Office & Administrative Support
Proofreaders and Copy Markers
Also called: Copy Editor, Copyholder, Editorial Assistant, News Copy Editor
US median pay
$51,120
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-0.9%
declining
Openings a year (US)
1,100
8,500 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Read transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.
What they do day to day
- Mark copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks.
- Read corrected copies or proofs to ensure that all corrections have been made.
- Correct or record omissions, errors, or inconsistencies found.
- Compare information or figures on one record against same data on other records, or with original copy, to detect errors.
- Route proofs with marked corrections to authors, editors, typists, or typesetters for correction or reprinting.
- Consult reference books or secure aid of readers to check references with rules of grammar and composition.
- Consult with authors and editors regarding manuscript changes and suggestions.
- Archive documents, conduct research, and read copy, using the internet and various computer programs.
- Write original content, such as headlines, cutlines, captions, and cover copy.
- Typeset and measure dimensions, spacing, and positioning of page elements, such as copy and illustrations, to verify conformance to specifications, using printer's ruler or layout software.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.5/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.4/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.2/5
- Coordination2.2/5
- Systems Evaluation2.0/5
- Systems Analysis2.0/5
Knowledge
- English Language5.0/5
- Communications and Media3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.0/5
- Administrative2.6/5
- Administration and Management2.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree47%
- Associate's degree23%
- Some college12%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.