and knowledge you need to get started to make money proofreading. 

So, are these courses a good use of your time and money?

Online proofreading courses can definitely give you a leg up and help increase your earning potential. 

There are two things to keep in mind, though.

First, not all courses are the same. There are definitely some that are better than others. 

And second, you only get out of a course what you put into it. So if you can’t commit to spending the time to dive through the modules and absorb all the lessons, an online proofreading course could be a waste of money for you. 

With that being said, I can’t recommend Caitlin Pyle’s Proofread Anywhere course enough. 

She’s an undisputed expert in all things proofreading and based on feedback I’ve gotten from some of her students, this course is well worth the time and money required. 

If you want to get a sneak peek at what the course covers, you can sign up for a free workshop that covers the basics of how to make money as a proofreader. 

It costs nothing but your time and it can give you a better idea of whether online proofreading is the right side job for you.

How to Find Proofreading Jobs From Home

Not sure where to find paying proofreading gigs? There are a number of different ways to find proofreading jobs from home, including:

• Networking on LinkedIn or social media
• Asking for referrals
• Reaching out to friends and family
• Cold pitching your services to potential clients
• Responding to ads on freelance and remote work job boards

All of those options can lead to paying gigs.

And in the meantime, I recommend checking out the free proofreading workshop I mentioned earlier to learn more about how to make money as a proofreader.

Final thoughts on online proofreading jobs for beginners

Proofreading can be an excellent way to make money online. Depending on what kind of proofreading jobs you’re interested in, you could easily make a part-time or full-time income from the comfort of your own home. It’s one of the best options for creating an additional income stream, with no prior experience needed.

If you want to learn more about how proofreading works, be sure to check out Caitlin Pyle. She really knows her stuff!

Remember, her proofreading webinar doesn’t cost a dime. So you can take the workshop to help decide if online proofreading jobs are right for you. 

Need more money tips? Read these posts next:

• 140+ Legitimate Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Money
• 37 Creative Side Hustles That Can Help You Make $100 a Day (or More!)
• How to Make $2000 a Month From Home With Flexible Side Hustles
• 50 Legitimate Ways to Make an Extra $1000 a Month Online (and Offline)
• 50+ Things to Sell to Make Money (Sell Stuff for Cash Fast!)

Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

About Rebecca Lake

Rebecca Lake is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, freelance writer and homeschooling single mom of two. Since 2014, she's paid off nearly $100,000 in debt and grown her net worth to seven figures. Her work has appeared online at top personal finance websites, including Forbes Advisor, Bankrate, Investopedia, The Balance, CreditCards.com and U.S. News & World Report. Find out more.

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31 Best Online Proofreading Jobs from Home for Beginners with No Experience

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Are you looking for a flexible job? Consider online proofreading jobs from home !

Online proofreading is a perfect job opportunity for beginners with no experience as this is something that you can quickly learn within a few weeks.

Proofreading is an essential skill in the digital age. With millions of content pieces created daily, there’s a high demand for content editors and proofreaders.

This post will cover the best platforms for beginners. You’ll learn about reputable companies and websites that offer online proofreading jobs from home. Read on to discover how you can start earning today!

1) FlexJobs

Launched in 2007, FlexJobs has established itself as a premier platform for job seekers looking for remote, flexible, part-time, or freelance work.

With a vast database of curated job listings from over 50 career categories, FlexJobs aims to connect job seekers with reputable employers offering work flexibility.

You can easily find high-paying online proofreading and editing jobs on this platform.

Why choose FlexJobs?

FlexJobs stands out from other job search platforms with its dedication to providing a safe, scam-free environment. Each job listing is researched and verified by the FlexJobs team, ensuring that members have access to legitimate, high-quality job opportunities.

The platform also offers resources like career coaching, resume reviews, and expert advice to help members enhance their job search experience.

Membership Plans and Pricing

FlexJobs operates on a subscription-based model, offering three different plans to suit the needs of job seekers:

• 1 Month: $14.95
• 3 Months: $29.95
• 12 Months: $49.95 (Recommended)

While a paid subscription is required to access the full list of job postings and apply for positions, the platform offers a satisfaction guarantee.

If you’re unsatisfied with the service, you can request a refund within 30 days of your subscription.

How to Get Started

To join FlexJobs, create an account and choose a subscription plan.

Once you’ve completed the registration process, you can start browsing through the curated job listings, set up personalized job alerts, and access various resources to enhance your job search.

Whether you’re looking to work remotely, switch to a part-time schedule, or find freelance work, FlexJobs is the go-to platform for finding the best flexible proofreading job opportunities in a secure and reliable environment.

Fiverr is a popular freelance marketplace where you can offer your proofreading services. Beginners can create a profile and set their rates, making it an ideal platform to gain experience and build a portfolio.

Fiverr allows you to set your prices, with most proofreaders charging between $5 and $50 per project depending on the complexity and word count. Payments are made via Fiverr’s platform, and you can withdraw your earnings through PayPal, bank transfer, or Fiverr’s revenue card.

To get started on Fiverr, sign up for a free account, create a profile, and publish your proofreading gig. There are no strict requirements to join, but showcasing your skills and qualifications will help attract clients.

Proofed is a professional editing and proofreading service catering to various types of clients, including businesses, authors, academics, students, researchers, ESL learners, professionals, and those with dyslexia.

To join Proofed’s team, you’ll need to pass the “ Becoming a Proofreader ” course offered by Knowadays with distinction (scoring 80% or higher).

Upon completion, you’ll be given the opportunity to work with Proofed on a trial basis. If the trial goes well, you’ll be invited to become a full-fledged member of their editing team.

Proofed offers its editors an amazing work-life balance, allowing them to choose their own hours and workload. They provide a team-oriented culture with dedicated support staff to guide you through training, editing processes, and guidelines.

They also offer fast and transparent payment on a per-project basis, making it easy for you to decide which jobs to take on.

To learn more and sign up for the “Becoming a Proofreader” course, visit their careers page .

Upwork is a well-known freelance marketplace that offers a wide range of online proofreading jobs from home. This platform suits beginners looking to gain experience and build their portfolio.

On Upwork, proofreaders set their hourly rates or project-based fees. Payment methods include PayPal, direct deposit, or wire transfer.

To join Upwork, create a profile showcasing your skills, qualifications, and any relevant experience. While there are no strict requirements, having a well-crafted profile will help you stand out and attract clients.

5) ProofreadingServices.com

ProofreadingServices.com is a great starting point for beginners. This platform offers online proofreading jobs from home with no experience necessary. They provide competitive pay, reportedly ranging from $19 to $46 per hour depending on the turnaround time and complexity of the project.

To apply, complete their 20-minute preliminary test to assess your proofreading skills. If successful, you’ll have access to a variety of projects and flexible work hours.

To learn more about their requirements and application process, click the link above to go to their proofreading career page.

Application page

6) Scribendi

Scribendi has been around since 1997, offering both editing and proofreading services. This platform prefers experienced proofreaders, but they also consider beginners with a strong grasp of the English language.

Scribendi provides a user-friendly platform and competitive pay rates, which are determined by factors such as word count, turnaround time, and the project’s complexity.

Payments are made once a month via Payoneer.

To apply, you’ll need a college degree or equivalent work experience. You must also be able to work with tight deadlines and possess excellent communication skills.

Requirements for proofreaders:

• A university degree in a relevant field
• At least three years of experience in editing, writing, document production, or language teaching
• Native-level English ability
• Excellent reading comprehension skills
• An average editing/proofreading speed of 1,000–1,500 words per hour
• Microsoft Word 2013 or later on a secure computer

Visit their employment page for more details on the application process.

7) Polished Paper

Polished Paper is a user-friendly platform that offers online proofreading jobs from home for beginners. They provide a wide range of projects and competitive pay rates based on the complexity and turnaround time of the assignment.

Some of the services offered by Polished Paper include:

• Business editing and proofreading
• Academic editing and proofreading
• Dissertation and essay editing and proofreading
• Admissions essay editing and proofreading
• Manuscript and script editing
• English language editing for non-native speakers

To apply, you’ll need to register for an account and complete a 35-question test to showcase your proofreading skills. If successful, you’ll gain access to their proofreading opportunities.

You’re encouraged to use outside resources like formatting guides (e.g., MLA, CSE, APA, and Chicago) to complete the test.

Polished Paper has no strict requirements for their proofreaders, making it an ideal option for beginners. To learn more about their application process and requirements, visit their registration page.

8) Cactus Global

Cactus Global is a specialized platform offering online proofreading jobs from home, focusing on academic and scientific content. Although they cater to experienced proofreaders, they also welcome beginners with a strong background in their subject area.

You can also apply for freelance design and translation jobs.

Their payment structure is based on the project’s complexity, turnaround time, and word count. Payments are made via direct deposit or PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need to have a strong academic background and excellent English language skills. You must also pass their subject-specific test. Visit their careers page for more information on the application process and requirements.

If you don’t find any openings for academic proofreading jobs, you may still send your resume to the team via LinkedIn, you never know!

9) EditFast

EditFast is a platform that provides freelance editing, proofreading, and writing opportunities for skilled professionals.

They pride themselves on the quality and speed of their editors and are always on the lookout for the best talent.

As a freelance opportunity, EditFast offers promotional tools to help activated editors promote their skills and talents, making their profiles available for clients to view and potentially choose as their editor.

When new projects are received, they are sent to the best-qualified editor based on the client’s needs and the document’s requirements.

You will need a degree from a recognized university, a wide variety of reading interests, word processing software, and past editing or proofreading experience.

Useful qualifications that can give you an advantage when applying to this platform include professional editing experience, a degree in English, specialized knowledge in specific fields, and experience editing documents translated by non-native speakers.

Payments are made through PayPal on the last day of the month following the month during which the invoice was requested. EditFast retains 40% of the final total project price, whether the project comes directly from a client or from the EditFast team.

By registering with EditFast, you gain access to potential freelance editing, proofreading, and writing projects to showcase your skills and grow your career.

10) Wordvice

Wordvice is an international English editing company that specializes in editing and proofreading academic papers, dissertations, theses, and admissions essays, catering to the specific needs of their ESL clients.

Wordvice is currently seeking qualified and experienced freelance editors to join their dedicated team of professionals.

This job website offers its freelance editors freedom and flexibility, with the ability to work from any location with stable internet access and Microsoft Word.

As an editor, you can set your own availability and workload. Compensation is based on document word count and turnaround time.

The company provides steady work, ongoing training, feedback, skill-building tools, and an efficient order-processing system to ensure a smooth experience for both editors and clients.

To apply for a Freelance Editor position at Wordvice, you’ll need:

• Native fluency in English
• Enrollment in or completion of a graduate degree program
• Minimum of two years of professional editing experience
• Knowledge of various formatting styles
• Advanced proficiency with MS Word
• Strong technical writing skills

Preferred qualifications include experience at a professional editing company, educational background or experience in medicine, engineering, or other biomedical and natural science domains, and the ability to meet frequent deadlines.

11) Gramlee

Gramlee is an online proofreading and editing platform that is always on the lookout for exceptional editors.

If you have a keen eye for errors and are passionate about fixing poorly structured writing, Gramlee may be the perfect fit for you. As a Gramlee editor, you will work as a contractor from the comfort of your home and determine your own availability.

Gramlee offers two types of editing positions: content editors and dissertation editors. To apply for a position, choose the application that matches your expertise:

• Content editors
• Dissertation editors

Due to the high volume of applications they receive, Gramlee is unable to follow up with every applicant. However, if they are interested in your application, they will be in touch with you.

Kibin is an online platform that offers professional proofreading and editing services to help clients achieve their goals with clear, concise writing.

They cater to a wide range of clients, including students, academics, college applicants, authors, creatives, businesses, and job seekers.

To explore potential opportunities with Kibin, visit their Careers page and Proofreading Jobs section.

13) Cambridge Proofreading & Editing

Cambridge Proofreading is dedicated to delivering high-quality, thoughtfully edited, and meticulously proofread documents for clients worldwide. They are always looking for talented freelance editors to help maintain their exceptional level of service.

To apply, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from a reputable university and native-level English language skills.

Minimum requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher.
• An exceptional understanding of the English language.
• Prior editing experience.

Preferred candidates:

• Editors with advanced degrees.
• Experts in STEM, business, computer science, economics, and law.
• Those with experience in academic editing, publishing, or as university faculty.

What Cambridge Proofreading offers:

• The average pay of USD 20–30 per hour, paid twice monthly.
• Access to their resource library.
• Full control over which orders you accept.

As a Cambridge Proofreading editor, you can set your own schedule, receive proposals, and complete jobs that fit your expertise and interests.

Payments are made twice a month via PayPal (for non-US editors) or direct deposit (for US editors).

14) EditFast

EditFast is an online editing and proofreading service that offers jobs for beginners and experienced professionals. They provide a variety of projects and competitive pay rates based on the assignment’s complexity and deadline.

To apply, you’ll need to register for an account, submit your resume, and pass a series of tests to demonstrate your proofreading skills. If successful, your profile will be listed on their website, allowing clients to find and hire you.

There are no strict requirements to join EditFast, but having a strong command of the English language and excellent attention to detail will improve your chances of success.

15) Scribbr

Scribbr is a professional editing and proofreading service that focuses on academic documents. They welcome both experienced proofreaders and beginners with a strong academic background.

Scribbr offers competitive pay rates, which are determined by factors such as word count, turnaround time, and project complexity. Payments are made via PayPal or direct deposit.

To apply, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and native-level English language skills. You must also be familiar with various citation styles and academic writing formats. Visit their jobs page for more information on the application process and requirements.

16) ManagedEditing

ManagedEditing , formerly known as Wordfirm Inc., is an editing and proofreading company that offers freelance opportunities for editors and proofreaders with various levels of experience.

ManagedEditing provides competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via direct deposit or PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need to complete their online application and submit a resume. While there are no strict requirements, having a strong command of the English language and excellent attention to detail will improve your chances of success.

17) Proofreading Pal

Proofreading Pal offers online proofreading jobs from home for both beginners and experienced proofreaders. They provide a wide range of projects, including academic papers, business documents, and personal statements.

Proofreading Pal pays their proofreaders per word, with rates varying depending on the project’s complexity and turnaround time. Payments are made via PayPal or direct deposit.

To apply, you’ll need to be enrolled in or have completed a graduate program from a reputable university, and possess excellent English language skills. Visit their employment page for more information on the application process and requirements.

18) Book Editing Associates

Book Editing Associates is a platform that connects authors with professional editors since 1998. The platform carefully vets and tests its editors, ensuring that they provide high-quality editing services to clients.

The company is constantly looking for professional ghostwriters, developmental editors, copy editors, and publishing consultants with traditional and self-publishing experience.

Requirements:

• Must be an experienced editor with a minimum of 5 years of editing experience.
• A track record of published books that you have edited (traditional and self-published).
• Ability to check email several times each day, with a maximum response time of 3 hours during US work hours (e.g., 8 am-5 pm Central Time Zone).
• Must be based in the US.
• Must be 100% freelance (no day job).

Application Process:

• Qualified applicants will be sent a short copy editing and proofreading test. Developmental editors are not required to pass the proofreading test, but all applicants in every category take the test. Failed tests are not marked and returned.
• Preference will be given to applicants who intend to commit long-term.

To apply, fill out the job application form on their jobs page.

19) Scribe Media

Scribe Media , formerly known as Book in a Box, is a company that helps authors write, publish, and market their books. They offer freelance editing and proofreading positions for professionals with various levels of experience.

Scribe Media provides competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via direct deposit or PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need excellent English language skills and a strong background in editing or proofreading. Visit their careers page for more information on the application process and requirements.

Wordy is an online proofreading and copy-editing platform that offers jobs for both beginners and experienced professionals. They provide a variety of projects, including academic papers, business documents, and website content.

Wordy pays their proofreaders per word, with rates varying depending on the project’s complexity and turnaround time. Payments are made via PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need to create an account and pass their online test to showcase your proofreading skills. There are no strict requirements, but having a strong command of the English language and excellent attention to detail will improve your chances of success.

21) Edit 911

Edit 911 is a professional editing and proofreading service that offers jobs for experienced professionals, specializing in book editing, dissertations, and business documents.

Edit 911 provides competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via direct deposit or PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need a Ph.D. in English or a related field, as well as a strong background in editing or proofreading. Visit their employment page for more information on the application process and requirements.

22) Get Editing Jobs (job board and jobs aggregator)

Get Editing Jobs is a job board and aggregator specifically focused on editing and proofreading positions. It’s an excellent resource for finding online proofreading jobs from home, as it compiles listings from various sources in one place.

Simply sign up for a free account and customize your job alerts to receive notifications about new opportunities in your chosen field. Visit their website to start browsing available jobs.

23) Lionbridge

Lionbridge is a global company that offers a variety of work-from-home opportunities, including proofreading and editing positions. They provide jobs for both beginners and experienced professionals, with a focus on localization and translation services.

Lionbridge offers competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via direct deposit or PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need excellent English language skills and a strong background in editing or proofreading. Visit their “Join Our Team” page for more information on the application process and requirements.

Reedsy is a platform that connects freelancers with clients in the publishing industry, including authors and publishers. They have a wide range of professional services, such as book editing, design, publicity, marketing, ghostwriting, and web design.

Reedsy provides a platform for professionals to work with diverse clients in the publishing industry. To apply, sign up and create your free Reedsy profile. If your application is accepted, your profile will be made available on the Reedsy Marketplace for clients to find and collaborate with you.

Reedsy Fees:

• Reedsy charges professionals a 10% service fee.

Benefits of working with Reedsy:

• Flexible schedule – work when you want and choose the projects you’re interested in.
• Work with bestselling authors and publishers.
• A powerful search system that delivers your profile to the right clients.
• Respond to briefs with quotes that you control.

You also gain access to a variety of collaboration tools, such as messaging and file sharing, to-do lists and calendars, collaborative writing tools, automated contracts, and secure payments.

25) English Trackers

English Trackers is an online platform that specializes in academic editing and writing. They are constantly looking for academic editors who strive for excellence, care about researchers’ work, and are willing to improve their editing skills through feedback and training.

To apply, you’ll need a Ph.D., a teaching background, or professional experience in a related field, as well as native-level English language skills.

Desired editor profile:

• Native English speaker.
• Minimum 2 years of professional academic editing experience.
• Ph.D. holder or academic editor with verifiable experience.
• Experience editing documents written by non-native English speakers.

This website provides competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via PayPal.

26) WordsRU

WordsRU is a professional editing and proofreading service that offers jobs for experienced professionals. They specialize in academic, business, and book editing, providing a wide range of projects to work on.

WordsRU offers competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via PayPal or direct deposit.

To apply, you’ll need a master’s degree, Ph.D., or equivalent professional experience in any academic discipline, as well as excellent English language skills. Visit their employment page for more information on the application process and requirements.

27) Editor Live

Editor Live , also known as Edit My Paper, is an online editing and proofreading platform that provides services for students, businesses, and authors. They offer jobs for both beginners and experienced professionals.

Editor Live pays their proofreaders per word, with rates varying depending on the project’s complexity and turnaround time. Payments are made via PayPal or direct deposit.

To apply, you’ll need to complete an online application, submit your resume, and pass an editing test. There are no strict requirements, but having a strong command of the English language and excellent attention to detail will improve your chances of success.

28) OneSpace

OneSpace is a platform that connects freelancers with various work-from-home opportunities, including editing and proofreading jobs. They offer a variety of projects for both beginners and experienced professionals.

OneSpace provides competitive pay rates based on the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made via PayPal.

To apply, you’ll need to create an account, complete a profile, and pass a series of assessments to demonstrate your skills. Visit their freelancer’s page for more information on the application process and requirements.

29) Writers Relief

Writers Relief is an author’s submission service that helps writers prepare and submit their work to literary agents and editors. They occasionally hire freelance proofreaders and editors to assist with client projects.

Writers Relief offers competitive pay rates, which are determined by the project’s complexity, word count, and deadline. Payments are made directly by the client.

To apply, you’ll need a strong background in editing or proofreading and a proven track record in the industry. Visit their website for more information on potential job opportunities and requirements.

With these additional platforms, you now have a comprehensive list of 29 websites to find online proofreading jobs from home, catering to both beginners and experienced professionals. Explore each platform, assess their requirements, and submit your applications. With dedication and persistence, you’ll soon be on your way to earning income as an online proofreader!

30) LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that also serves as a powerful job search tool. As a global platform, it offers a wide range of job opportunities, including online proofreading jobs from home for both beginners and experienced professionals.

To find proofreading jobs on LinkedIn, simply create a profile and use the search function to explore available positions by entering relevant keywords, such as “online proofreading” or “freelance proofreader.” You can also set up job alerts to receive notifications about new opportunities in your chosen field.

LinkedIn allows you to directly connect with potential clients and employers, making it an excellent resource for finding freelance proofreading work.

31) People Per Hour

People Per Hour is a freelance marketplace that connects clients with a wide range of professionals, including proofreaders and editors. It offers online proofreading jobs from home for both beginners and experienced professionals, with opportunities available in various industries such as academia, business, and creative writing.

People Per Hour allows freelancers to set their own rates, and payments are made through the platform. You can either respond to client-posted jobs or create your own service offerings, known as “Hourlies,” to showcase your proofreading skills and attract potential clients.

To join People Per Hour, you’ll need to create a profile, complete a brief application, and provide samples of your work. There are no strict requirements, but having a strong command of the English language and excellent attention to detail will improve your chances of success.

With these 31 platforms, you have a variety of options for finding online proofreading jobs from home, even as a beginner with no experience. Take the time to explore each platform, assess their requirements, and submit your applications. With persistence and dedication, you’ll soon be on your way to earning income as an online proofreader!

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21 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $45/hour)

Last updated on 13th March, 2024 at 12:16 am

So your here to find online proofreading jobs ?

Or perhaps you’re still contemplating if this proofreading job is the one for you?

Did that opening sentence make you cringe a bit? Lol…

Mind you. I purposely wrote it that way.

Let me tell you, even Grammarly is giving me a side-eye for not fixing it to “ you’re .”

And my inner introvert keeps telling me, “Just change it already!”

But guess what? I’m rebelling against perfect grammar (at least only for the opening sentence, lol).

So, grammar sleuth. If you’ve got a knack for spotting snazzy mistakes, you’re practically tailor-made for the world of online proofreading jobs .

But let me tell you something, it’s not just about showing off your skills; you can turn your keen eye into some serious cash by offering your proofreading services.

Here’s the fun part – you can earn up to $45 per hour as a proofreader. Plus, you get to call the shots on your schedule and work from literally anywhere .

Sounds like the dream job for introverts, right?

Now, if you’re seriously eyeing this proofreading job or considering starting your own freelance proofreading business, rest assured that the start-up costs for this job are low, making it an accessible option for beginners looking to break into the industry.

Like, Seriously, What Is Proofreading?

The proofreading process, proofreading vs. editing: what sets them apart, weighing the upsides and downsides of being a proofreader:, the best online proofreading jobs for beginners, are proofreaders in demand or just a passing fad, but the real question is… how much money can you rack up from proofreading, what proofreading skills and qualifications do i need, how do i become a proofreader with no experience, what proofreading tools do i need for remote proofreading jobs, is being a proofreader a good job for introverts, does proofreading require a degree, are online proofreading jobs legit, ready to start proofreading jobs from home now.

Proofread Anywhere

In this free workshop, you’ll learn how to become a proofreader and start a freelance proofreading business.

• 24,000+ Students
• 7+ Years of Results

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• 8 Best Work-from-Home Jobs That You Should Consider

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Imagine proofreading as being the ultimate taste-tester for a mouthwatering dish right before it hits the table.

Your job? Making sure every flavor, spice, and texture come together in a perfect symphony.

You’re the culinary spell-checker, catching those sneaky typos or flavor hiccups that could spoil the feast.

Just like a chef wouldn’t want a dash of salt where it doesn’t belong, you ensure words play their delicious roles without any accidental seasoning.

It’s that final sprinkle of magic before your content is served—pristine, polished, and ready to wow your audience.

Did you know why “you’re” and “your” are two different words? Because “you’re” mine and I’m yours. Lol! TheGeniusCat.com Tweet

Here is what the process of a proofreading job looks like:

Reviewing the text: You start by thoroughly reading the entire text, paying attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.

Correcting errors: Once you identify any errors, you need to make the necessary corrections using the appropriate editing tools or by manually editing the text.

Formatting consistency: You ensure that the formatting of the text is consistent throughout, including headings, font styles, and indentation.

Fact-checking: If any factual information is presented in the text, you verify its accuracy to ensure that it is reliable.

Final review: After making the necessary edits, you go through the text once more to ensure that no errors have been overlooked.

You know, it’s a bit like people confusing pasta with noodles – happens more often than you’d think.

The same mix-up tends to go down between proofreading and editing.

While they are both crucial steps in the writing process, they serve different purposes and require different skill sets.

Let’s take a closer look at the key differences between proofreading and editing.

Proofreading primarily focuses on ensuring the accuracy and correctness of the text. It involves meticulously reviewing the content for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

By carefully examining each word and sentence, proofreaders eliminate inconsistencies and improve overall readability.

Editing , on the other hand, goes beyond the surface-level corrections and delves deeper into the content. It involves refining the structure and flow of the text, enhancing clarity, and optimizing the overall coherence.

Editors work on improving the sentence construction, eliminating redundancies, and ensuring the message of the document is effectively conveyed.

Proofreading is a job that comes with its own set of perks and pitfalls. Let’s break down the ups and downs so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Flexible working hours: As a proofreader, you have the flexibility to choose your working hours. This allows you to create a schedule that fits your lifestyle and other commitments.

Work from anywhere: One of the biggest advantages of being a proofreader is the ability to work from anywhere. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, you can work from the comfort of your own home or even while traveling.

Skill development: Consider it as your language workout. Proofreading hones your language skills, sharpens your eye for detail, and kicks your critical thinking into high gear.

Variety: Imagine you are flipping through channels on TV. You’ll have the opportunity to read a wide range of content, from academic papers to marketing materials, keeping things interesting.

Potential for good income: Proofreaders can earn a good income, especially if they establish themselves as experts in their field. With experience and a solid client base, you can increase your rates and earn a substantial income.

Low start-up costs: Unlike other professions, starting a career as a proofreader doesn’t require a significant financial investment. The tools and resources needed are minimal, making it a cost-effective way to enter the world of freelancing.

Isolation: Working alone for long periods might not suit everyone, and there’s limited interaction with colleagues.

Tight deadlines: Proofreading often involves working with tight deadlines, especially when dealing with clients who require quick turnarounds. Meeting these deadlines can sometimes be challenging and may require you to work efficiently under pressure.

Monotony: Proofreading can become repetitive, especially if you’re working on similar types of content day in and day out.

Uncertainty: Freelance proofreading gigs might not always provide a stable income, and finding consistent work can be challenging.

Before you start applying for any of the proofreading jobs I’ve lined up for you, there’s something I would highly recommend you do first: take Caitlin’s free 76-minute workshop on kickstarting your proofreading journey.

Let me tell you – this workshop? It’s a hit for a reason. Trust me, it’s worth every second of your time.

So, do yourself a favor and give it a whirl.

I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Now let’s get straight to the list.

Freelance Websites

If you are a complete beginner and wish to dip your feet into the proofreading world , I would suggest starting with these freelance websites.

Think of them as bustling online marketplaces, connecting you (the talented proofreader) with clients eager to polish their written content.

You get to work on diverse projects, hone your skills, and be your boss, while clients gain the magic touch of your eagle eye.

While these platforms do take a small commission (usually 10-20%), they offer a sweet perk: they handle the marketing legwork, leaving you free to focus on what you do best – perfecting the written word.

you are in reality a good webmaster The website loading velocity is amazing It sort of feels that youre doing any distinctive trick Also The contents are masterwork you have done a fantastic job in this topic

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21 Websites Offering Legit Freelance Proofreading Jobs

This content may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. However, I only recommend products or services that I genuinely like and trust.

Want to become a successful proofreader but struggling to find freelance proofreading jobs? 

Finding clients is one of the most stressful parts of being a freelancer, but it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of online proofreading jobs available; you just have to know where to look. 

I’ve compiled a list of proofreading websites that hire proofreaders and editors to work for them. They find the clients; all you have to worry about is doing the work! 

Of course, working for an agency has pros and cons. You don’t have to do as much marketing, but as a result, you may earn a little less once the company has taken its cut. 

Stick around for the FAQ section at the end of this post, where I share some information about starting your own business. 

Table of Contents

Websites That Provide Freelance Proofreading Jobs

1.  scribendi.

Scribendi  is a Canada-based company that hires editors and proofreaders to edit content for its ESL, academic, professional, and student clients. It has both in-house and freelance positions. 

Suitable for beginners?

No. Scribendi requires that you have at least three years of experience in editing, writing, document production, or language teaching.

Do you need a degree?

Yes, you need to have a university degree in a relevant field. 

Special requirements:

You need to have native level English ability. However, the website states that the company hires proofreaders and editors outside the US and Canada. 

Your computer must have Microsoft Word 2010 or higher. 

2.  Proofed Inc.

Proofed offers proofreading, editing, and formatting services to businesses, students, and academics, and promises to return documents within 24 hours. 

Yes. If you don’t have experience yet, you can take its Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader and Becoming an Editor Courses (formerly Proofreading Academy) first. If you graduate with a score of 80% or higher from both courses, you are guaranteed the chance to work with Proofed.

Sign up for a free trial of the Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader course here!

I wrote a review of the Knowdays (formerly Proofreading Academy) Becoming a Proofreader course here.

Yes. Proofed is looking for meticulous, passionate proofreaders with a PhD, master’s, or undergraduate degree from a top university. However, if you complete its course, it will waive this requirement. 

You must upload a copy of your résumé and cover letter to apply for a role with Proofed. 

3.  ProofreadNOW

ProofreadNOW’s proofreaders and editors have been proofreading business documents since 1999. Its clients include law firms, marketing agencies, universities, healthcare providers, and more. 

ProofreadNOW is not hiring at present, but you can  sign up for its email list to be notified  when it is hiring. 

No. ProofreadNOW requires that you have five years of experience as a proofreader. 

The website doesn’t specify.  

You must pass a series of tedious and difficult tests before being hired.  

4.  Polished Paper

Polished Paper is a proofreading and editing service for students, businesses, and ESL writers. 

Register here to be considered for a position with Polished Paper. 

Possibly. The website doesn’t specify how many years of experience you need. 

You must pass a 35-question editor test before being hired. 

5.  Reedsy

Reedsy connects authors with proofreaders, editors, designers, and marketers who can help them bring their book to life and publish it. 

With Reedsy, you can set your own rates, and it charges a 10% commission. To apply, you must  sign up for a free Reedsy profile , and once you are accepted, you will be added to the marketplace. 

From what I’ve heard it can be quite difficult to get into Reedsy. I believe you need to have some experience already, but the website doesn’t specify. 

The website doesn’t specify. I think experience is more important to them.  

Not aware of any. 

6.  Domainite

Domainite  offers a range of services like marketing, website design, and direct mailing to its business customers. 

Possibly. The website doesn’t specify how much experience you need to have.

You must complete an  editing sample  before being hired. You must also confirm that you are familiar with using track changes in Microsoft Word. 

7.  Gramlee

Gramlee offers copyediting, grammar check, and proofreading services for students and academics.

You need to  fill out Gramlee’s employment form  to be considered for a proofreading or editing position.  

Possibly. The website doesn’t specify how many years of experience the company requires, but the form does ask how much experience you have.

The website doesn’t specify, but the form does ask if you have a degree.   

8.  Wordvice

Wordvice has been editing academic material and admissions essays for ESL clients since 2013. It has service agreements with many universities, academic societies, medical centers, research institutions, and laboratories.

Apply here to become a freelance editor with Wordvice. 

No. You need to have two years’ professional editing experience. It prefers that you have an educational background or have experience in medicine, engineering, or other biomedical and natural science domain.

Yes. You need to have completed or be enrolled in a graduate degree program.  

You must have native fluency in English. You must also have experience with various formatting styles such as APA, AMA, MLA, and Chicago.

9.  CACTUS

CACTUS  specializes in editing scientific and medical documents for academics. It is known for being a good place to work, consistently ranking among the top 20 on the global list of the Top 100 Companies for Telecommute Jobs (Forbes.com) since 2016.

The website states that “prior editing experience would be great.”

Yes. You need to have a PhD/master’s/bachelor’s degree or expertise in one or more specialized subject areas in physical sciences, engineering, materials sciences, healthcare, life sciences, medicine, and surgery. 

In addition to freelance positions where you can work from anywhere in the world, CACTUS also offers some full-time remote positions for people based in India. You may be asked to take an editing test to secure one of these positions. 

10.  Sibia Proofreading

Sibia Proofreading  was founded by Dona, a Harvard graduate. It offers proofreading and editing services for academics including journal articles, dissertations, theses, essays, etc.

The website doesn’t state how many years of experience you need to have; however, it does mention that its editors have experience editing PhDs. 

Yes. Sibia Proofreading carefully selects talented and experienced editing professionals who have graduated from top-tier universities such as Harvard University.

You need to be a native English speaker. 

11.  ProofreadingServices.com

ProofreadingServices.com  has helped thousands of academics, jobseekers, businesspeople, and authors refine their writing. It has part-time and full-time remote positions available.

It offers competitive pay ranging from US$19 to US$46 per hour depending on turnaround time, with the highest pay for the most urgent deadlines.

The website doesn’t specify. 

You need to complete an online application that includes multiple choice questions and a three to four-sentence writing sample.  

12.  ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal  uses a two-proofreader model whereby all documents must be proofed by two proofreaders to ensure it provides the highest-quality proofreading service. 

No. You need to have a minimum of five years of professional proofreading and editing experience or be working toward a degree.

Yes. If you do not already have a degree, you need to be currently employed by or enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in an accredited United States college or university and have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

You must have experience with several popular writing styles, such as APA, MLA, CMS, AP, and CSE.

13.  Edit24-7

Edit 24-7  specializes in proofreading and light editing for academics, businesses, and writers.

According to the website, Edit 24-7 has an extensive application process. To apply for a position, you need to send a writing sample and either your resume or a description of your relevant experience to [email protected].

14.  EditFast

The   EditFast  platform allows eligible editors and proofreaders to set up a web page where potential clients can reach out to them. Clients can choose which editor they want to work with or have EditFast choose someone.  

EditFast gets 40% of the final project price. 

The website states a requirement for past editing/proofreading experience, but it doesn’t say how many years.  

You need to have a degree from a recognized university. 

You must keep all communications with clients on the EditFast platform. 

15.  Edit911

Edit911  provides book, dissertation, article, and document editing by editors with PhDs.

The website doesn’t specify how many years of experience you need to have, but it does mention that you should have verifiable experience, so I don’t think it is suitable for beginners.  

Yes. You need to have a PhD in English or another writing-intensive discipline. You must also be a published scholar, with demonstrable talent and skills as a writer.

You need to send your résumé and a sample of your writing to Edit911 to be considered for a position.

16.  First Editing

First Editing provides fiction, nonfiction, and academic editing services. 

The website lists  First Editing’s requirements  here.   

It would be advantageous. First Editing is looking for people with a doctorate degree with experience in technical editing, theses, dissertations, research, article submissions, etc.

It also mentions master’s, bachelor’s, specific editing courses, proofreading certification, publishing seminars, etc.

You must be available to work at least 25 hours per week. Living in an international location may be advantageous, especially one that serves a time zone outside of the continental North American market, especially those editors located in the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, or Hawaii.

17.  Cambridge Proofreading LLC

Cambridge Proofreading  was founded in Cambridge, England, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It matches the clients’ documents with editors who have subject-matter expertise. 

The average pay is US$20 to US$25 per hour, paid twice monthly.

The website states that the company’s preferred candidate will have experience in academic editing or publishing, or as university faculty.

Yes. Cambridge Proofreading boasts that all its editors hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, with the majority having master’s or doctoral degrees. 

Expertise in STEM, business, economics, education, and computer science would be advantageous. 

18.  WordsRU

WordsRU   was established in Australia in 2002. It provides a specialist proofreading and editing service to businesses, academics, and writers.

No. You must have at least two years of professional experience as an editor, copyeditor, or proofreader.

Yes. You must hold a master’s degree, PhD, or equivalent professional experience in any academic discipline.

WordsRU is currently in need of qualified editors who are available to work on weekends.

19.  Scribbr

With an office in the Netherlands and a team of over 500 freelancers worldwide,  Scribbr  helps over one million students per month to improve their writing. As a Scribbr proofreader and editor, you would be editing papers, detecting plagiarism, and generating citations. It offers services in ten languages!

On average, Scribbr’s editors edit 1,700 words per hour and earn from €20 to €25 per hour.

No. You must have experience editing academic texts. 

Yes. You must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. 

You must be a native English speaker and be available to work for at least ten hours per week. 

To  become a Scribbr editor , you must pass a rigorous application process including a language quiz and two to five simulation orders. 

20.  Stickler

Stickler  specializes in helping academics get published in a top-tier journal, complete their PhDs, or obtain funding by providing world-class proofreading and copyediting services. 

No. You must have significant experience editing academic texts. 

You must be able to turn work of 14,000 words or less around in two to four working days (more time will be allocated for longer jobs). You must also be familiar with Harvard and APA referencing styles (as a minimum).

21.  Editana

Editana  recruits editors and proofreaders from the world’s top universities to edit academic and nonacademic texts. 

No. You must have relevant proofreading experience to apply.  

The website doesn’t specify, but it does say that they actively recruit from universities, so it’s likely you’ll need to be working toward a degree.  

You will need to fill out an application form, provide a cover letter and résumé, and take an editorial test to be considered for a position. You must also be a native-English speaker. 

FAQs about Freelance Proofreading Jobs

Whew, that was a lot of information to get at one time! You probably have a lot of questions now like

• How do I become a freelance proofreader without a degree or experience?
• Can I start my own business instead of working for proofreading and editing companies?
• How much can I earn per hour as a proofreader?

Keep reading for the answers to those questions. 

How do I become a freelance proofreader without a degree?

You probably noticed that many of the proofreading jobs above require their editors and proofreaders have a degree or even a master’s or PhD! So it is even possible to become a proofreader without a degree?

Yes, you don’t need to have a degree to start your own proofreading business. You can market your business to get your own clients without relying on proofreading companies. 

When you work with proofreading agencies, they keep a percentage of the profits—sometimes even as much as 50%! Getting your own clients means that you get to keep all the money for the project (minus transaction fees). 

Start Your Own Proofreading Business

The first step to starting your own proofreading business is making sure that you have the appropriate skills and resources. 

One course that I have personally taken and can recommend is Proofread Anywhere’s  General Proofreading: Theory and Practice course . It includes lots of worksheets and essays so you can practice your proofreading skills as well as an entire module dedicated to teaching you how to market your business to get clients.

Sign up for a  free Intro to Proofreading workshop  to learn how you can become a proofreader. 

Once you have the appropriate training, you need to gather your resources including a laptop/desktop computer, editing software, and  proofreading books and style guides . 

For more details on starting a proofreading business from home, check out my post about  how to become a proofreader without any experience . 

Can you make money proofreading?

One of the most common questions I get asked about working as a proofreader online is “Can you make money proofreading?” The answer is YES! You won’t become a millionaire by proofreading, but you can make a decent living. 

According to ZipRecruiter, a freelance proofreader in the United States can earn an  average of $51,391 per year  or $22/hour (as at August 11, 2020).

Caitlin Pyle of Proofread Anywhere  earned $43,000 a year as a part-time proofreader!

How much should I charge for proofreading per hour?

How much you can charge for proofreading depends on many factors. If you work for a proofreading agency, it will decide how much you will be paid. However, if you start your own proofreading business, you can set your own rates.

Proofreaders can charge per word, per page, per hour, or per project. It depends on the type of document you’re working on. 

Some editorial associations publish average rates that they have compiled by surveying their members. According to the  Editorial Freelancers Association  (EFA), proofreaders can charge between $0.02 and $0.029 per word or between $36 and $40 per hour for proofreading nonfiction. 

The  Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders  (CIEP) suggests a minimum hourly rate for proofreading of £25.40, and a minimum hourly rate of £29.60 for copyediting.  

I cover how much proofreaders make in more detail in this post.

Final Thoughts about Online Proofreading Jobs

I hope this post gave you lots of ideas on how to find freelance proofreading jobs online. 

Don’t forget to check out this  free proofreading class  to find out how to become a proofreader with no experience!

Not sold on proofreading? There are tons of other options out there!  Check out this list of 33 home-based business ideas!

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29 Best Places for Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

October 27, 2019 by Jane 2 Comments

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The Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

Table of Contents

Do you have an eagle eye for punctuation and spelling errors? Are you a grammar nerd who’s familiar with APA, MLA, or CLM style guides? If so, you could  make money from home  with online proofreading jobs!

Online proofreaders are in demand these days. If you Google “how to make money from home” or  “ stay at home jobs ,” I bet you’d find opportunities like proofreading jobs from home, essay proofreading jobs, or eBook proofreading jobs. Dig deeper and chances are, you’ll even find  legal proofreading   jobs online.

Millions of websites need high-quality content, not to mention the many authors and eBook writers who need help perfecting their craft. And proofreaders are needed across various industries, too, including the legal and medical businesses. Even students pay proofreaders to get their theses proofed for errors!

It is for this reason that I always recommend proofreading as one best stay-at-home jobs out there. Freelance proofreading jobs from home are a fantastic source of income that offers flexibility. You can work on your own time and work from anywhere while earning a good living.

But first, what is Proofreading? Proofreading vs. Editing

Proofreading is often confused with editing, but these two have distinct differences.

An editor edits a written text at  a structural level . Editors may change the sequence or order of thoughts or improve the sentences without changing their intended meaning.

Proofreading, on the other hand, is the final stage of text preparation . 

As a proofreader, your job is to polish well-edited content by correcting errors and inconsistencies in grammar, punctuation, and spelling among others.

So, if you are good at finding such errors in a written publication, then you may have what it takes to become an awesome proofreader! 

How Much Can Proofreaders Make?

How much do proofreaders really make? Well, proofreaders’ rates vary wildly, depending on many factors such as experience, education, and certifications. However, a certification or a degree is not always required. 

According to  Indeed , the average salary for proofreaders in the United States is $22.67. Meanwhile, according to  Salary.com , the average salary for proofreaders is $53,321. 

At  Glassdoor , compensation rate reports for freelance proofreaders range from $24 to $43 per hour.

Do You Need Proofreading Training?

You can start working as a proofreader even without formal training in proofreading. As long as you can demonstrate your skills and pass proofreading tests, you may be ready to jumpstart your career with entry-level proofreading jobs. 

However, if you want to command higher rates, it may be a great idea to brush up on your skills by taking proofreading courses. The good news is that there are courses you can take online to learn how to proofread from home. 

Caitlyn Pyle, a professional proofreader, has put together amazing 78-minute proofreading workshop for free!

It’s a fantastic resource to assess your proofreading skills, brush up on your skills, and be ready for online proofreading jobs for beginners.

Join Free Workshop

Who is Caitlyn Pyle?

Caitlyn is the creator of two popular proofreading courses:  General Proofreading  and  Legal Proofreading  at Proofread Anywhere .

She started out as a  proofreader for court reporter s, and later on figured that she could actually make more money as a freelance proofreader than on her day job.

She started a freelance proofreading business in 2014 and earned $48,000 working part-time as a freelance proofreader. Today, Caitlyn has a successful online business earning 6-figures a month, helping thousands of others replicate her success.

If you want to learn more about proofreading, don’t miss Caitlyn’s free 76-minute workshop .

Pro Tip: Create a Website for Your Proofreading Service

Regardless of which work-from-home  proofreading jobs  you choose, I highly recommend setting up your own website for your proofreading services. 

Having a business website can help you improve your visibility, show up in Google search results, showcase your skills or services, and provide social proof. 

It doesn’t cost much money ( best price here !) and you also don’t have to know how to code or design to be able to create a proofreading services website. 

If you need help with starting a business website, you can simply follow this simple step-by-step guide on  how to build a WordPress website  and get your website set up in 15 minutes. 

Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

1-3. freelance sites: upwork, freelancer and people per hour.

I am not going to lie. There are more low-paying jobs on freelance sites like  UpWork ,  Freelancer , and  People Per Hour .  Since there are millions of freelancers from all over the world using these platforms, there’s always somebody bidding less on each job.

But they can be the perfect places to go to when you’re just starting out! You can use these sites to build experience and once you get a couple of great reviews, you can start charging more.

I’ve earned over $70k as a freelance content writer (with no experience in content writing!) from one of these sites, so there’s no reason for you to believe you can’t do the same for proofreading. 

I am no longer active on these sites but because I’ve earned over a hundred positive feedbacks from my previous clients, my account still gets exposure. I constantly get messages about projects from potential clients and job recruiters interested in me. 

That said, it is not really a bad idea to start looking for online proofreading jobs on these sites.

How to Get Started?

To get started, sign up for an account and create your profile. Then, browse through the job market and start pitching to clients! These sites mostly only differ in terms of fees:

• Freelancer  –  They have a free membership and they charge a 10%  or $5 USD fee, whichever is greater, for fixed price projects.  
• People Per Hour  – It’s free to register and the service fee for freelancers is between 3.5% and 20% of your earnings.
• UpWork  – It is free to register. UpWork charges freelancers a sliding fee based on the lifetime billings with a specific client. So, the more business you do with a client, the more you earn.

Specifically, UpWork charges the following fees:

• 20%  for the first $500 billed with the client
• 10%  for lifetime billings with the client between $500.01 and $10,000
• 5%  for lifetime billings with the client that exceed $10,000

4.    FlexJobs

Work-from-Home Proofreading Jobs at Flexjobs

One of the disadvantages of working on the freelance sites mentioned in #1 is that the jobs posted on these sites are usually not screened for scams. While it’s easy to spot scams, it can be time-consuming to weed them out from the real jobs. 

If you don’t want to waste your precious time researching the jobs to make sure you’ll get paid, I highly recommend finding proofreading jobs for beginners at Flexjobs. 

Flexjobs is a job board that lists a wide variety of remote flexible jobs, including online proofreading jobs. They even have a dedicated section for proofreading jobs  here . 

As of writing this, there have been 25,944 jobs and 5,172 companies on the site, and all have been hand-screened for legitimacy.

FlexJobs Fees

FlexJobs, however, charges a monthly subscription fee of $14.95, but I think this fee is reasonable and worth it. While freelance sites like Freelancer have a free membership, they also charge between 3.5 and 20% of your earnings per project. That said, other freelance sites may cost you more in the long run. 

The great thing is that FlexJobs does have a refund policy. You can sign up here and if you’re not happy with it, you can simply cancel your Membership and request for refund within 7 days.  It’s absolutely risk-free! 

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5. ProofreadingPal

Proofreading Pal is a website that provides professional proofreading services to clients, and it is constantly hiring proofreaders. You must have a degree to get in, or at least be studying in a US-accredited institution.

Additionally, the requirements in Proofreading Pal tend to be more stringent than others, but once you get in, you could earn $500 to $3,000 per month! doing freelance proofreading jobs!

You can apply to ProofreadingPal here.

6. Proofreading Services

Proofreading Services  accepts proofreaders from any country. They also pay between $19 and $46 USD per hour, depending on your turnaround time

To work for Proofreading Services, you need to pass a screening test that runs for 20 minutes. It’s an excellent platform if you’d like to set your own hours and still be able to earn a good income doing online proofreading jobs for beginners. 

7.      Gramlee

Gramlee  is another great platform to find online proofreading jobs for beginners. But before you can work with Gramlee, you need to make sure that your English grammar is topnotch. Other than that, getting into Gramlee is fairly easy.

Gramlee’s job board is accessible 24 hours a day, perfect for people who want to work at various times of the day.

You can take proofreader jobs late at night when the kids are asleep or early in the morning when everything is quiet – whatever works for you! You just need to make sure that you can proofread quickly without sacrificing quality because Gramlee’s turnaround time is 24 hours for a 3000-word text document.

8. Scribe Writing

Working with Scribe gives you the opportunity to get in touch with editors and authors. It’s also a great venue to further level up your skills and improve quality because there will be a few more professionals working on the same document.

Scribe Writing also offers wonderful perks to full-time proofreaders, but there is also a lot of work for freelance proofreaders and editors. 

You may be able to earn an average of $50 per hour doing editing and proofreading jobs, so working with Scribe can be lucrative.

Check out proofreading online jobs at Scribe Writing here.

Kibin is a platform that provides proofreading services primarily to students, especially those who need their thesis and essays checked. The job board is open 24/7 and freelancers may get work on demand.

Kibin is also known for its fair rates and sound management handling, as well as perks and bonuses.

If you’d like to work with Kibin, make sure to check back every couple of hours because the workload can fluctuate frquently.

10.    Babbletype

Entry-Level Proofreading Jobs from Home

Babbletype is a specialized job board site that caters primarily to  transcribers and proofreaders.  The site accepts proofreaders from native English-speaking countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia. 

Pay at Babbletype for proofreading gigs can range from $0.13 to $0.18 per word.

11. Cactus Communications

Cactus Communications  offers specialized writing, editing, and proofreading services, such as in the fields of medicine, social sciences, physical sciences (all disciplines), life sciences, and healthcare. This company has consistently ranked among the top 20 companies for telecommuting jobs since 2016. 

According to Indeed, the average Cactus Communications monthly salary ranges from approximately $3,000 to $4,000 per month for Freelance Editor. 

12. Edit 911

Now this might not be the place for online proofreading jobs for beginners. Edit 911 pays really well but they only accept candidates with the following qualifications:

• A PhD in English or another writing-intensive discipline;
• A published scholar, with demonstrable talent and skills as a writer;
• A teacher and/or book editor with verifiable experience;
• A master copy editor and expert in various documentation styles, such as MLA, APA, and Turabian;
• Proficient in MS Word and at least one other software application, such as InDesign or Publisher;
• Dedicated to providing our clients with the world’s finest, most professional editing.

If you meet these qualifications, you should  apply to Edit 911 here . 

 13. Reedsy

If you are looking for online proofreading jobs from home that pay well,  check out Reedsy!  They have a publishing marketplace where you can bid on proofreading projects posted by self-published authors. 

According to Reedsy, their proofreaders and editors make from $600 to $1400 for a 60,000-word copy. 

Take note, though, that  Reedsy  charges 10% of your earnings as a fee for using their service. 

Find freelance editing and online proofreading jobs from home at Reedsy here!

14.  DotDash

DotDash manages many popular websites such as The Balance and The Spruce so they are regularly hiring editors or proofreaders, in addition to content writers.

Make sure to regularly check out the  Careers  tab on their website to see if they are looking for proofreaders and editors.

15. Cambridge Proofreading and Editing

If you have experience in writing, editing, or proofreading dissertations and theses from ESL students and academics, then check out Cambridge Proofreading and Editing for online proofreading jobs from home. 

Due to the academic nature of the work though, you need to have at least a bachelor’s degree to get accepted. Cambridge Proofreading and Editing typically pays proofreaders/editors between $20 and $30 per hour.

16. Proofread Now

Work From Home Proofreading at Proofread Now

If you live in the United Kingdom, Proofread Now is one of the best places you should check out for online proofreading jobs for beginners. You don’t have to have a writing or English degree, but you need to have years of professional proofreading experience to get accepted into Proofread Now. 

If you do, you can send your resume through  this page .

17. Wordvice

Wordvice is constantly hiring freelance content writers, translators, and editors. You can also find online proofreading jobs for beginners here, so make sure to  bookmark this site  and visit it from time to time for openings. 

The company specializes in editing/ proofreading research articles, theses, dissertations, and college admission essays. And since the jobs are part-time and remote, you can work from anywhere and have the flexibility to only take on projects when you are free.   

Wordy  is another great site to find online proofreading jobs for beginners. The company provides online proofreading and copy-editing services, thus the need for editors and proofreaders.

However, currently, the site is not yet accepting new applicants but be sure to bookmark their site and check back later to see if they have new online proofreading jobs from home. 

19. Polished Paper

They are constantly looking for exceptional editors. If you would like to be considered, register for a user account and upload your resume at  Polished Paper . Also be prepared for a 35-question editor test. 

20. WordsRU

WordsRU is currently seeking technical/science editors, academic editors, and business editors. To work at WordsRU, though, you must have a PhD or Master’s in an academic principle.

They also prefer applicants who are familiar with academic documentation citation and formatting styles, such as APA, MLA and Harvard Style. Experience in web content editing and editing business documents is also preferred. 

You can apply to home-based proofreading jobs at WordsRU here.

21. Domainite

Domainite is an excellent site to get started in your online proofreading career. It is a company that provides a host of online marketing services, and they regularly hire freelance proofreaders for their team. But since this is more like a content mill, don’t expect wages to be exceptional. It’s truly a place for newbies, but you’d want to move on to better-paying companies later on.

You can apply at Domainite through their website. You’ll be given a sample to proofread and edit. They will get in touch with you if they are happy with your work.

22. American Express Journal

American Express Journal or AJE is a multi-awarded service provider that offers editing and proofreading services in various industries. Their specialization is helping professionals prepare their manuscripts for publication. AJE hires contract proofreaders for various fields, especially those who are studying or have already graduated from an accredited institution. AJE also prefers applications from proofreaders residing in the US whohave native English proficiency. Compensation is based on the length of the manuscript.

23. Writer’s Relief

Writer’s Relief is a website for writers, and for writers to come up with the best materials, the company hires proofreaders. As a proofreader for Writer’s Relief, you will be dealing with a variety of content across different genres, including poetry, books, and essays. The company is quite picky with its workers, and only hires the top applicants. Still, you’d want to give it a shot as they offer competitive rates.

24. EditFast

Another great platform to score online proofreading jobs is EditFast . This is a company that provides freelancing opportunities to writers, proofreaders, and editors. If you are an efficient proofreader who has a university degree and a wide variety of interests, then you should consider applying at EditFast.

Once you get in, clients can contact you for online proofreading jobs. You cannot have direct communication with the client outside EditFast, though. You can look over the document to proofread and give your estimated rate. Once the client gives the go signal, you can work on the material and get paid on the next pay cycle. Just remember though that EditFast takes 40% off your earnings.

25. Scribendi

Scribendi is one of the largest platforms that offer online proofreading jobs. With over two decades of service in the proofreading industry, Scribendi has managed to establish quite a solid reputation among its clients and freelance proofreaders.

Scribendi hires efficient proofreaders all over the world. They are looking for proofreaders who are native English speakers, hold a university degree, and can proofread and edit up to 1,500 words in an hour. They also offer monthly incentives, flexible work-from-home setup, and the ability to pick your own projects. Scribendi is known to pay reliably through PayPal.

25. Proofed Inc.

Based in the US, this online proofreading agency has over 400 proofreaders and editors all over the world. Some of its remarkable clients include Samsung, Philips, and Harvard University.

The company hires efficient and top-rated proofreaders. They’re looking for applicants who have at least three years of relevant experience, post-graduate or Ph.D. degree, excellent English communicaion, and are adept in the English language. You only need to fill up an application form, attach your CV and cover letter, and wait to hear back from them. If you qualify, the company promises excellent work culture, flexible work schedules, and transparent payment.

Rates are on a per-project basis.

26. Editor World

Editor World i s another legit place to find online proofreading jobs. When you are accepted into Editor World, you won’t have to bid on projects or pitch to clients, which is a huge plus. You will work remotely for a wide variety of clients, including authors, students, business owners, professionals, the government sector, and more.

Editor World currently hires proofreaders and editors with Ph.D. degrees, but they occasionally hire applicants with at least a bachelor’s degree. Other requirements include English as the native language and at least some experience in proofreading and editing. You can submit your application online and pass a qualifying test before you proceed with the next steps of the application.

27. Sibia Proofreading

Sibia provides round-the-clock proofreading services performed by efficient and professional proofreaders from all over the world. The services are centered mostly on academic, professional, and business documents. Because of that, Sibia prefers candidates with high educational attainment and English as the native language. It’s also an advantage if you’re experienced with the different style guides, such as Chicago, APA, and MLA.

Sibia is not always hiring, but they need online proofreaders on an on-need basis. It’s good to check their website from time to time to get an early chance of submitting your application when a position opens up.

28. Edit 24/7

This is a proofreading service provider that promises to give a quick turnaround at the lowest of prices. Edit 24/7 offers light editing and proofreading services, especially to people who need their materials done as quickly as possible. Their clients include authors, students, and professionals. They accept all sorts of materials to proofread and edit, including but not limited to papers, manuscripts, resumes, web contents, and creative work.

The application process can be pretty extensive. If you’re interested in working at Edit 24/7, you can send an email to [email protected] , and make sure to include your resume and writing sample.

29. Scribbr

This online proofreading company caters primarily to academic proofreading. Their clients are mostly students who need their thesis, manuscripts, and papers proofread efficiently.

Based in the Netherlands, Scribbr has over 500 online proofreading freelancers from all over the world. The application starts with a language quiz that gauges your ability to quickly spot errors. You then move on with the application where a senior editor gives feedback on your work, and then proceed to the academy where you complete simulation orders in 24 hours. After passing all these rigorous steps, you can join the editor community where you can actually start getting paid for work.

According to the Scribber website, editors earn an average of €20 to €25 per hour or ($24-30 USD).

Work as Independent Contractor

You may want to apply for a couple of the proofreading job boards above so that you never run out of work, but also consider doing it solo by working as an independent contractor.

It may be a daunting venture because you’ll be in charge of everything–from marketing, pitching to clients to meeting deadlines. But it’s also the best opportunity to set your own rates and hours.

 If you’d like to do this, consider putting up a website where you can advertise your services and demonstrate your skills.

Also, make sure to check out Caitlyn Pyle’s  FREE proofreading training   to stand better chances of getting high-paying online proofreading jobs from home. 

Related Posts :

H ow to Make $3000 Fast: 12 Ways To Generate Cash in 2022

How to Make an Extra $100 a Week Effortlessly

Ready to Start Making Money with Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners?

Proofreading can give you plenty of opportunities to make money from home, or anywhere for that matter. It’s a good thing that there are lots of  online proofreading jobs for beginners , so you can choose which projects you’d want to work on and which ones you’d want to pass on. You may decide to find jobs from online freelancing sites, or you could establish your name as a skilled and professional proofreader, whichever works for you. If you enjoy proofreading and you apply for the right jobs or establish your own career in this field, your income should start rolling in quickly. 

P.S. I am not a great writer and I constantly make mistakes. If you’ve found errors in this post, that could be a sign that proofreading is a good fit for you!

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Reader Interactions

March 12, 2023 at 12:42 pm

Ironically, there is an error in this post.

I’ve earned over $70k as a freelance content writer (with no experience in content writing!) from one these sites, so there’s no reason for you to believe you can’t do the same for proofreading.

The sentence should read “one of these sites” Sorry, it’s the English teacher in me.

March 23, 2023 at 8:28 am

Hi! You’re a great proofreader! Thanks for pointing that out!

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15 Article Writing Tips for Beginners (Increase Your Earning Potential)

Last Updated on May 7, 2024 by Katie

As a new writer, you should be looking for article writing tips for beginners.

The better your writing, the higher chance you have of gaining gold-standard clients that keep coming back for more.

New writers have to start somewhere. At the beginning of your writing career, everything may seem like a struggle. But know that every great writer once was a beginner just like you.

Freelance writing is a job anyone can start and make money from. Unlike other careers, you don’t need a degree or English as a first language.

You do of course need to be able to write clearly. And, the only way to learn how to write is to study what works and practice a lot!

I’ve been a paid freelance writer for over 8 years now. While I’m not the best of the best, I’ve accumulated enough knowledge to pass on some tips to enhance a newbie’s career.

Read on for a list of article writing tips for beginners that will increase your earning potential.

Summary of the Best Article Writing Tips for Beginners

• Spend Time Reading
• Do Keyword Research
• Grab Attention with the Title
• Provide a Hook in the First Paragraph
• Make Your Content Scannable
• Don’t Over Complicate
• Do Your Research
• Keep Your Tone of Voice Consistent
• Give the Reader Value
• Link to Helpful Resources
• Use Powerful Words
• Edit and Edit Again
• Use Tools to Improve Your Writing
• Use Images to Break up Content Walls
• Develop Your Writing Style with Courses

Get the latest money-making ideas right to your inbox. No spam just pure value!

Related freelance writing articles:

• 11 Best Freelance Writing Gigs for New Writers
• How to Work from Home as a Writer in 7 Easy Steps
• How to Build a Writing Portfolio with No Experience
• How to Find Freelance Writing Clients as a New Writer
• 15 Best Freelance Writing Websites to Find Paid Work 

  What is Article Writing?

Article writing is the process of writing for a magazine or website specifically to answer a question, share opinions, inform, engage or entertain the reader.

Types of articles include blog articles, magazine articles and newspaper articles. This post is specifically focusing on tips for writing blog articles.

15 Article Writing Tips for Beginners to Increase Earning Potential

Anyone can write an article. But to write in a way that grabs attention and keeps readers wanting more takes practice.

To become the best, take a look at these article writing tips for beginners:

1. Spend Time Reading

The first point of call to become a great writer is to read…. a lot. To write like a pro, study what the pros are doing.

Actors go to shows and see what other actors are doing. Athletes watch other athletes to see how they won their last race.

Read to enjoy, but also have your writer’s hat on and keep a critical eye. What is great about the text? What could be improved? How is the content organised?

What you learn from reading great content can be transferred to your own.

2. Do Keyword Research

If you are writing for your own blog, you need to start with keyword research.

Keywords are phrases typed into a search engine, to find information on a certain topic.

The best answers to a query are shown on the 1 st page of Google. Every article should start with keyword research. I use KeySearch which is paid. But free tools such as UberSuggest work great as well.

As a new article writer, target low competition, long tail keywords. This increases the chance of getting your post onto the first page.

3. Grab Attention with the Title

A great article title can be the difference between someone reading your article or scrolling on by.

It is the first thing a person notices and it has to grab attention.

Have a look at the titles below. Which would you click on?

‘’21 Ways to Dominate YouTube and Earn $10,000 a Month’’

‘’How to start a business on YouTube’’

The first title creates way more excitement in my opinion and would get me to click. The second is a bit flat and vague.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do ‘’how to’’ posts. These actually do very well. But, always think about how you can add a little more excitement to increase the click-through rate.

4. Provide a Hook in the First Paragraph

After the excitement of the title has drawn a reader into your article, you need to give a reason to keep reading.

The first paragraph is a place to show the reader what to expect in the article and even share an exciting statistic. Or tell the reader what they will get from reading your article.

Will they be smarter, more beautiful or confident enough to do something amazing?

If you waffle too much, the reader may get bored and click away. Remember that attention spans are short.

You only have about 10 – 20 seconds to show a reader your article is worth spending time on.

5. Make Your Content Scannable

We are bombarded with adverts, content and information all day long.

This has given birth to a new generation of scanners.

Most people don’t have time to read a lengthy article. They most likely scan through most of it and read through the most important chunks.

According to heat map studies , people read content on the internet in an F-shaped pattern. F is for fast!

The study showed readers focused on the title, subheadings and the first few lines of each paragraph.

This is where you should place your most important information. And, use plenty of bullet points, white space, easy-to-read fonts and subheadings to break the page up.

6. Don’t Over Complicate

When writing your article, think about who you are writing for.

Most articles are written for a broad audience to enjoy and get benefit from. If you over complicate it, you run the risk of losing the reader.

Whatever your article is about, write like you are explaining to a child.

Use clear, simple words and avoid long, unusual words that require the reader to get a dictionary out.

Of course, if you are writing for a specific niche like medical, technical or scientific, throw in all the big words you like!

7. Aim to Better the Competition

Whatever you’re writing about, it’s likely the topic has been covered in-depth already.

Before I start writing anything, I check out competitors’ articles. I research:

• What do I like?
• What don’t I like?
• What could I improve on?
• How long is the article?
• How is it formatted?

It’s ok to use the same information. Most articles on one subject use the same content but add in their own spin.

Don’t get discouraged by the competition, think about how you can write something better.

That may be making your article longer, adding in professional citations, having better images or giving a new perspective.

8. Keep Your Tone of Voice Consistent

When you write for different publications, you need to change the tone of voice to fit with the content and audience.

For example: when I write a blog post for a client in the business niche, the tone of the article is different to when I write here on my blog.

I generally keep my blog posts chattier and informal, like I’m talking to friends. For client websites, the tone is more professional.

Once you decide on a tone of voice for an article, keep it consistent. Clunky content, jumping from one tone to another will put readers off.

9. Give the Reader Value

The aim of every article should be for the reader to walk away with value.

This might be having a burning question answered or have a new found confidence knowing others think like them.

If you don’t provide the value you say you will provide at the start, this is a surefire way to make the reader never come back again.

I’ve experienced it before. I read an article that promised to teach about Pinterest affiliate marketing and all it gave me was a review of a paid course.

This just left me frustrated and I clicked away never to go back to that site again.

If you want to promote something in an article that’s fine. But, at least give the reader snippets of information to help solve their problem.

10. Link to Helpful Resources

This ties into giving value to your readers.

Although you want to keep them on your website or a client’s website, linking out to sources and resources gives your article credibility.

If you just spout facts and figures, without linking to a well-known source, readers may think you pull these from thin air.

And, the source will be grateful if you reference them which could lead to a partnership in the future.

Linking to resources is also helpful to your readers which they’ll appreciate. In every part of the article you write, think about giving as much value to the reader as possible.

11. Use Powerful Words

Words are powerful and how you say things can make a huge difference.

If you want your readers to take action, sprinkling powerful words throughout your article is the way to do it.

The right power words can trigger emotions good and bad. The right power words can persuade and build trust.

You may not realise it, but adverts and sales copy use powerful words all day long through TV, online and in email messages to get us to buy products.

Cleverly placed power words were probably what made you read that last best seller! Check out this article by the SmartBlogger for power word inspiration.

12. Edit and Edit Again

Once your article is completed, the work is not finished just yet.

Edit your article and then edit again. Tired eyes easily miss mistakes. On the second edit, you’ll likely see other mistakes and notice sentences that could be improved.

If you can, ask a friend or colleague to read your article.

Often fresh eyes pick up on things you may miss. Ask for feedback on the tone and style to see if you get any tips for improvements.

Alongside correcting grammar, check all your links and article formatting. Don’t be afraid to move things around to see if it looks better another way.

13. Use Tools to Improve Your Writing

Do a free spellcheck in Word and then put your article through Grammarly or the HemmingwayApp (both of which are free).

There are many free tools online to improve your writing .

Once you start writing a lot, the right tools seriously will enhance your content, making it clear, bold and unique.

14. Use Images to Break up Content Walls

Have you ever landed on an article and been presented with a wall of text?

It doesn’t happen so much these days, but when it does, it’s very off-putting.

As previously mentioned, we are scanners and like to read through a few sentences at a time and maybe jump a few. This is hard to do if the content is in wall form and tires the eyes out quickly.

Find relative images on free stock photo sites such as Unsplash , Pixabay and Pexels .

The right photo can hit a point home, or just give the reader a well-needed break from walls of text.

If you can’t find a great picture, create your own with free graphic design tools such as Canva .

15. Develop Your Writing Style with Courses

Your writing style will develop the more you practice.

And courses are another way to develop your skills and refine your writing style. Learning from those who have what you want is by far the best way to get a leg up in your career.

There are many free and paid writing courses online. And the great thing is, most of them are self-study so you can learn at your own pace when it suits you.

Maybe you’ve been writing for a while and want to break into a new area.

Or maybe your earnings have hit a ceiling and you don’t know how to progress? Either way, a course could be the answer to move forwards.

Check out these articles detailing courses to improve your earning potential:

• 10 Best Free Online Courses for New Writers
• 5 Best Courses in Udemy for Aspiring Writers

Final Thoughts on Article Writing Tips for Beginners

Now you have 15 article writing tips for beginners that will make a difference.

Don’t worry if you don’t get it all right immediately. With experience, you’ll perfect your craft and learn how to write with confidence so clients start seeking you out!

Even as an experienced freelance writer, I’m learning every day.

My best advice is to just keep writing, learning and growing. As time goes on, your writing will develop and you’ll soon be giving advice to others!

Are you a freelance writer?

Let me know any tips I missed in the comments below.

* Disclosure : I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate  links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

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10 BEST Digital Nomad Jobs For Beginners

https://whereintheworldisnina.com

So you’re looking for digital nomad jobs for beginners, huh? Dreaming of traveling the world while watching the dollars fall into your bank account?

Well, same, but let’s be a little more realistic. The digital nomad lifestyle is amazing, but it doesn’t come without its fair share of work.

If you want to make money by working remotely as you travel the world, then you’ve come to the right place—this is literally what I do (and have been for over a decade now)! I won’t lie to you—it took a lot of work to get where I am now, and I won’t pretend that it’s been all sunshine and rainbows the whole way.

I don’t recommend quitting your 9-5 and booking a flight with the hopes of becoming a successful blogger (or drop shipper, or trader, or influencer, or any of the other buzzwords you see online when looking for digital nomad jobs for beginners). It’s just not realistic.

I’ve put together a tried and true list of digital nomad jobs you can do with little to no experience, so you can make those travel dreams a reality without going through the trial and error of trying every single job you see on the internet. You can thank me later!

Digital Nomad Jobs for Beginners

Oh, and a PS, I’ve done almost every digital nomad job on this list, and I had literally no experience. This was way back in the day before the term digital nomad even really existed! So that means it’s even easier nowadays!

1. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is one of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners because it doesn’t require any sort of degree or certification—you just need to have great organizational skills and attention to detail.

A day in the life of a remote virtual assistant could include scheduling appointments, doing online research, answering emails, and other admin-related work.

You’re literally just someone’s assistant, minus the need for an in-person desk and doing those lousy coffee runs. This is a job I actually loved doing, and it kept me on the road, even while I was doing van life in New Zealand!

How to get started:

• Learn how to become a virtual assistant .
• Check for open positions on FlexJobs , UpWork , or Freelancer.com .

2. Social Media Manager

If you spend a lot of time on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other sites, then you may be a valuable asset to companies searching for a social media manager.

This remote job involves representing a brand (or brands) and building a presence on all their social media outlets. You’ll post photos, write engaging captions, create content, and interact with other accounts on behalf of your client.

• Research how to become a social media manager .
• Clean up your own social media platforms to show off your skills.
• Learn the ins and outs of as many social media platforms as possible.
• Search for jobs on UpWork , Fiver , and FlexJobs .

3. Teach English Online

Speak English? Well, putting those language skills to work and teaching English online is one of the easiest digital nomad jobs for beginners.

If you’re a native English speaker, you pretty much have a guaranteed job teaching online to foreign students. Some companies want teachers with bachelor’s degrees, and most will require a TEFL certificate , but even those with no experience should be able to teach English online without a problem!

This is literally how I became a digital nomad , and haven’t looked back since!

• Get your TEFL certificate .
• Figure out how to teach English online and find schools to apply to .
• No degree? No problem. Learn how to teach English online without a degree .

4. Writer/Copywriter

I mentioned that starting a blog isn’t an ideal digital nomad job for beginners, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use your writing skills to make some money while you travel!

Becoming a writer or copywriter for an existing blog or company is a great intro to the blogging world, and you can make some pretty good cash doing it. Pay may start low, but once you build up your portfolio, you can charge higher rates and take on bigger projects.

I randomly and accidentally became a writer for other blogs, and then thought, wait a sec, why am I not writing for myself?! And that’s kinda how I become a full-time blogger, but that’s another story.

• Research how to become a writer/copywriter .
• Decide on a niche and hone your skills.
• Build a profile on a freelancing site like Upwork or Fiver .
• Look for remote writing positions on FlexJobs and LinkedIn .

Digital Nomad Tips

1. Teach yourself new SKILLS!

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2. Find LEGIT remote jobs!

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3. Make sure you’re COVERED abroad!

Best travel insurance for digital nomads.

5. Editor/Proofreader

If you don’t have the skills to craft organic content, you may still be able to get a job working with written content by editing or proofreading material.

Some writers still need help finalizing content before publishing, and that’s where your keen eye for detail, formatting skills, and grammatical knowledge may be of use. You’ll likely be able to find jobs with non-native English speakers, big companies, or smaller blogs.

• Brush up on grammar rules.
• Browse this list of companies that hire remote proofreaders and editors .

6. Freelance/Gig Work

If you’re not really sure what kind of remote work you want to pursue, it might be a good idea to just go ahead and create a profile on a few freelancing sites and see what kind of jobs are available—you may be surprised at what you find!

There are plenty of beginner digital nomad jobs for beginners on these sites that you may qualify for, even if you don’t have tons of experience.

I’ve done tons of freelance jobs. There are usually small projects, but I’ve got longer-term work out of them, too. They are great for building up your resume for more steady work, too, as well as testing the waters and seeing what type of work you actually like before getting in too deep.

• Check out my beginner guide to freelancing .
• Make a profile on Upwork , Contra , Fiver , and other freelancing sites.
• Browse open jobs and see what you’re interested in.

7. Remote Work (With Your Company)

Maybe you love the job you have, but you don’t like being stuck in one place. One of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners could be the job you already have! Many companies have gone remote since 2020, so it’s worth checking with your boss to see if your job could be done online rather than in an office.

Keep in mind that things like time differences and mandatory meetings could be a hindrance to your digital nomad lifestyle. Some jobs also unfortunately have stipulations where you can’t work abroad for longer periods of time. Double check!

• Talk to your boss to see if your current position can be done remotely.
• If yes, iron out the details.
• If not, search for jobs with similar positions open that can be done online.

8. Translation

Calling all bilingual readers! If you can speak a second language fluently, then you possess all the skills you’ll need for one of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners—translation!

This job is almost always in high demand, so whether you want to translate copy for websites, financial documents, educational material, or whatever, you’ll likely have plenty of options.

There’s also, of course, the opportunity to TEACH your language too!

• Read this guide to becoming a translator .
• Market yourself on freelancing platforms (including these 15 )and showcase any certificates or proficiency tests you may have.

9. Customer Service Rep

Becoming a customer service representative is one of the best digital nomad jobs for beginners since you won’t need many skills to qualify for this position.

Of course, good communication skills and some patience are required, but other than that, you should be able to secure a position fairly easily. Remember that some of these jobs require a US phone number, so read the fine print before jetting abroad!

• Check out available remote customer service jobs on We Work Remotely .
• Look into the companies you are applying for so you have at least a basic knowledge of things you’ll be helping customers with.
• It’s best to apply directly with the company rather than job sites, so don’t hesitate to reach out about available positions.

10. Data Entry

Perhaps the easiest digital nomad job for beginners is data entry. This one is so easy it’s borderline boring, but if it pays the bills, who cares?!

Data entry is inputting data from one format into a different format, be it physical material, spreadsheets, PDFs, or Word documents. Since this one doesn’t take much skill besides fast and accurate typing, it is a bit more competitive, which means your income may be on the lower end.

I remember doing data entry while in Malaysia for half the day, and then I spent the rest of the half eating amazing Indian food and hiking in the mountains! It paid for my time there and worked out perfectly to get my feet wet while I started out my digital nomad life.

• Read this guide on finding data entry jobs
• See open positions for data entry jobs on Upwork , FlexJobs , and LinkedIn .

11. Start Your Own Services

You may be new to the digital nomad lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean you don’t possess any skills, right? Instead of jumping through hoops, applying for jobs, and scouring freelancing sites, why not set up your own site to offer your services to clients?

This may take a while to become lucrative, so you might want to pick out one of the digital nomad jobs for beginners from above to tie you over financially until you start making money from your own site.

• Think about your skills and what you enjoy doing. Then, figure out if it’s something you can do online while you travel. Be realistic!
• Find out how to sell your services online .
• Set up your own website to offer your services. Squarespace and GoDaddy make it pretty easy to do it yourself. You could also hire a freelancer from Upwork or Fiver !

Check Out These Articles Next:

• 28 TOP Digital Nomad Visas for Remote Workers
• How to Become a Digital Nomad
• 26 Digital Nomad Jobs: Best Remote Jobs for Travelers!
• 53 LEGIT Remote Work Websites So You Can Work and Travel!
• 20 Online Jobs With No Experience Needed!

The post 10 BEST Digital Nomad Jobs For Beginners appeared first on Where in the World is Nina? .