proofreading jobs online 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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25 Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners (Legitimate Proofreader Jobs)

Is working from home finally becoming a real thing for you?

I’ve been a freelance writer for six years and have talked to many people about working online from home.

While I love freelance writing, there are many other opportunities and services you can offer from home.

One hot service is proofreading jobs. These types of online jobs serve well for those wanting some side income.

If you have a knack for spelling and grammar, then proofreading may be your side hustle!

In my post, I will dive into what proofreading is, how much proofreaders earn, the best sites for legitimate proofreading jobs, and a case study from a student of mine.

What is Proofreading?

You may hear the terms “proofreading” and “editing” thrown around synonymously, but these are two very different things.

Proofreading skills mainly focus on spelling and grammatical errors. Proofreaders are not usually required to rephrase sentences or restructure sections of text.

So when you’re searching around the web for online proofreading jobs, it’s important to know the difference.

Often, job adverts overlap the terms – either looking for both services or misusing the terms.

Proofreaders cover a wide variety of content, including web content, eBooks, white papers, student thesis/essays, and even user manuals.

How To Become A Proofreader

Not many skills are needed to become a proofreader, but you need excellent spelling and grammar skills and a strong command of the language you are proofreading in – native English speaker, for example.

For beginner proofreaders, this is all you need for a remote job. It’s enough to get you working and earning money online!

However, suppose proofreading jobs from home is something you want to pursue as a significant source of income. In that case, you’ll have to rack up a lot of experience or back your skills up with qualifications from a proofreading test.

While you don’t need a degree to become a proofreader, many high-paying sites require one. They tend to seek a degree in a relevant field, such as English and Journalism.

Worry not, though!

If you’re just starting then, this is not something you need to fret over. A lot of freelancing proofreader jobs tend to rely more heavily on experience and testimonials.

So even without formal education, working toward a lucrative life as a freelance proofreader with the right job opportunity is possible.

The point is to market your services online and  network with industry leaders to help you land your first proofreading job.

How Much Do Online Proofreaders Earn?

Like any online freelancing job, you can get what you put into it.

Because proofreading takes less time and effort than other writing jobs, these jobs tend to pay less. However, you can earn good money proofreading from home.

Clients tend to charge per word, page, project, or hourly rate. As a beginner proofreader, you can probably stand to make about $10 per hour.

Again, this depends on how much legwork you put into finding clients and how much time you can focus on building a business.

According to ZipRecruiter , proofreaders earn, on average, $51 305 per year!

For other online proofreading jobs:

• Freelance proofreading job salary: $51,991/yr
• Content proofreading job salary: $59, 265/yr

That’s likely because these income statements are based on those who work full-time, but no matter how many hours you can spare to focus on online proofreading jobs, the earning potential is there.

25 Online Proofreading Jobs

With an impressive earning potential there is, of course, a demand for this service.

It’s not hard to convince content creators that they need a proofreader or freelance editor – anyone who is serious about their writing and publishing it could benefit from one.

When finding online proofreading jobs, you have two options: Applying for jobs or cold-contacting for jobs.

The latter means you reach out to companies with unsolicited offers to proofread for them.

For beginners, however, it may be best to get some experience by drumming up business through job boards or proofreading services.

The following sites and job boards are perfect for beginner proofreaders (and for an experienced proofreader, too) – most require very little experience. They just want to know you have the skills.

Check out these 25 legitimate proofreading jobs online.

Note: A proofreading website would not be a good source for freelance writing jobs.

If you want to land profitable writing jobs, check out my post on the best job boards for freelance writers .

1. Click Worker

Click Worker is an online service that offers project completion to clients by outsourcing micro-tasks to writers, translators, researchers, data processors, and proofreaders.

When it comes to remote proofreading jobs, they are looking for individuals with good language skills and editing abilities.

Once you sign up, you will be required to take a test. After that, you can access available jobs.

The fee per word depends on the quality level expected for the particular job.

Fiverr is possibly one of the best places to begin looking for freelance proofreading jobs. On their site, you can sell your proofreading services, or “gigs”, at whatever rate.

Remember that people often turn to Fiverr for cheap services, so you likely don’t stand to make a lot of money here.

However, it is a great place to get started and rack up some experience!

3. LinkedIn

I have personally found success in using LinkedIn to market my freelance services! It’s an awesome place to find freelance work, including work at home proofreading jobs.

Using LinkedIn to find jobs takes some time – you’ll need to keep trying and applying to different jobs.

But when you do start gaining clients on this platform, you may just find your proofreading career taking off!

4. Get Editing Jobs

Get Editing Jobs is a community of editing job seekers and employers. Here you can find and apply for various editing positions like a copy editor.

This is a big directory of freelancing jobs, so you’re going to see a lot of writing and editing work.

However, if you search for “proofreader,” or “remote proofreader” you’ll see a few available jobs pop up.

UpWork is another great place to start for online proofreading jobs from home with no experience. Just like Get Editing Jobs, UpWork is a freelance marketplace full of job listings.

This work from home platform is a place for people of all levels of experiences and currently has 1455 job listings for proofreaders.

Note: I don’t recommend this for freelance writing jobs .

6. MediaBistro

MediaBistro is a media-related job board that allows you to browse various freelance jobs.

This is another board where you’ll have to do some digging, but the platform allows you to sign up for job alerts if anything related to proofreading becomes available.

7. FlexJobs

FlexJobs is an online job marketplace for freelancers such as proofreaders. If you search “entry level proofreading jobs,” you can find a proofreading gig looking to be filled.

Pro Tip for Job Boards : You don’t need to narrow your job search by location since you can do them from home!

8. Proof Reading Services

Proof Reading Services offer part-time and full-time remote positions, a flexible schedule, and competitive pay .

You can stand to earn between $19 – $46 per hour.

You do have to complete a test to begin the application process.

For more help, here’s my post on finding the right proofreading service for you!

9. Lionbridge

Lionbridge works much like Click Worker by outsourcing various parts of a client’s project to freelancers – especially proofreaders.

You must sign up and take a skills test to get started. You can then begin to receive proofreading tasks.

10. Proofreading Pal

ProofreadingPal hires individuals enrolled in college (with a minimum GPA of 3.5) or experienced graduates.

This is the perfect spot to find at-home proofreading jobs if you want to earn extra money while studying!

11. R3Ciprocity

R3ciprocity is a neat little system based on credits. Contributors proof each other’s work and use earned credit to get their own work proofed.

May seem pointless if you’re looking to make some money, but you can also turn the credits into cash!

Reedsy is a marketplace that connects freelancers with authors and writers. Once you sign up, you can begin receiving requests from clients and responding with quotes.

Plus, with what they call a bit of “data-science-magic,” Reedsy’s system will pair you up with clients who are likely a good fit.

13. OneSpace Freelancers

OneSpace Freelancers is an online platform focused on helping freelancers submit work, receiving feedback and get paid.

This site will post edit and proofreading jobs as they become available.

14. EditFast

EditFast connects freelancers, including proofreaders, with clients. Once you create a profile and resume, client can then check out your samples and choose whether or not to hire you for some copy editing.

There is a potential on this site to make money but EditFast does keep 40% of the total project price.

15. Polished Paper

Polished Paper looks for more experienced proofreaders but offer a higher pay-scale than most sites.

Once you sign up, they will send you a 35 question editor test. FYI, you are allowed (and encouraged) to use outside resources such as formatting guides to complete the test.

Guru is a platform much like Fiverr where you can find individuals looking for anything from proofreaders to translators to crochet patterns (true story!).

You’ll have to do some searching and browsing for part-time proofreader jobs but you’re sure to find something that suits your schedule and level of experience.

17. Writing Jobz

On Writing Jobz , you can apply for proofreading service jobs based on your level of experience as well as your schedule.

They offer proofreading assignments from manuscript content to academic writing.

18. Writer’s Job Shop

Writer’s Job Shop is an online resource for all kinds of freelancers – editors, copy editors and online proofreaders.

They advertise a steady stream of work through their job board. All you have to do is apply for the job you are interested in.

19. Writer’s Relief

Writer’s Relief is a service that helps creative writers get published by proofreading their submissions.

Applying to be a proofreader for Writer’s Relief is easy but they only accept a small number of applicants. Still, it’s worth trying!

20. Domainite

Domainite is a low-paying online proofreader platform but it is a great place for a beginner to gain experience – especially if you are struggling to land clients.

To get started, simply fill out the application form and edit a sample they provide.

21. Wordvice

Wordvice is a platform for all types of content writers, translators and freelance editors. You can always find proofreading jobs here.

Many of their clients are prestigious university and institutions like Stanford University and Columbia University.

22. Freelancer

Freelancer is yet another freelancing job board (noticing a trend here?) but they have jobs in editing and proofreading posted.

Job boards are a great way to drum up some one-off work for various clients, but you never know when one may turn into something long term!

23. Scribe Media

Scribe Media hires individuals as either full-time employees or freelancers.

They don’t always have jobs posted but you can sign up for job alerts when they do.

24. Gramlee

Gramlee states they are looking for editors but the job description seems to better describe proofreaders.

They offer quick turnaround time to clients which means there is always work available. All you have to do is fill out their application form to get started.

25. Start Your Own Business

If worse comes to worse, you can start your own proofreading business. All it takes is a website to get started.

I tend to write a lot about getting into the freelance writing biz – but the information I share is equally valuable if you are looking to start proofreading.

To get started, you’ll need a website that showcases your personality and samples of your work. You’ll also need to know how to market yourself to potential clients.

Taking this route means that you can be even more flexible about the type of clientele you accept the amount of work you take on.

Case Study: How to Find Your First Proofreading Job

Many of my freelance writing students also offer proofreading services and Wendy wanted to share her story of finding her first proofreading opportunity.

If you are struggling to find a proofreader job, check out how Wendy got started.

I took a proofreading course with Art of Proofreading online. But to be frank, the lessons were very basic and didn’t prepare me for what clients needed and wanted. Proofreading is more than catching errant commas and wrong spellings. It is very rules-based and if you want to make a career of it, you need expertise on publication style guides like Chicago or AP.

I found my first client from Upwork. A blogger who hires non-native English speakers to ghostwrite her posts. I was paid $5/1,000 words. Some articles were easy to proofread but some needed complete rewrite. She usually asks me to do the rewrites. That’s when I decided, I like writing more than proofreading.

I found Twitter and LinkedIn to be the best place to network with proofreaders and copy editors. There’s also a huge creative writing community on Twitter to engage with.  Other services to offer: Beta reading If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, people with disability community, you can also offer sensitivity reading 

There are several associations that proofreaders can join. They offer courses, seminars, meetups and free resources. They also host Twitter chats regularly.

Aces: The Society for Editors(@copyeditors) EFA: Editorial Freelancers Association CIEP: Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading Editors Canada

As you can see, your first proofreading job may be low-paying but at least you are getting in the door.

Or, if you are a proofreader, share your wisdom and insight in the comments below.

While I suggest to freelance writers to stay away from content mills and freelance marketplaces like Upwork, it might prove to be a starting point for proofreading and editing jobs.

Ready to Get Started?

These are just 25 of the best places to find proofreading work for beginners. Once you have some proofreading experience under your belt, the possibilities are endless!

You don’t need an advanced education or fancy equipment to get started – just a strong grasp of the English language and soon you can call yourself a professional proofreader.

So what are you waiting for? Your side hustle awaits!

For more online jobs, check out these guides:

• 25 Online Editing Jobs to Make Money
• 25 Transcription Jobs for Beginners

Over to you: Let me know why you’re interested in proofreading as a side gig!

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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

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22 Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners in 2024

This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our affiliate disclaimer in the footer menu for more information. Thank you for your support!

Are you a proofreader (or an aspiring one) who wants a comprehensive overview of the best online proofreading jobs for beginners? I’ve taken a ton of time to do the investigative work for you to find the best beginner-friendly opportunities and differentiate between companies that hire proofreaders vs. those that only hire editors who are sometimes tasked with proofreading.

A significant difference exists in the scope of work done by a proofreader vs. an editor. If you’re a proofreader like me, you certainly don’t want to take on a job that appears to be for a proofreader but is actually intended for an editor.

Also, if you’re serious about making decent money from proofreading, you’ll need adequate training. In case you haven’t gotten training, I penned a post about becoming a proofreader (with no experience) that discusses reputable proofreading courses.

If you’re prepared to proceed along the paved path to procure payment via online proofreading, let’s pound the pavement! 😉

Table of Contents

Om Proofreading Picks for Beginner Proofreaders

Here’s a glance at my preferences for the best jobs for those new to proofreading.

What Is Proofreading?

It’s essential to know precisely what proofreading entails when you’re looking for jobs.

Please refer to my post about proofreading if you have any doubts.

Proofreading involves finding and fixing punctuation, spelling, grammar, capitalization, and formatting errors. It also entails looking for misused words (usually homophones) and words that have been repeated or omitted.

My Research Process for Developing This Job List

It was often unclear which editorial professionals (proofreaders/copy editors/editors) companies hire because terms like proofreading and editing are used so loosely. Therefore, I reached out to these businesses. I’ve sent numerous emails, filled out several contact forms, and talked to customer service representatives.

I wanted to give you accurate information so you can save lots of time hunting for jobs!

Top-Notch Tip: When searching for proofreading jobs, read the job description carefully to ensure it’s what you’re looking for!

Since proofreading and copyediting overlap, I’ve included three businesses that hire copy editors at the end of this list.

Many proofreaders (including myself) learn copyediting to expand their skill set and make more money .

How This List Is Organized

I’ve grouped the jobs (all are entry-level) listed in this article according to where you can find them:

• Freelance Platforms
• Job Boards with Remote Work Listings
• Online Proofreading and Editing Companies

The online proofreading and editing companies are roughly organized from least to most selective .

Since job availability is subject to change, please visit the websites where you’re interested in applying to see the most up-to-date information.

Note : You’ll notice I haven’t given any information about expected pay rates since many businesses don’t include these numbers on their websites. (Of course, more selective companies tend to offer higher pay.)

Is Experience Needed for the Jobs in This Article?

None of the websites included in this article list proofreading experience as a requirement on their website, except ProofreadingPal. However, you can work for ProofreadingPal—no experience needed—if you meet their education requirement (listed in the next section below).

The job boards listed will have opportunities for beginners, but you’ll also find positions where experience is needed.

Is a Degree Needed for the Jobs in This Article?

Three of the online proofreading and editing companies on the list require applicants to have a college degree:

• Proofessor requires you to have a degree from a UK/Ireland university.
• ProofreadingPal wants you to have a bachelor’s degree and be enrolled in a US university as a grad student (with a minimum 3.5 GPA).
• CACTUS Communications (copy editors only) requires you to hold a master’s or PhD.

The Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

FREELANCE PLATFORMS

One of the best ways to start as a beginner proofreader is by working on a freelance platform.

These platforms are marketplaces that bring together buyers (clients) and sellers (freelancers).

Remember that although the platforms take a cut of your pay (usually 10%–20%), you’ll save a lot of time by not having to market yourself.

On the freelance platforms mentioned below, you set up a profile (it’s free) so clients can see who you are and what you offer.

Except for Fiverr, you need to write a proposal (a sales pitch) to every client you’re interested in working with. The most challenging part of selling your services on these marketplaces is getting your first few clients.

Fiverr is one of the most well-known freelance platforms, and it’s where I got my start.

I love that you don’t have to send proposals on Fiverr. Instead, clients come to you if they’re interested.

Fiverr takes 20% of everything you earn.

Requirements: Fiverr isn’t selective.

Availability: A boatload of clients on Fiverr need proofreading and copyediting services; however, you’ll have a lot of competition.

Since getting your first handful of clients will probably be your biggest challenge, I wrote this in-depth article: “How to Succeed on Fiverr: 41 Solid Tips for Fiverr Sellers.” Although the post is relevant to all Fiverr sellers, I customized it for proofreaders and copy editors since you all are my people! 😊

2) Freelancer

Freelancer is another popular freelance platform.

Freelancer takes 10% or $5 (whichever is greater) for fixed-price projects and 10% for hourly projects.

Requirements: Freelancer isn’t selective.

Availability: Proofreading and copyediting jobs are easy to find on Freelancer. Focus on creating a solid profile and writing short but sweet proposals tailored to each job.

Guru is a lesser-known platform, but it’s still a good option.

Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to working on just one marketplace.

Guru takes 5%–9% of your earnings, depending on your membership plan. The basic plan is free, and the rest are paid. Here’s the link to see what you get with each plan.

Requirements: Guru isn’t selective.

Availability: Although many clients on this platform seek programmers and developers, you can still find numerous customers looking for proofreaders and copy editors. These jobs are listed in Guru’s “Writing & Translation” category.

You’ve probably heard about Upwork due to its popularity.

Upwork takes 10% of your pay.

Requirements: Upwork isn’t selective.

Availability: You’ll find plenty of proofreading and copyediting jobs on this platform!

5) PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is another platform to consider. They allow you to send 15 proposals per month for free. You can purchase additional opportunities (credits) to send more proposals. These credits roll over each month if you don’t use them.

PeoplePerHour takes a percentage of your earnings according to your lifetime billings with each client.

Here’s the breakdown:

Requirements: They don’t mention specific requirements; however, you have to apply and be approved to work on the platform. If you’d like to start an application, please click here .

Availability: My guess from looking at this site is that it has fewer jobs than Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork. However, I think it’s still a good option since it’s a reasonably well-known platform.

6) Hubstaff Talent

Hubstaff Talent is a freelance marketplace where you can start a profile and upload your résumé. A great feature of this platform is that it doesn’t charge buyers or sellers any fees.

“Hubstaff Talent does not take any commission fees and is 100% free of charge.” – Hubstaff Talent

Requirements: You have to submit your profile for approval, which usually takes two business days. This article from Hubstaff Talent will help you through the process of creating a profile.

Availability: The last time I checked, I didn’t see any proofreading jobs. However, many freelancers with a profile on Hubstaff only offer proofreading services, so I assume relevant jobs are occasionally posted.

JOB BOARDS WITH REMOTE WORK LISTINGS

Job boards are another great place to search for freelance proofreading jobs.

These boards (except for FlexJobs) usually post in-house positions; however, you can find opportunities to work from home by typing “remote” into the job location search bar.

Below is a list of some of the most popular job boards online.

7) FlexJobs

FlexJobs has some excellent remote opportunities, but you have to pay to use their website. Here are the fees according to the period you subscribe to their site:

Their research team screens every job they display to ensure you find professional and legitimate opportunities. They have an A+ rating by the BBB and offer a satisfaction guarantee to their users:

“With FlexJobs’ Satisfaction Guarantee, if you are not satisfied with the quality of our service for any reason, simply cancel your subscription and request a refund (by phone, email, or our Client Service virtual chat) within 14 days of account creation or renewal. We will quickly and promptly process your refund.” – FlexJobs

8) Glassdoor

Glassdoor is a decent place to look for proofreading jobs and a super site to find out how well employees and freelancers rate companies.

The ratings on Glassdoor are based on factors like work/life balance, compensation and benefits, and senior management.

Indeed is another great spot to scope out potential jobs. After creating an account on Indeed, you can upload your résumé.

10) Mediabistro

Mediabistro is a site for all types of creative jobs. They occasionally have job opportunities for freelance proofreaders. You can upload your résumé after creating an account.

11) SimplyHired

SimplyHired is another site where you can scout out proofreading jobs. After establishing an account, you can upload your résumé.

12) LinkedIn

LinkedIn isn’t a job board; it’s a popular social networking site for professionals. But it has a board where you can search for remote jobs.

Click the briefcase icon (shown below) to visit the job board.

After creating a LinkedIn profile, you can put the #opentowork badge around your profile picture so recruiters and hiring managers know you’re available.

You can also download the LinkedIn app from the App Store or Google Play to receive notifications of new job opportunities while you’re out and about.

13) Google Jobs Results

This isn’t a job board either, but it’s worth mentioning.

By “Google jobs results,” I’m referring to a job list Google generates if you search in a specific way.

To see the jobs, first type a keyword into Google. Below, I searched for “online proofreading jobs for beginners.”

Next, I clicked on the “Work from home” tab directly below the search bar.

After scrolling down a bit, I saw the list of jobs that Google aggregated from websites:

ONLINE PROOFREADING AND EDITING COMPANIES

Numerous online companies provide proofreading, copyediting, and editing services to clients. They hire a pool of freelancers to do the work their customers need.

Some businesses only hire a small group of workers, so plenty of jobs are available for everyone.

However, other organizations hire so many people that finding consistent work is challenging.

The first company in this section is a crowdsourcing site. Crowdsourcing is relying on a large group of people (usually from the online community) to provide services and ideas.

14) Clickworker

Clickworker is a crowdsourcing platform. If you click the link above, you can learn more about the proofreading jobs offered on this site and register as a Clickworker. After registration, you can take relevant tests to demonstrate your skills.

Requirements: Clickworker isn’t selective.

They say you need to have a strong command of your native language and be able to follow instructions. You have to qualify to take on a few “text creation” jobs before taking the proofreader assessment exam, which you can only take once.

Availability: After you register for a Clickworker account, you’ll gain access to available jobs. Those who continually deliver high-quality work gain access to higher-paying gigs.

However, the consensus is that the pay is quite low, which makes sense due to the lack of selectivity.

15) R3ciprocity

Professor David Maslach is the creator of R3ciprocity. He’s a chemical engineer with a doctorate in strategic management.

David created the platform for academics and grad students to give each other feedback on their writing.

When you edit or proofread the work of others, you earn credits. You can use the credits to have someone edit or proofread your writing.

The platform works on the simple principle of give and take.

Before you can work on other people’s writing, you need to be approved by a R3ciprocity admin. You’ll be required to work on several documents that are less than one page long.

I’ve emailed Dave, and he’s super helpful and kind!

It’s possible to be paid to work on this platform after the admin team receives enough feedback about your work.

Requirements: Anyone can participate on R3ciprocity; however, you’ll need the admin team to verify your skills before you can work for money. The platform charges a minimal fee on each paid transaction.

Availability: To learn about opportunities for paid work, you’ll need to create a profile . You can reach out to the support team from the “contact us” section of your profile.

I’m not sure how much money you can make on R3ciprocity, but it’s a great platform to hone your proofreading skills by helping others. And if you need someone to proofread your writing, you can use your credits.

Here’s a brief video from Dave showing how things work on his site.

16) Grammar Chic

Grammar Chic provides a variety of services including editing, writing, and formatting. They hire proofreaders, copy editors, and editors.

Requirements: I recommend emailing them at [email protected] to learn about their current requirements.

Availability: Unknown

17) Proofessor

Based in the UK, Proofessor provides proofreading, editing, rewriting, paraphrasing services, and more.

Requirements: You need to be a native English speaker who has graduated from a UK/Ireland university. You must also have a strong command of English and achieve an excellent score on their tests.

18) ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal provides proofreading and copyediting for a broad range of documents.

They hire proofreaders and copy editors.

Requirements: To work for ProofreadingPal, you need to meet one of the following criteria:

• Be employed by or enrolled as a graduate or postgraduate student in an accredited US university or college and have a GPA of 3.5 or above
• Have a graduate degree and at least five years of proofreading and editing experience (By “editing” experience, they’re referring to copyediting experience.)

Please visit their website for other preferred qualifications.

Availability: They’re looking for qualified candidates who meet one of the requirements mentioned above. If you’re qualified, you can fill out their brief independent contractor questionnaire .

A ProofreadingPal representative will contact you within five to ten business days. They’ll tell you about the next step of their hiring process, which involves a comprehensive timed exam.

19) Writer’s Relief

Writer’s Relief helps writers who want to get published. I spoke with someone on live chat who said they hire proofreaders from time to time.

Requirements: They prefer proofreaders with experience, but beginners are welcome to apply too. However, according to their website, they only hire the top 2% of applicants.

Here’s what the staff member from Writer’s Relief told me about their hiring process:

“We primarily will refer to the proofreading test given, but having proofreading experience would certainly be helpful.” – Writer’s Relief Staff

20) Gramlee (Copy Editors Only)

Gramlee offers editing, copyediting, and proofreading services. They only hire copy editors and editors.

Requirements: They don’t mention any specific requirements on their site.

Availability: They’re always looking for extraordinary copy editors and editors. If you’d like to work for Gramlee, you can complete the employment application on their website.

They have one application for content editors and one for dissertation editors.

21) EditorLive (Copy Editors Only)

EditorLive.com was created to provide highly qualified editors with a steady stream of work.

They hire editors who are also responsible for proofreading documents. But it may be possible to acquire a job as a copy editor if you can correct the “flow” of texts—a task typically completed by line editors.

Requirements: You need to have experience writing academic papers on various topics and be familiar with Chicago, APA, AP, MLA, CSE, and other style guides. Please see their website for the complete list of requirements and qualifications.

If you meet all the requirements on their site, you can fill out the application and take the editing test.

Availability: They’re currently seeking qualified editors. However, they only hire editors who live in the following states: Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Colorado.

22) CACTUS Communications (Copy Editors Only)

CACTUS Communications aims to make scientific knowledge accessible to everyone worldwide, aiding the development of societies and improving people’s lives.

Requirements: None listed. However, about a year ago they required you to have a master’s or PhD in one or more specialized subject areas in the following:

• physical sciences
• engineering
• materials science
• life sciences

Prior experience was preferred but not mandatory.

Availability: You can check their website to see if they have opportunities for copy editors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are proofreaders still needed.

Yes, proofreaders are still needed.

People’s written word is a reflection of them in their absence. Since errors in writing can undermine someone’s authority and make them look careless, people seek out proofreaders.

Professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, and job seekers are all examples of people who hire a second pair of eyes to proofread their content.  

I authored an article about whether proofreaders are still necessary if you’d like to delve deeper into this topic.

How do I get my first proofreading job?

You can employ various tactics to land your first proofreading job.

When fishing for work, it helps to have multiple lines in the water to increase your odds of snagging a gig. But you don’t want to cast so many lines that they become tangled because they’re too much to manage.

Start with a few methods you think will work best, and put all your focus on those.

Here are some solid strategies:

1) Start your own proofreading business online.

Even if your clients don’t find you there initially, having a website shows you’re committed to proofreading. You can display certificates, credentials, and testimonials on your site to attract customers.

Another way to snag your first gig is to hand out business cards to brick-and-mortar companies that may need your services.

Include your website address on your business cards so they can learn more about you.

2) Cold email potential clients.

I know this may not be people’s preferred method, but it can work. If you send thoughtful, tactful, and personalized emails to clients you’d like to work with, you may land some jobs.

For example, try reaching out to the site owners of blogs you enjoy reading.

First, let them know how much you enjoy their content. Then, let them know how you can help.

Although I’m not a fan of advocating that proofreaders do free work, offering a free sample edit can be a way to show the value you can provide. A sample edit means you proofread a small portion (maybe 500 words) of someone’s writing.

3) Establish a profile on LinkedIn.

Even if you choose not to use LinkedIn’s job board to search for proofreading opportunities, I recommend creating a profile on the site.

For best results, fill out your profile completely, and include the badge around your profile picture indicating you’re open to work.

It’s not too difficult to get set up on the site, and your profile can work for you in the background while you take steps that require more effort.

4) Network with other proofreaders and writers.

You can find groups for proofreaders and writers on Facebook and LinkedIn. Joining these groups can lead to information about proofreading companies that are hiring or writers who need a second set of eyes.

To get the most out of these groups, focus on adding value .

Try answering people’s questions and offering helpful information and advice. Then, if the group allows it, you can pitch your services. Just make sure not to come across as too spammy since this can cause more harm than good.

I wrote an article about finding proofreading clients if you’d like a few more ideas about how to get your first job.

How much do beginner online proofreaders make?

According to ZipRecruiter , as of February 2024, the average yearly salary for an online proofreader in the United States is $57,520.

This amount translates to about $28 per hour.

ZipRecruiter shows that the majority of online proofreader salaries range from $42,500 (25th percentile) to $70,000 (75th percentile).

As a beginner proofreader, you can expect to make a salary toward the lower end of this range.

Novice proofreaders make roughly $12–$18 per hour.

Can proofreaders work from home?

Yes! Proofreaders can be home-based .

You’ll find options for part-time and full-time remote proofreading work.

How can I become a proofreader online with no experience?

To become a proofreader online, I recommend taking a reputable proofreading course so you’ll be in a good position to land jobs.

Proofreading entails more than most people realize, so getting proper training is essential.

A comprehensive proofreading class will teach you the needed skills, give you confidence, and enable you to compete with other proofreaders who have received formal training.

What skills and qualifications do I need to be a proofreader?

The only qualification you need to be a proofreader is the appropriate skill set. I created an article about the necessary set of proofreading skills if you’d like to know more.

Although some proofreading jobs require a degree (usually in English or journalism), plenty of opportunities are available to those without a degree.

Finally, having a proofreading certificate is preferable but not absolutely necessary.

Having one gives you an edge since it shows potential clients you’ve received training for the job.

Is proofreading a good side hustle?

Proofreading is a good side hustle because it requires minimal startup costs and can be learned relatively quickly.

Another advantage is that proofreading can be done from home. You can even proofread while you travel as long as you have a solid internet connection.

Om Proofreading has an article about the reasons why proofreading is a great side job if you’d like to learn more.

What tools do online proofreaders need for their work?

Fortunately, online proofreaders don’t need an abundance of expensive tools .

They need a laptop or desktop computer and a stable internet connection. I prefer a laptop so I can be around people while I work.

We can divide the other tools you need into two categories: software and books .

The Software You Need

Online proofreaders need two word processors:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs

You’ll need a paid version of MS Word.

Free versions aren’t suitable since they can cause formatting problems and don’t offer the same protection for clients’ documents as the paid version.

Proofreaders use the Track Changes feature in MS Word to work on texts.

The earliest version of Word I’d recommend is 2016.

Support for Microsoft Word 2013 ended in April 2023 .

With Google Docs (it’s free), you’ll learn to use the Suggesting feature.

Some proofreaders may want to learn how to use Adobe Acrobat software so they can proofread PDFs. However, this software isn’t necessary since most documents are proofread using Word or Google Docs.

Two Optional Tools for Proofreaders

You may want to consider two other tools to improve your efficiency:

I wrote an in-depth review of Grammarly and a detailed review of PerfectIt if you’d like to know more about how these software programs can help you proofread people’s prose.

The Reference Books You Need

At a minimum, you’ll need two books:

• a good dictionary
• a style guide

I use Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th Edition , since it’s the dictionary recommended by the most thorough style guide available— The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS).

I refer to CMOS for most of my proofreading work. It’s one of the most frequently used and reputable guides and the gold standard in the publishing industry.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th Edition , and CMOS are available online and as hard copies.

If you’d like to learn about other popular style guides, I discuss them in my post about suggested books for proofreaders .

You may also want to consider purchasing The Best Punctuation Book, Period . It’s inexpensive and beloved by people who work on error patrol! 😉I talk about this book in the post I linked to in the previous paragraph.

What’s the difference between proofreading, copyediting, and editing?

Proofreaders correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and formatting errors. They work at the word level to catch mistakes that were overlooked during previous editing stages.

Copy editors work at the sentence level. Their primary focus is to make writing clear, concise, consistent, comprehensive, and correct. They also fix the same types of mistakes that proofreaders do.

Line editors and developmental editors work at the paragraph level and on the overall document, respectively. Line editors focus on improving a text’s language, and developmental editors improve the text’s content and structure.

If you’re an editor, I published a post about jobs for developmental and line editors .

I sincerely hope this article has given you many avenues to find online proofreading work if you’re a beginner.

After you get some experience, you can check out my article about online proofreading work for experienced proofreaders to find more lucrative options.

I wish you luck as you progress on your proofreading path. May it be paved with platinum!

Best wishes to you!

“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” – Roy T. Bennett

Lindsay Babcock

Lindsay is the creator of Om Proofreading. She has a BA in psychology and earned a certificate in proofreading by passing the final exam in Proofread Anywhere’s general proofreading course. She shares what she’s learning in the field and through research to inform and inspire her readers.

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20+ Best Online Proofreading Jobs for Beginners

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Do you have a sharp vision for spotting spelling and grammatical mistakes? If yes, then a proofreading job might be the perfect career path. 

Proofreaders are always in demand because all writers make mistakes. More freelance proofreading jobs from home are now available as writers switch to online publishing. 

I’ll help you get paid to proofread with this list of 20 online proofreading jobs for beginners. This guide will also teach you how to make money and improve your skills for a remote position.

Top Sites for Finding Proofreading Jobs

Fiverr is the best platform to find editing and proofreading jobs for beginners. Sell your proofreading service or gig at fair rates. Several clients also look for proofreaders on this site, whether you have a university degree. 

One downside to Fiverr is the high competition yet low prices. Clients often look for proofreaders here because of freelancers’ cheap services. But it’s an excellent place for beginner proofreaders who want to improve their skills in spelling and grammar.

Both entry-level proofreaders and experts can find a job in FlexJobs . It’s a marketplace for online proofreaders who want to earn or start a proofreading business.

FlexJobs also offers content writing and editing jobs. Just search for the job title, category, or any relevant keyword. No matter where you are, you can find a remote job in the comfort of your home.

If you want more access to different freelance jobs, you can try their monthly subscription of $15. This plan lets you search for more proofreading jobs from home. 

Gramlee is a unique online job marketplace that caters to editors and remote proofreaders who want to offer virtual proofreading services. Unlike other sites, this one doesn’t have a wide range of job postings as they only specialize in copyediting.

The website states that they look for exceptional editors from time to time. These freelance jobs offer a salary of three cents per word, asking for revisions in 24 hours. 

If you want to apply at Gramlee, fill out their application form and wait for them to contact you.

Upwork is the biggest freelance marketplace where you will find a variety of clients looking for different services. The fantastic platform provides opportunities for proofreaders who are looking for a job.

Some clients require full-time employees, while others want part-time. You can filter the job offerings based on these settings to give editorial services to your preferred client.

You can get paid to proofread even if you’re only a beginner. Use the communication platform to talk to clients, schedule interviews, and set milestones.

ProofreadingPal

ProofreadingPal is a great place to find potential clients looking for anyone who can perform proofreading tasks. But you need to become a professional proofreader to step up your freelance proofreading career here.

The website hires anyone earning a college degree or a graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5. That means you need to demonstrate proper grammar and exceptional spelling skills to get in. You also need to be knowledgeable in academic writing to enter.

Editors on this website have an average salary of $500 to $3000 per month. The pay is based on your university and educational attainment.

Wordvice is an excellent platform for finding job opportunities in a remote proofreading job. Earn extra money as you edit online content of clients worldwide.

Most private clients in this online marketplace have the English language as their second language, so they need your help. Use your proofreading skills to offer the best service and produce happy clients.

Wordvice asks potential employees to have a graduate program. But they also provide remote and part-time work. 

LinkedIn is like a social media platform for job seekers where you can connect with friends and look for a wide variety of careers. The available opportunities on this website are a mix of freelance writing jobs and on-site jobs at a proofreading company.

The website offers various jobs for proofreaders, writers, and other careers in different industries. You can also access proofreading courses on LinkedIn and kickstart your online business.

If you want to reach more legitimate proofreading jobs, it’s essential to set up your profile. Provide your job description, previous experience, and educational attainment.

American Journal Experts

American Journal Experts is not your typical job-seeking platform. This website comprises academics and professionals who do website proofreading and manuscript preparation.

The proofreading opportunities on this website are up-and-coming. But they require expert spelling and grammar skills along with relevant experience. Check out their Careers page to see the job openings and the types of proofreading projects you may take on.

Potential employees in American Journal Experts will be working in different US research institutions. Ensure you know the AP style and other house style guides for academic papers.

EditFast is the ideal platform for improving your proofreading experience. It provides any career opportunity for aspiring editors and proofreaders with excellent editing skills. Clients and service providers connect on this page to complete different projects.

Just complete the registration process, wait for approval, and get your page activated. Make sure you have a degree from a recognized university to be hired. EditFast also requires previous proofreading experience. 

The online editing jobs range from correcting typing errors to fixing grammatical mistakes. Once the job is done, EditFast receives 40% of the project price, while you get 60%.

ProofreadingServices.Com

ProofreadingServices.Com is a website for experienced proofreaders who want to offer professional services for writers. The opportunities on this site go beyond freelance proofreading jobs. Translators, publishers, and editors are also welcome here.

You can proofread any type of writing, ranging from social media posts to blogs and academic papers. 

But you need to have advanced English language skills to be considered for hire. The application process is easy. You need to complete a 20-minute screening test with a score of 95%.

Lionbridge will give you a fantastic opportunity to apply for different proofreader jobs. It’s a global communications website for aspiring remote employees with a high level of experience managing content.

Qualified proofreaders from Lionbridge will allow you to edit and proofread different works. You’ll also be able to work with experts in sharing insights and connecting with the world.

If no proofreading jobs are currently available on the Lionbridge, you can join the community. Then, register for proofreading tasks and take the required tests. Wait for the company to contact you once an available job is open.

Get Editing Jobs

Get Editing Jobs offers a massive list of proofreading jobs you can apply for, no matter your experience level. Employers can also use this platform to look for skilled proofreaders who can solve their writing needs. 

The platform offers competitive pay rates which employers set. The online job directory typically requires academic editing experience or previous experience editing online blogs.

To find the perfect job for you, enter the word “proofreader,” “proofreading,” or “editor” in the search box. It will help if you create an account to set custom alerts and job notifications and manage your resume. 

Scribe Writing

Scribe Writing is a company that specializes in proofreading. It’s looking for skilled employees who can correct spelling and grammatical errors. Unlike other job opportunities, Scribe Writing lets you connect with authors and writers to customize your job according to their needs.

There are no exact details on the requirements and qualifications of becoming a proofreader for Scribe. However, we all know that a certain level of experience will increase your chances of getting hired. 

You can submit your editing sample to potential clients to give them an understanding of your skill level.

Babbletype is an online platform where you can apply as a proofreader. The website only requires you to be a native English speaker. You should also have basic knowledge of grammar rules to be hired.

Applications on this platform are easy. Once you’re hired, all you have to do is perform the weekly tasks, and they will pay you through PayPal. The salary is done on a freelance basis.

Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media isn’t just for English proofreaders. The online platform is also looking for book reviewers in Spanish. Most of the book proofreading tasks are composed of 350 words and are due in 2 weeks.

The job is relatively easy if you’re an intermediate editor or proofreader. Applying is also more straightforward than other sites. I recommend submitting writing samples to increase your probability of getting accepted. 

Polished Paper

Polished Paper is one of the best platforms for finding a proofreading job if you consider yourself on the professional tier. Fill out their application form and take the 35-question test to check if you’re qualified.

They have strict guidelines on getting hired, but it’s all worth it! Polished Paper guarantees that they pay their skilled proofreaders accordingly. Make sure you have a sharp eye for tough spelling , style, and grammar errors in the content . 

Scribbr is a famous platform for finding a job in editing or proofreading. First, you need to pass a language quiz before the team looks at your CV. Once they see you as compatible with the job, the company will take you to Scribbr Academy for a workshop.

The company will require you to edit about two to five simulation orders. Scribbr will evaluate your work and give you more tips as you go about the job. 

It’s a lengthy application process, but the salary is worthwhile. 

Another option for aspiring proofreaders and editors is Domainite . While it’s designed for beginner proofreaders with little to no experience, the platform will help you improve your skills as time goes by.

Domainite is the perfect choice for anyone with trouble landing clients due to a lack of experience. You have to complete the application form, submit sample works, and they will accept you as a freelancer.

Second to the last on this list of online proofreading jobs is Edit911 . However, you are only qualified if you have a Ph.D. There’s a good chance of getting hired if you’re a book editor or published scholar with verifiable experience.

Edit911 is an excellent option despite the high expectations. It’s for certified professionals who are looking for quality proofreading jobs. 

ClickWorker

ClickWorker is a crowdsourcing platform for clients looking for freelancers who can complete micro-tasks like proofreading. Independent proofreaders and editors are called “clickworkers” who can quickly log in and look for jobs that can hone their skills.

It’s great for newbie proofreaders who want to get their feet wet because they perform small tasks on a large project. To get hired, you need to be an author with enough experience. 

Complete a few content creation jobs until you’re skilled enough to take a proofreading assessment.  Also, take a look at our post on Amazon proofreading jobs .

What is Proofreading?

Proofreading is a type of job concerned with performing final checks on a written document. Before being published or going to print, proofreaders check the work for any missed errors or typos.

One of the primary duties of a proofreader is to review and edit the final manuscript’s spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. They can also fix any syntax, usage, voice, and consistency mistakes the editor missed.

Proofreaders ensure the accuracy of any referenced facts. This process is critical for websites, newspapers, and academic works. They also ensure that the page numbers, headings, captions, and other formatting options are consistent. 

Note that every proofreader’s job description is different across companies and clients. Some are only concerned with formatting, while others also perform editing jobs. But your main task will always be to review a piece of content and make sure it’s perfect. 

The typical proofreader’s salary is about $53,135. Senior proofreaders earn up to $68,000 a year.

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Proofreading vs. Copyediting

Despite the overlaps in their responsibilities, proofreading and copyediting are two different jobs . The differences in their tasks rely on the stage of the editing process.

Copy editing occurs once the writer has finished their draft. A copy editor will ensure that the piece of writing follows the preferred style guide. They also guarantee that the whole document is readable and accurate.

Proofreading happens at the last editing phase, right before it goes into print. Once the piece of writing has been copyedited, the proofreader will examine the test version of the book’s printed version. 

The proofreader will have one last check of the author’s spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Then they focus on the pages, index section, alignment of the text, and other format settings. 

But the proofreader’s task can be broader. It depends on the genre of the piece and the company’s standards. For example, if you’re a proofreader for magazines, you might be in charge of fact-checking the copy. 

Some editing companies and freelancers offer two-in-one services. After copyediting the writing piece, the author produces a final digital ebook version or a printed copy of the work. Then, they ask the professional to proofread it.

However, getting a separate copy editor and proofreader is always better. A different proofreader offers a fresh pair of eyes for the task. 

How Do I Become a Proofreader Online

Before looking for a job, it’s essential to know the steps you need to take before becoming an online proofreader. 

Decide What Discipline You Want to Specialize

Do you have an area of interest when proofreading? Some proofreaders work in the blogging industry for different niches, while others concentrate on academic disciplines. 

You might need additional training depending on the standards of the industry. For example, you need to learn how to fact-check in journalistic writing. In scientific research articles, you need to know the scientific process. 

Take a Proofreading Course

Proofreading goes beyond making sentences more readable while ensuring that the piece of writing has a consistent format. I recommend taking a proofreading course, especially if you do not have a degree in English, Communication, Literature, or other related programs.

Taking a proofreading course is also essential for beginners with no experience yet. Doing so will familiarize them with the responsibilities they will have. 

Some proofreading courses are tailored to specific writing genres. You can take a general class or focus on fiction, non-fiction, or other writing types. Do your research on the best curriculum for your niche.

Take a Proofreading Test

Once you have finished the proofreading course, it’s time to test your knowledge. Try multiple-choice quizzes, practice tests , and other examinations to measure your skills. The test results will also decide in which areas you need more improvement.

Look for Job Vacancies Online

The internet is full of proofreading jobs. Depending on your preferred specialty, you can type “online proofreading jobs” for general careers or “medical proofreading jobs.”

Most sites that offer job opportunities offer free sign-ups. You can also customize settings like the preferred level of expertise, part-time or full-time, and the rates. 

Another option is to list the service you want to offer on freelance marketing sites. If you don’t want to be bombarded with unrelated job offers, go straight to proofreading and editing websites. 

Some proofreading services specialize in business, while others focus on educational content. Your task also depends on the company. For instance, some proofreading jobs only deal with formatting. Other jobs ask you to fix spelling and grammatical errors.

Set Your Rates

Most freelance proofreading jobs will allow you to set your rates. Never undercharge for a professional service. Think about your level of experience, education, and the quality of work you can deliver. You also want to consider how many words you can proofread daily.

Build Your Resume

Once you have perfected your resume and portfolio, it will become easier to find a job and ask for higher pay. Don’t forget to keep building your resume even if you already have a job. It should stay updated every time you complete a milestone in your career.

If you are looking for a proofreading job that focuses on legal writing, include projects with the same elements. That way, you will find a client whose needs align with your skills.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Proofreader?

Different routes exist for aspiring proofreaders. Some start with a college degree, while others take several online courses for proofreading. 

Others invest in work experience, although this usually takes longer before one becomes a professional. 

For most companies, a bachelor’s degree is a must. You should hold a degree in Communication, English, or Journalism. This is especially true if you will be working in the news industry or a research institution.

What most employers look for in a proofreader:

• Attention to detail.
• Excellent written communication skills. 
• Knowledge of the English language.
• Time management.
• Ability to work well with writers and copy editors.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use a computer and proofreading software programs.
• Ability to edit different formats of a written document.
• Ability to fact-check.  

How Do I Get Hired as a Proofreader?

If you want to know how to make money as a proofreader, here are some tips to increase your chances of getting hired.

Enjoy Reading 

Proofreaders should be passionate about reading because most of their job includes this task. Imagine yourself reading several hours a day, analyzing each word, sentence, and paragraph.

It would be best if you also were a flexible reader. Whether it’s a journal article, fictional book, or fitness blog post, your ability to catch mistakes is essential. 

Know the Different Style Guides

A proofreader’s role also includes understanding the different style guides. Writing style guides ensure that the piece of writing is consistent and clear across the project and the whole company. 

Several writing styles exist, but the most common ones include:

• AP style (for journalism).
• APA style (for academic papers).
• MLA (for academic papers). 
• Chicago style (for publishing).

Market Yourself

Sometimes, looking for job postings and competing with other job seekers isn’t easy. You need to learn how to market yourself so that companies and clients will approach you. 

Try marketing yourself on social media. Update your Twitter, LinkedIn, and business account on Instagram to make it look like you’re a professional proofreader. Post relevant information, follow writers and engage with them until you’ve built a network.

You can also market yourself on freelance and proofreading websites. Make sure to display your previous experience and describe what makes you a unique proofreader. 

Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Review the list of skills required in a proofreading job. Examine which one you need to improve on the most and practice them. Then, choose one skill you excel in and use it as your unique selling point. 

Be Confident

Do not let anxiety keep you from improving your proofreading skills and getting the perfect job. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, negotiate your salary, and put more effort into your career. After all, most expert proofreaders also started as passionate readers. 

Are Proofreaders in Demand?

According to Recruiter.com, the demand for proofreaders is expected to rise despite the decline during the past years. It’s expected that 3,510 new proofreading careers will be filled by 2029, which is 5.29% more in the next two years.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also confirmed that the demand for proofreaders is continuously rising. That’s because so many people are establishing their online writing businesses. Most eCommerce sites also post blog entries that require proofreaders.

Even businesses unrelated to the writing industry now hire proofreaders to ensure accuracy in their business letters. They also hire editors for social media posts, training materials, and other written content. 

You will also find in-demand proofreaders in foreign businesses. They look for native English-speaking proofreaders who will make their online content sound more fluent. 

Do You Need Certifications to Be a Proofreader?

It depends on the company or client who’s hiring. But most clients do not require special certificates or diplomas for proofreading . Instead, they will look at your portfolio to check if you produce high-quality work. 

Some companies require a college degree or higher, especially if you’ll be proofreading research articles. These writing pieces typically require more expertise, so companies look for long experience and high educational attainment. 

How Long to Proofread a Thousand Words?

It should only take less than one hour for a professional proofreader to proofread 1000 words . Most clients and companies expect proofreaders to check 2000-3000 words per hour. So, if you work full-time, that’s at least 12,000 words per day.

But some businesses only require about 10,000 words in five days. That means you have to proofread about 2000 words daily. If you’re an expert, you should be able to complete more. Of course, this is all made easier with the help of proofreading software like Grammarly or ProWritingAid.

Set Yourself Up for Proofreading Success

Now you know the different steps to take before getting paid to proofread. I hope this list of online proofreading jobs for beginners helped you kickstart your freelance career.

Several proofreading jobs from home now exist. Just continue developing and highlighting your skills until you land your dream job. Make sure to keep updating your resume with relevant information. All the best for your future endeavors!

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

Last updated September 12, 2023 By Dylan Houlihan 8

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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:

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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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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.)

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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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10 Best Proofreading Jobs Online (Earn $45/hour)

By: Mia Hargrave

June 14, 2023

Proofreading jobs used to be difficult to find, but these days, there are plenty of online jobs for proofreaders. Trust me! I’ve been an online proofreader for over 2 years and have found many proofreading jobs in that time.

Table of Contents

What is Proofreading?

10 best proofreading jobs online, 2. flexjobs, 4. scribendi, 6. proofreading services, 7. proofreading pal, 9. polished paper, 10. edit fast, proofreading vs. editing, how much money can you make as a proofreader, what skills and degrees are required to make money as a proofreader, 5 must-have tools for proofreading jobs, starting your own proofreading business, different types of proofreading jobs, remote vs in-person proofreading jobs, part-time vs full-time proofreading jobs, building a portfolio for proofreading jobs, pros and cons of freelance proofreading jobs, faqs about online proofreading jobs, in conclusion.

I recommend proofreading if you’re looking for a great way to make money online , either to earn a little extra cash from home or transition into the digital nomad lifestyle .

I’ve been proofreading part-time to supplement my income, but many online freelancers make a full-time living from this career.

In this guide to online proofreading jobs, I’ll show you how to get paid to proofread, plus the 10 best proofreading jobs online, where to find them, and how to get guaranteed proofreading work.

Proofreading is when you thoroughly and carefully check a written text for any errors, whether that be issues with spelling, punctuation, grammar, consistency, or formatting.

People with proper proofreading skills will be able to easily identify these errors and fix them.

This is the final stage of the writing process and is extremely important.

Since proofreading is an essential step for all important pieces of writing, you can find a wide variety of proofreading job postings, including admissions essays, academic papers up for publication, résumés, business documents, and emails.

While it can be tough finding proofreading job postings that will hire you with no experience, there are many ways to find work, from applying to websites that specialize in proofreading to joining huge platforms and marketplaces that offer freelance proofreading services.

If you take (and pass) the Knowadays proofreading course , you’ll get guaranteed work, which is great when you’re looking for beginner proofreading jobs. Use promo code GOATS10 at checkout for 10% off the course.

Get paid to proofread with these 10 legitimate proofreading jobs online:

Upwork is not only one of the best websites to find entry-level proofreading jobs, but it’s one of the largest websites for freelancers in general and a good place to find the best online proofreading jobs.

With an abundance of freelance job listings, editing jobs, and businesses looking for editing and proofreading services, Upwork is a great way to find work from home.

The platform is also very easy to navigate and user-friendly, and it’ll be fairly easy to find proofreading jobs you can do from home with no experience.

However, there are disadvantages to using Upwork. Primarily, it’ll be hard to get decent pay, as there are endless amounts of freelancers willing to be paid pennies for their work. So, you’ll probably have to undersell yourself to outbid other proofreaders.

Additionally, Upwork charges a 20% service charge.

Overall, Upwork is perfect for beginner proofreaders looking to gain experience, but the pay will be on the lower end.

Nevertheless, it’s a great place to launch your career in online proofreading, and if you pitch yourself right, you can find clients willing to pay you fairly (so there are options for more experienced proofreaders as well). Click here to learn more and sign up.

☞ SEE ALSO: how to make money on Upwork – a guide for freelancers

Similar to Upwork, FlexJobs is a huge online platform that lists job opportunities for entry-level and experienced freelancers. However, in contrast to Upwork, it costs money to join FlexJobs: $5.95 per month.

But this can be an advantage, as there’s less competition for jobs, even though there are still plenty of opportunities to sell your editing and proofreading services.

Additionally, FlexJobs has a user-friendly platform, offers tons of support, and ensures that only legitimate proofreading jobs are listed, so you can be sure to find the absolute best online proofreading jobs.

Overall, FlexJobs is another online freelance job board perfect for finding new remote proofreading jobs and clients. Sign up for Flexjobs risk-free and receive 2 weeks for just $2.95.

Another website similar to Upwork and FlexJobs, Fiverr is an online job portal offering tons of work for beginner proofreaders, along with an abundance of other freelance jobs.

While it’s easy to get started and find work (as long as you have a killer profile), Fiverr comes with the same disadvantages as Upwork: lots of low-paying jobs, with the lowest offer being $5.

However, it’s a great way to gain experience as an entry-level proofreader, and with this experience, you can move to higher-paying sites and charge more for your services.

☞ SEE ALSO: How To Make Money on Fiverr

While the previous three websites were huge platforms for all freelance work, Scribendi is a company that specifically offers proofreading and editing services.

A Canadian company that hires remote editors around the world, there are many advantages to working with Scribendi.

They offer consistent and reliable payments in USD via PayPal, and they offer total flexibility in the jobs you pick up; as long as you do one project every three months, your account stays active.

They also offer editing and proofreading courses , and a forum where you can discuss various topics with other proofreaders.

However, there are certain qualifications you have to meet to sign up for Scribendi.

They want native English speakers with a university degree, who have at least three years of previous experience and the ability to proofread at a minimum speed of 1,000 words per hour.

Some of the best online proofreading jobs are available on Scribendi.

I was pretty lucky that I got accepted with minimal experience, and it took me a while to hit the speed of 1,000 words per hour. So, I recommend applying even if you’re not sure you meet their requirements. Overall, if you qualify, Scribendi is a great website to join as a freelance proofreader.

Scribbr is a proofreading and editing company that focuses on helping students perfect their theses and dissertations. It’s great for entry-level and experienced proofreaders.

While the application process is rigorous and lengthy, involving a language quiz, a résumé and motivation statement, a language editing assignment, and a Scribbr Academy training program, upon acceptance as a proofreader and editor, you can expect to make around $22-$27 per hour.

As far as finding the best proofreading jobs, Scribbr is one of the highest-paid for sure.

Proofreading Services is a great company that offers both part-time and full-time remote proofreading jobs.

Like Scribendi, the hours are completely flexible, meaning you can choose how much or how little you work.

And, with the average pay being between $19-$46 per hour, Proofreading Services is a great way to make extra cash while working from home, or living a location-independent lifestyle.

The best proofreading jobs that you’ll find will be at the upper level of that income rate, which is a pretty awesome hourly rate.

For proofreading jobs for students, look no further than Proofreading Pal .

Perfect for college and university students, Proofreading Pal offers flexible work with an average pay of $500 to $3,000 a month.

However, they prefer to hire current graduate students with an average GPA of 3.5 and above, or those with a graduate degree and a minimum of 5 years of editing experience.

So, while their qualifications are strict, Proofreading Pal is worth applying to if you qualify.

For some great work from home proofreading jobs with smaller word counts, I recommend Gramlee .

A company specializing in providing proofreading and editing services, Gramlee is a great website for beginner proofreaders.

They charge $0.03 per word, for a maximum of 3,000 words (so, a maximum of $90 per order).

Beyond 3,000 words, they start to charge more, but only senior editors can access those larger, better-paid orders.

The initial application process is also quite easy; simply fill out a short questionnaire about your previous experience (the more experience you have, the more likely they’ll contact you).

Overall, Gramlee is a great place to find some online proofreading work.

For proofreaders with a little bit of experience, Polished Paper is a great website to check out.

Polished Paper is a proofreading and editing company that wants the best editors with solid proofreading experience, but they pay for these qualifications accordingly.

The application process is consequently quite difficult; you’ll have to register for an account, upload your résumé, and fill out a 35-question test, followed by an interview.

But you’ll need to pass the test for the interview, and it isn’t easy.

So, if you want to work with Polished Paper, take your time filling out the test. In the end, it’ll be worth it, as Polished Paper is a great place to work as a freelance proofreader.

Finally, the last proofreading and editing company on this list is Edit Fast .

An online job portal filled with postings for freelance proofreaders and editors, Edit Fast is a great place to find some work.

The application process is also quite easy; you register online, upload your résumé, take an editing test, sign a non-disclosure agreement, and then build your profile.

Once approved, you simply have to apply for the jobs on the listings. All communication with clients goes through the Edit Fast portal, and you will be paid via PayPal.

However, the biggest disadvantage of using Edit Fast is that it keeps 40% of your final cut. So, Edit Fast is better for proofreaders looking to gain experience.

Don’t forget, if you sign up for the Knowadays (Proofreading Academy) course, they provide guaranteed work! Learn more here . 

Now, you may be wondering what the difference between proofreading and editing is.

While proofreading skills are similar to those needed for editing, there is a significant difference between the two.

While proofreading solely focuses on the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in the writing, editors look at the big picture, and make major changes to the structure of the writing and analyze the content, clarity, and tone, on top of looking for grammatical errors.

In the end, both editing and proofreading are important steps in finalizing a written text for submission.

However, proofreaders are the final defenders; the last to review the text, looking for those minor grammatical issues and typos that slipped through the cracks.

If you’re considering becoming an editor, have a look at this review of the Knowadays editing course online to see if it’s a good fit for you.

On average, online proofreading jobs pay around $25-$45 per hour. However, there are some additional factors to consider.

First, you’ll have to decide whether you want to charge your clients by the hour or by word count. Next, your rates will be impacted by your experience level, the difficulty of the job, and whether or not you’re a specialist in the subject area.

So, as a beginner proofreader, you can expect to make around $12-$15 per hour on the average online proofreading job.

But, as you gain more experience, your hourly salary will grow; not only can you charge more from your clients, but your proofreading will also get a lot faster and more efficient with time.

When I got my first proofreading job, it was under $15 per hour, but my pay has gone up considerably since then.

Fortunately, you don’t need a degree to find freelance proofreading jobs, and you can become a proofreader in just a few simple steps, without too many proofreader skills.

While some clients prefer that their proofreader has a bachelor’s degree or even a graduate degree, many clients only care about the results.

This means even college students without experience can make money proofreading, which makes for great extra cash while traveling as a student!

In regards to proofreading skills , proofreaders need to have excellent grammar and spelling skills.

Time management skills are also an asset, and for certain jobs, knowledge of the common style guides (like MLA, APA, and the Chicago Manual of Style) is invaluable.

If you decide to start your own proofreading business, you may want to learn some business skills like how to hire and manage teams.

Take a Proofreading Course

If you want to get paid more to proofread, and to guarantee yourself work, you may want to consider investing a bit in yourself and taking a proofreading course online that will help you get more jobs.

Knowadays (formerly The Proofreading Academy) offers their Becoming A Proofreader course, which provides students with everything they need to start a new career working remotely from anywhere as a professional proofreader.

The course includes 15 content-packed modules, including quizzes and real-life practice proofreading exercises to maximise learning.

Unlike other proofreading courses , they offer guaranteed work as a freelance proofreader through their marketplace of freelance proofreading services.

This is available to everyone who passes the course with a distinction grade. Plus, there’s a free trial so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Learn more here . Read our full review of the Knowadays Proofreading Course here .

If you’re looking for proofreading jobs you can do at home and you have no experience, I suggest taking a proofreading course to give you a leg up when applying for jobs.

There are many essential tools that you’ll need to efficiently complete proofreading jobs from home, including:

• Spellchecker : First, a must-have tool is a spellchecker, which will comb through your written text and find the big typos and grammatical errors. While this simple tool may seem obvious, it’s undeniably a necessity for proofreading.
• Grammarly : Next, Grammarly is the best tool for freelance proofreaders, as it’s one of the most accurate tools for finding grammatical errors. Not only that, but it also provides explanations and suggestions for each grammatical mistake, and a plagiarism checker.
• Ginger : If you’re not keen on using Grammarly, Ginger is one of the best software for checking grammar. This is because, compared to other spell checkers, it’s fabulous for proofreading more complicated texts, as it’s able to find and correct the more difficult grammatical problems. It’s also invaluable for refining and perfecting your own writing.
• Google Docs : Another essential tool for online proofreading is Google Docs, as it’s easy to receive, send, and share files with clients. It’s also a free service that offers many editing tools and add-ons, and the ability to save files offline.
• Avast Antivirus : Last but not least, antivirus and security software are an often-overlooked tool for online proofreading , but are necessary nonetheless. They’re not only essential for the protection and confidentiality of client documents but also for your own internet security. I use Avast Antivirus and Nord VPN is good as well, but there are many other software programs available .

A great way to earn more money as a proofreader is to start your own proofreading business.

With your own business, you can hire a team of proofreaders and scale the proofreading jobs you can take on.

This will also come with the tax benefit of being able to write off a lot of your expenses as a professional proofreader, like a laptop , office space, app subscriptions, and more.

If you’re thinking of starting your own proofreading business, I can share some valuable insights from my journey to help you establish your venture successfully.

First Determine Your Niche

Choosing a niche can help you set your business apart from the thousands of other proofreading businesses available online.

Perhaps you are looking to focus on a specific type of proofreading job (more on these below), or maybe you’ll serve a certain type of client, like small local businesses, or those in the pet industry.

Whatever you do, picking a specific niche in any business can help you relate better to your clientele.

Hire a Team

If you’re familiar with scaling small businesses, then you can hire a team right away. Otherwise, this may be something you’ll look into doing further down the road.

By hiring a team of proofreaders, you can ensure that your new business will cover a variety of different types of proofreading jobs. Be sure to hire proofreaders in specific industries with ample experience in their respective niches.

Assess Your Skills & Knowledge

Before launching your own proofreading business, take a long, honest look at yourself and your team and decide which specific skills and knowledge you have that set you apart.

Do you have experience proofreading many different types of documents, do you or your team also have a law or medical degree? Are there any gaps in your or your teams’ skills that may benefit from further proofreading education and certification?

Identify areas you can improve, and where you currently shine, and use that to your advantage.

Setting Up Your Business

To officially start your business, you’ll first have to decide on a business name and register it with the appropriate government body.

Depending on where you will be opening your business, you may need specific business licenses or permits. Be sure to check the current legal requirements in your state, province, or area to ensure you’re compliant with local laws.

Decide On Your Rates

Every business, no matter how big or small, will need to have rates to quote their clients. Make sure you spend some time to get these rates right. You don’t want to undersell yourself, but you also don’t want to price yourself out of the market.

Have a look at 10-20 other online proofreading businesses in your niche and try to price yourself in the middle. If you feel that your team has more experience or clout in the industry you’re in, then perhaps you can charge even more.

Build a Website For Your Business

Every business should have a website. Luckily you can start one, design it, and have it up and running within a day. I have a free website design course that you can access when you buy your domain and hosting through this page .

You can choose from a bunch of website templates that are already built, change the text and photos on the home page and sales pages, and voila , you have a business website that’s ready to go live to the world.

My course even shows you the basics of blogging , content marketing, and social media management for small businesses.

Market Your Services

In today’s online world, marketing your services is imperative to any new online business success. An online proofreading business is no different.

You should find unique ways to share your skills and services on as many platforms as you can. That includes your blog, an email newsletter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat… all of them.

In my many years as a professional proofreader, I’ve done my fair share of different proofreading jobs. No two jobs are the same, and there are plenty of different types of work that you may run into as a proofreader.

Here’s a list of a few of the different kinds of jobs you might expect as a professional freelance proofreader, or the owner of your own business. Learn more: 6 Types of Proofreading Explained – What’s the Difference?

Academic Proofreading

Academic proofreading is a very common area in the field and it involves proofreading academic articles, dissertations, theses, research papers, etc.

As an academic proofreader, your primary role will be the same as in any other proofreading job; to ensure these documents are properly structured, error-free, and adhere to specific academic writing styles like MLA, or APA.

For those who enjoy exploring new academic topics and have a skill for the nuance and detail of academic writing, this is the perfect job.

Book Proofreading

Not surprisingly, book proofreaders work directly with authors and publishers to find errors and correct them before the book, magazine, or publication is pushed live.

This type of proofreading can be well-paid and rewarding, particularly if you love literature as you’ll essentially be getting paid to read novels and other books before they’re even seen by the public.

Business Document Proofreading

Pretty much all businesses, no matter how big or small they are, need proofreaders to help ensure their documents are in order, professional, clear to read, and free of errors.

This can include anything from internal reports, memos, customer service documents, marketing materials, manuals, and website and blog content.

To become a business proofreader, you’ll likely require a solid understanding of business jargon, grammar, and punctuation.

Additional skills may be the ability to maintain a professional tone, a basic understanding of marketing, and knowing how to adhere to brand guidelines.

Legal Proofreading

Proofreading of legal documents is probably the most specialized type of proofreading and it requires knowledge of legal format, law, and legal terminology.

Your job as a legal proofreader would be to check agreements, contracts, briefs, bills, and other legal documents for formatting, the accuracy of the information, and errors.

Medical Proofreading

Another highly specialized field of proofreading, medical proofreaders will be expected to correct any errors in patient information documents, pharmaceutical guides, health articles, research papers, and more.

Website Content Proofreading

This is a form of proofreading that I have the most experience with.

Typically I edit content like blog posts, social media posts, product descriptions, and other content found on my client’s web pages to make sure they’re accurate, SEO-friendly, clear, and concise.

I’ve mostly talked about remote proofreading jobs so far in this post because online proofreading jobs are the easiest to find thanks to online job boards like Upwork and Fiverr.

But there are also in-person jobs that can be quite lucrative.

Remote Proofreading Jobs

Remote proofreading jobs are my favorite because they give me the freedom to work from anywhere, choose my own hours (for the most part), and work at my own pace.

Remote jobs are ideal for highly disciplined people. When you work for yourself, you’ll have to follow your own deadlines and be sure that you’re on the computer enough to get the work done.

In-Person Proofreading Jobs

In-person proofreading jobs don’t come with the same freedom as their remote counterparts, but there are still advantages to working in an office.

Many people enjoy the comradery and accountability that comes with working around others.

If you’re not a person who’s looking to travel a lot and prefer to have a comfortable routine at home, then in-person jobs may be the way to go.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I’ve personally always worked as a part-time proofreader online, but there are still many full-time proofreading positions available through the 10 online job boards that I listed above.

I’ve been offered full-time work in the past, but I enjoy mixing my proofreading work with other jobs like blogging and freelance writing.

But if you’re looking for the stability of consistent income and the possibility of benefits like health care and paid holidays, then a full-time job might be right up your alley.

Alternatively, students, people with other part-time jobs, families, or those who just want to earn a little extra income with an at-home side hustle may want to stick to part-time proofreading jobs.

After more than 2 years of working as a proofreader, I can say with confidence that one of the most important aspects of landing the best proofreading jobs is having a comprehensive and compelling portfolio.

A strong portfolio can help you to showcase your proofreading skills, demonstrate your expertise, and show potential clients the value of having you on as a proofreader.

Here are a few tips for building a professional proofreading portfolio:

Understand Your Portfolio’s Purpose

Before you start building your portfolio, you should take some time to decide what the purpose of your particular portfolio is.

In most cases, this will simply be to give your potential clients a concise and clear outline of your abilities, skills, certifications, and experience as a proofreader.

Take time to highlight your proofreading skills like the command of the language, your attention to detail (tell them you’re a perfectionist. They will love that), and your ability to improve the overall voice and flow of any piece of content.

Select Your Best Work

Now it’s time to give some examples. This will be the “meat” of your portfolio. Remember, you’re not creating the content, you’re improving it and correcting errors.

To showcase this, it’s important to include snapshots of the work before you edited it, and afterward. Consider keeping the old content in the document and use red to highlight any changes you may have made.

Remember to always get permission from all of your clients before using any of their documents in your portfolio.

Showcase a Variety of Work

Another important part of your portfolio will be to include a variety of proofreading work inside. This will allow you to attract a wider range of clients and jobs.

This will help you to showcase your versatility and adaptability as a proofreader, and will also show a wider breadth of experience in the field.

Keep It Organized and Professional

As organization and professionalism is an important aspect in any proofreading job, you’ll need to ensure your portfolio is well organized and put together professionally.

Ensure each project is labeled clearly with the client, the nature of the project, and the type of document in question, as well as any other relevant details about the work you completed.

Update Regularly

Just like with a resume, you’ll want your portfolio to be up to date. Employers care less about what you did 10 years ago and more about what your last job was, so make sure you update your portfolio every time you finish another job or gain more experience, accreditation, or skills.

Include Testimonials

Sometimes you’ll naturally get testimonials from your clients via email or text.

Add any positive comments your previous employers have made so that your new potential employers can feel comfortable knowing that other people have recommended you.

Where to Host Your Portfolio

There are plenty of places where you can host your proofreading portfolio online. Consider sites like ProFinder, LinkedIn, Behnace, or Journo Portfolio.

You can also just keep your portfolio on your computer, in a drop box, or in Google Drive and then link to it from emails and communication with prospective employers.

Freelancing as a career isn’t right for everyone, and there are many advantages and disadvantages to doing freelance proofreading jobs from home. These include:

Pros of Being a Freelance Proofreader

• There is a large demand for proofreaders, even for beginners. So, it won’t be too difficult to find work.
• The start-up costs for starting a freelance proofreading career are very low; all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
• There is a ton of flexibility with your schedule. So, you can work around your other tasks and plans for the day.
• You won’t have a supervisor and you can be your own boss.
• You can sign up for numerous proofreading and freelancing sites, so you’ll always be able to find work.
• If you can start your own proofreading business, you can earn an even better income, scale the company with a team, and have more freedom.

Cons of Being a Freelance Proofreader

• There are tight deadlines you have to follow, and if you mistakenly take on too many projects at once, it can be extremely stressful.
• Online proofreading, and freelancing in general, is not suited for people who need to be supervised to meet deadlines (or who procrastinate a lot).
• Some proofreading jobs prefer those with higher education.
• It can be time-consuming looking for clients and work at times.

To become an online proofreader you can take a proofreading course, or simply browse the web for marketplaces that have online proofreader job postings. Upwork, Flexjobs, & Fiverr are great places to start.

Online proofreading jobs pay anywhere from $15-$45 per hour. Typically when you’re just starting out and don’t have many proofreading skills, you’ll get paid on the lower end of this, but as you get more proofreading experience, you can up your rates.

Absolutely! There are plenty of proofreading jobs online for those without a degree. You can also take a proofreading course to help you find a job if you don’t have a degree.

To become a certified proofreader, you can take an online proofreading course like Knowadays Proofreading Course. Typically it takes 3-5 weeks to complete the course and once you’re done, you will get a Proofreader Certificate and guaranteed work as a proofreader.

Yes. Proofreaders are currently in high demand with a growing number of jobs appearing on job boards every single day. There is more content being published online every day, as well as more legal, medical, and professional documents being published in need of proofreading!

Yes. You can easily find work as a proofreader with no prior experience, although it helps to have some kind of proofreading certificate. Many proofreading courses, like Knowadays, will guarantee you work when you get certified through their program.

While some legal and medical proofreading jobs will require 3-5 years of training, many online proofreading jobs for websites will hire proofreaders with little to no experience. Alternatively, you can take a proofreading course like Knowadays, which guarantees you work upon completion.

Absolutely. Proofreaders earn $15-$45 per hour and freelance proofreaders can work from home and choose their own hours. As a part-time proofreader myself, I can honestly say it’s one of the best side hustles you can find.

Overall, there are many entry-level proofreading jobs available, as long as you pitch yourself right and keep trying.

Don’t feel discouraged by rejection or by the initial low pay; as you gain more experience, you’ll be able to negotiate larger fees and get more efficient with proofreading.

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Mia Hargrave

Mia is a Canadian with a passion for hiking and exploring the world on foot. She currently lives abroad in Japan, where she works remotely as a freelance proofreader and runs the successful travel blog  Walk a While with Me , where she shares her tips and guides for traveling and hiking around the world.

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