When you think about working from home and making money online the hardest part is finding legitimate online jobs that pay well. Well, look no further than becoming an online proofreader.
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Proofreading is a high-paying skill that you can learn very quickly and start profitable, flexible work to make extra money in your free time.
Where would we be without proofreaders and others checking our work?
Well, we would be in a tough spot, especially since Kelan isn’t always the best speller!
I’m sure you’ve felt relieved having a friend double-check your long text to check your meaning or a coworker review your work email for every detail needed.
In this article, I’ll go over the best proofreading jobs for beginners, places to land jobs as freelance proofreaders, and how you can get started today.
Ready to get started now? Get a jump start by signing up and watching this FREE Online Proofreading Workshop below.
You’ll learn everything you need to know to become a proofreader and start your online proofreading business.
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Table of Contents
Key Takeaways: Start Proofreading TODAY
Proofreading is a great side hustle or a new career to change your finances fast!
Even as a beginner, you can find jobs available that pay over $15 per hour – if you look in the right places that is.
If you’re interested in getting a proofreading job ASAP, here are my top picks to help you find jobs quickly:
- FREE Workshop: Learn Proofreading – Proofread Anywhere
- Best Freelancing Website – FlexJobs
- Best Job Site For Beginners- Fiverr
27 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners
Here I’ve compiled a list of the 27 best places to help you find freelance proofreading jobs online.
This wide variety of sites will have what you’re looking for.
You could easily use any one of these to do freelance proofreading, stay at home, and enjoy an online job- as we do!
Each could be exactly what you’re looking for, and you may be interested in signing up for more than one freelance site to find more jobs.
Remember, the better you present yourself and the more you put yourself out there, the more chances come your way.
Get started with the free proofreading workshop below and become a proofreader today!
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Learn How to Become a Proofreader and Start a Freelance Proofreading Business.
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1. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a job site, and you can search for various keywords such as “proofreading job,” which will bring up everything available.
You’re most likely to find long-term projects or full-time job opportunities on FlexJobs, but there is a lot of potential for side hustles as well.
This is a paid site, but they have a research team check the validity of each proofreading job posting so you don’t deal with scams as you do on some free job platforms.
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2. Upwork
Upwork is a great site for freelancers because you can choose your own clients and projects from what is available there.
It highlights relevant jobs for you to apply for, but your profile affects what opportunities you get.
It’s up to you to ensure that you create an excellent profile and pitch to the client.
But I’ve found many legitimate proofreading jobs and more listed on Upwork, so it has plenty of work opportunities for new freelance workers!
3. Fiverr
Have you heard of Fiverr before?
You can use Fiverr to create a profile, and as a top-rated company, you’re sure to find a proofreading job online.
It’s a great site that I’ve used before, and am happy to use it again because it’s great value for money from a buyer’s point of view!
But many people also have the opportunity to make a lot of money as a seller.
As the name suggests, the lowest offering is $5, but you can upsell editing and proofreading services to get more than $5.
You can offer to proofread for clients for different price points depending on document length, complexity, etc.
4. Proofreading Services
Proofreading Services is a helpful proofreading website to find full and part-time remote proofreading jobs, with pay ranging from $19 – $46 per hour.
To sign up, you’ll need to complete a 20-minute test on this site before applying for a proofreading job.
Then once you’re in, you can provide proofreading and editing services from anywhere in the world! Including your couch or a trip to the Bahamas.
5. Freelancer
Freelancer is a platform that is very similar to Upwork and also easy to use to find proofreading jobs online.
You need to complete your profile and write out your proofreading skills so that you can be matched to jobs.
They make recommendations for you, but you can also search for remote proofreading jobs and apply as you please.
6. Polished Paper
Polished Paper (which, by the way, has an amazing-looking website!) says that it has opportunities for exceptional editors and freelance proofreading services.
You will need to sign up, upload your resume, and then complete its 35-question test.
7. Wordvice
At Wordvice, remote proofreading jobs are available, mostly catered towards people looking for remote part-time work.
Wordvice will ask your expected pay rate in your application, so prepare what proofreading and editing services you’ll offer and what payment you want to receive.
You will need to submit your application and resume, complete an editing sample, and then you will be notified of your results via email.
It does ask if you are enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree program.
8. CACTUS Communications
CACTUS needs people offering editing services or proofreading services. They’re currently recruiting for:
- Freelance specialist editors
- Freelance pharma/regulatory editor
- Freelance alt-text editors
- Scientific reviewers: physical sciences and pharma
There are opportunities to work from home full-time or to freelance, so you have different offers for proofreading jobs.
It does ask that you have a relevant Bachelor’s degree in the subject that you would be editing.
So if you have a degree in business, they won’t be letting you proofread medical journal entries.
9. Gramlee
Gramlee says that it is always looking for exceptional editors, and you’ll find proofreading jobs online right from home if you are selected to work for this company.
To apply, you will need to submit its Employee Application form and wait to hear back if you have been approved.
They do mention that they receive a lot of applicants for proofreading, and they will email you if they like your resume.
If you don’t hear back from them, I recommend doing a few freelance jobs on FlexJobs to expand your resume and experience more.
10. Scribe Media
Scribe Media (previously called Book in a Box) is a company listing proofreading jobs primarily for book editing.
They help writers turn their ideas into reality- but to get their books in tip-top shape, they need proofreaders like you!
The great thing about this site is that if it doesn’t currently have any open vacancies, you can set up email alerts for when it does.
11. EditFast
EditFast is another job board where clients can list projects, and you can send in applications for proofreading jobs.
However, you’ll need to complete the registration process and pass a proofreading test to get accepted on the site.
Once you’re accepted, you can apply for jobs- whether or not you get work depends on clients choosing you for the project, so make sure your resume is in good shape.
Payments to editors will be made through PayPal. EditFast gets 40% of the final total project price.
12. Scribbr
You can join Scribbr and offer editing and proofreading services online.
To join Scribbr’s team, there’s a bit of a lengthy process for applying but the company is a great one to join and worth the extra steps.
You’ll go through each of the following in order to be hired for a proofread job:
- Take a language quiz. If you pass, Scribbr will review your CV and your motivation statement to see if you will fit in well with the team.
- Complete a language editing assignment.
- If you have passed the test assessment, you will be invited to join the Scribbr Academy and be part of the team.
- You will need to complete two simulation orders as a training program, and then you will be ready for real orders.
13. Writer’s Relief
Writer’s Relief is an author submission service that helps creative writers get their books and articles published, similar to EditFast.
To apply for remote proofreading jobs, fill in its application form, but please note that it only accepts 2% of the people who apply.
This would be better for freelancers with some experience under their belts, but you can always ask them for feedback on your resume and see what more they are looking for.
14. Domainite
Domainite is a site that’s not very well paid, but if you are brand new to proofreading, it can be a good place to start.
They have lots of job listings for new proofreaders and are a perfect entry-level company for newbies or people looking for a few hours for side money.
They also have other listings for freelancers, including social media marketing, management/VA work, graphic design, and more.
15. Managed Editing
Managed Editing provides editing services and proofreading services for publication production.
You will have to fill out a lengthy application, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to sit down and go through it.
The drawback of this site is that you need a Bachelor’s degree as well as at least 5 years of experience in editing, but once you’re in, you’re golden.
When you’re accepted, they keep your resume and info on file and contact you about freelance proofreading jobs in the future.
16. click worker
click worker is a great platform that offers clients the ability to outsource microtasks such as proofreading, translation, editing, and more.
They are looking for proofreaders to check and correct the text. This can include descriptions of cities, hotels, products, services, and software.
Since the range of topics always depends on the current job situation, their best proofreading jobs promise to be interesting and exciting.
The fee per word depends on the experience and the quality that the individual who is outsourcing is looking for.
17. LinkedIn
We all know LinkedIn is a great place to connect with others on a professional level, but it can be so much more than a social media space!
Whether you are looking for a full-time online proofreading job, LinkedIn should be one of your go-to places to start your search.
Start connecting with others, and you never know what opportunity might come up.
18. Get Editing Jobs
Get Editing Jobs is a less-known job board for individuals looking to find freelance editing and proofreading jobs.
It’s another great spot for beginners to browse jobs, without having to apply to join or anything.
Keep an eye on this job board as there seem to always be plenty of opportunities that you can take advantage of.
They also have tabs so you can view critical jobs needing proofreading ASAP or high-paid jobs so you can aim for more money for your work!
19. Lion Bridge 
Lion Bridge is a large communication company that is often looking to hire remote online proofreaders.
You can work remotely or in person if you want to they have over 40 offices looking to hire editors.
These jobs are not always available to add to your list, so come back from time to time if you are looking for a full-time proofreading position.
20. American Journal Experts
All of the positions from American Journal Experts are remote and can be done from anywhere in the world.
You can find a list of its job openings and apply for whichever is best for you.
21. Edit911
Edit911 is a popular site where you can apply for proofreading jobs if you’re a proofreader with a degree or some experience to back you up.
However, this site is pretty competitive and requires more from their proofreaders- though that also means higher pay!
The qualifications that are required to apply for Edit911 are as follows:
- A Ph.D. in English or another writing-intensive discipline;
- A published scholar with demonstrable talent and skills as a writer;
- A teacher and/or book editor with verifiable experience;
- A master copy editor and expert in various documentation styles, such as MLA, APA, and Turabian;
- Proficient in MS Word and at least one other software application, such as InDesign or Publisher;
- Dedicated to providing their clients with the world’s finest, most professional editing.
If you meet these requirements, you can send Edit911 a sample of your writing and your resume, to which it will respond within 48 hours.
If you aren’t accepted, you likely didn’t match up to their requirements exactly. Don’t be discouraged, though!
You can take training courses and more to better align with their expectations- and email them if you aren’t sure what you’re resume is missing.
22. Kirkus Media
Kirkus Media has been around for almost 100 years at this point and is a leader in editing and publishing, and I don’t think their success will stop.
Nor will they stop hiring for well-paid proofreading jobs any time soon!
Various job openings are available online, and there are frequently jobs for work-at-home editors and book reviewers.
However, most jobs are listed looking for proofreaders with experience with a publishing house or independent press company, so that’s for more experienced proofreaders.
23. SmartBrief
SmartBrief publishes business news and information about industries involved in commerce.
Proofreaders are just one of the remote jobs they hire for, and they routinely have new proofreading jobs listings you can browse through.
The pay is $15 per hour for work-at-home proofreaders, but don’t forget to check out other remote positions if you’re looking to branch out.
24. Craigslist
Now people often forget we can find more than vintage treasures or cheap gadgets on Craigslist- you can find freelance proofreading jobs!
There’s always something new on their site and you could find a wide variety of freelance proofreader jobs- especially as a newbie looking to gain experience.
The variety can mean all sorts of payment options, so make sure you check the details and ask questions- don’t undersell yourself.
Craigslist has a section for “writing and editing” in their job center, which has grown a lot over the years and is worth looking into for any type of job you may be interested in.
25. Proofreading Pal
Would you like to make $500 or more a month from proofreading jobs?
Proofreading Pal has a huge spread of clientele with editing work for business and academic paperwork to manuscripts and personal documents.
One notable thing, you can work as a student if you’ve got a 3.5 and higher GPA, which is a great way to make passive income as a college kid!
Otherwise, they’re interested in employees who have a Bachelor’s degree and 5 or more years of experience
The site isn’t great if you’re a newbie, but a seasoned proofreader could find plenty of work on Proofreading Pal.
26. MediaBistro
Check out editing and writing jobs, plus more freelance jobs, on MediaBistro. You can search specifically for proofreading jobs and set up alerts to stay up to date with new opportunities.
This site takes a bit more navigating to find an online proofreading job on this board, but applying for other editing positions may not be so bad for you to increase your income!
27. Guru.com
Guru.com is one of the platforms that’s been around longer and has potential for new and experienced proofreaders alike.
You can join Guru and browse job listings, similarly to how Fiverr works- they even have other job opportunities you may want to check out too.
Bonus: Launch Your Own Freelance Business (Freelance Proofreader)
If you’re already looking for an online job then chances are you are the type of person that wants a little more control over your time and money in life.
You can start a freelance proofreading career and take on any projects you want.
Becoming a freelance proofreader will not only give you the freedom to charge what you want but also the ability to scale your business.
It could grow enough that you eventually hire other proofreaders to work with you!
One of the best things to do when starting an online business is to create a plan of action and start to network.
You can join the free proofreading workshop below to start your own proofreading business today.
FREE Workshop
Proofread Anywhere
Learn How to Become a Proofreader and Start a Freelance Proofreading Business.
15,000+ Students. 7+ Years of Results.
Watch FREE Workshop Now
How to Find Proofreading Jobs Online
Think about what kind of proofreading work you want to do before you search for clients. There are so many different options out there for you, so it’s in your interest to find the best fit.
When it comes to searching for the best proofreading jobs, there are other search terms that you can use to bring up the jobs, such as:
- Remote proofreading jobs
- Editing jobs
- Editor
- Book editor/editing
- Academic editor
- Freelance proofreader
- Beginner proofreading jobs
- Proofreading positions
I know lots of people who have found work from Facebook groups and LinkedIn by staying active and letting people know that they’re available to help.
There are a lot of sites out there that are great places to look for work because hiring companies will generally head to these to find someone for the job.
FAQs
What Is Proofreading?
In this day and age, there is so much that is done online and so much content for people to digest.
With that in mind, there are lots of opportunities for work, especially for stay at home moms, or teachers looking to make money over the summer break.
Proofreading is one of the final steps in the process of content creation – so for example, this article that you are reading now will have a proofreader work on it before it is published.
It is where a critical eye is cast over a piece of writing to check for spelling and grammatical errors.
This is an important step because when you are writing you can accidentally make small mistakes that you don’t notice even if you read it back.
What’s the difference between remote proofreading and editing work?
One question I often hear is what’s the difference between proofreading and editing jobs.
A copy editor works the steps before proofreading, where papers tend to be less polished- like a rough draft.
Copy editing looks at everything to make bigger changes to content.
Once large-scale editing has been completed, the text is handed over to a proofreader.
The proofreader will do any small edits, likely grammar and spelling mistakes that can get missed during the big content reviews.
Proofreading is the final checkpoint before everything is finalized for publishing.
Can I start a legitimate proofreading career and have some job security?
There are plenty of ways that you can now make money fast online, and proofreading has been a consistent top pick for freelancers.
Proofreading has been around for a long time, but even more jobs are available nowadays since so much content is readily available at our fingertips.
As with anything, though, it depends on how much effort you are willing to put into it.
You can’t just expect clients to flock to you, so you will need to have a plan for marketing your business and getting clients.
Proofreading is definitely a viable career, and there are many people who are incredibly successful.
It is also safe to say that there are legitimate proofreading jobs that will allow you to work from home.
How Much Do Freelance Proofreaders Make Per Hour?
As with anything, it depends on your experience, who you are working for, and how they are paying you.
You can be paid per hour, per word, or per project, and it all depends on the freelance proofreading jobs that get listed or what you request in the contract.
It’s most likely that you will be paid per project and typically on a freelance or contractual basis.
A good starting fee for proofreading is $20 per hour, but you can increase this as you gain experience and impress your clients.
Taking a free workshop with Proofread Anywhere will help you get started as a proofreader making $30+ per hour.
According to Salary.com the average salary of a proofreader is right around $53,000 per year.
Pros Vs. Cons Of Proofreading
Pros
- You can work from home
- You can manage your own time and fit proofreading around other things that you want to do
- You are in charge of your own pace and control your working environment- no micromanaging boss or loud coworkers to get in the way!
- If you’re a natural at spotting mistakes, this will come easily to you
- The start-up costs for a proofreading career are very low compared to other businesses
- You can sign up for as many proofreading sites as you want
- There are plenty of legitimate proofreading jobs for beginners
- You can start proofreading on the side and scale up
Cons
- Some sites aren’t easy to navigate, and you may spend more time searching for good opportunities
- Further education/experience may be necessary for some jobs, or if you want to obtain higher-paying proofreading jobs
- If you have more experience, you’re more likely to land the best proofreading jobs- and sometimes quicker
- There can be very strict, tight deadlines to adhere to
- Some people may bite off more than they can chew, taking on too many clients and projects- you have to manage your time strictly if work overlaps or you have an overflowing plate
- If you need someone to remind you of deadlines or supervise your work more closely, proofreading may not be for you
- If you get distracted while working on your computer, editing work will be difficult to complete
How To Become A Freelance Proofreader
It kind of goes without saying, but in order to become a proofreader and to be hired as one, you need to be good at editing and spot mistakes easily.
You don’t need a Ph.D. in English to be an effective freelance proofreader!
When you have applied to work for a company, you will probably have to do a test for them that you will need to pass in order to be hired.
In order to pass the tests, it’s recommended that you know the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook.
If you’re looking for something more specific, there are lots of free resources online if you search for what you need and “free.”
What Proofreading Skills Do I Need?
Proofreading skills all come down to spelling and grammar, but are a bit more strict than your old English classes!
To be a proofreader, you will need to know English, have excellent spelling and grammar skills, and be able to spot a mistake quickly.
You’ll need to be patient and not rush through your work as you need to pick up on mistakes that have not been spotted by whoever has written it.
(Sounds obvious, but there are things that you may not notice that you think you would!).
You can take online proofreading tests to see how your proofreading skills are and see if you could be successful in starting your own business proofreading.
For some clients, you will be required to have an English or Journalism Bachelor’s degree, but there are many jobs where you just need to have some relevant work experience.
Sign up for this FREE beginner proofreading workshop and see if proofreading is right for you!
What Proofreading Tools Do I Need To Connect With Clients?
As with any job, there are tools that you need to be successful and organized for proofreading jobs.
As a freelancer, it’s a no-brainer that you need sites like PayPal, Venmo, and more to get paid, but what about tools to get the job done and get connected with clients?
Here are our top picks that we found we consistently needed for proofreading jobs:
Google Docs
Many companies rely on Google Docs to share documents and edit them together as a team. If you have a Gmail account, you’ll likely already have access to your own Google Drive.
Docs is almost like a free version of Word, though it doesn’t have all of the same functions or capabilities. But it’s easy and has most everything you need as a proofreader!
It’s an effective program for collaborating on a document- or for the client to follow along with any changes you’ve made.
You can also check your own changes more readily and have access to all your docs wherever you are with the Google Docs app.
Grammarly
Even proofreaders make mistakes. Grammarly is a tool we use on our team to look for small mistakes- like writing “si” instead of “is” or something simple that we may overlook.
Not only that, but Grammarly also can suggest more concise ways of writing things- it will straight up tell you when something is confusing or is a run-on sentence, which you’ll never want!
It makes some proofreading work easier since it will search and pinpoint quick fixes for you that you can do first before digging into the whole document.
But don’t rely on it to make all your small changes- it isn’t always right 100% either!
Microsoft Word
Who didn’t have to use Word on a daily basis in school?
Many clients will stick with this tried and true program, so don’t be surprised if you need a subscription to edit their documents.
It’s easy to have documents emailed to you where you can track comments, edits, and more with a few clicks.
If you’ve been out of the Microsoft game a while and aren’t sure about some of the newer functions of Word, check the Microsoft website for tutorials.
They make it easy to get caught up on how to use the latest versions.
DropBox
DropBox is another popular document-sharing method for proofreading jobs.
It’s similar to Google Docs in how it runs but without the calendar and email functions all rolled up into one.
You may want to sign up and get familiar with how it works- watch YouTube videos to get the layout before using it for a client.
Training To Become An At-Home Proofreader (FREE Workshop Below!)
If you’re interested in landing the best proofreading jobs but are worried you won’t get hired because you’re new to the field, courses can help bridge the gap.
There are various training courses for proofreading that you can take if you are serious about becoming a proofreader and working from home.
Caitlin Pyle runs the popular course Proofread Anywhere, which offers a FREE workshop that prepares you for a successful career as you start your own proofreading business.
The General Proofreading course will give you:
- 40+ lessons in 8 modules
- 10 grammar and punctuation-specific worksheets
- Bonus resource guides for all kinds of markets
- 40+ real-life example jobs
Not only will it teach you proofreading and editing skills, but it will also teach you how to set up, run, and market your business to get clients!
Final Thoughts
Finding the best proofreading jobs online opens you up to amazing opportunities where you can easily increase your income.
It’s so important to make more money and live your best life.
Creating an online business like proofreading can get you closer to financial freedom than other side hustles and careers!
Plus, who doesn’t want to work from home and be their own boss?
If you’re serious about earning money online or opening your own proofreading business, I recommend you take Proofread Anywhere’s General Proofreading course.
You got this! Now go get your first client!
FREE Workshop
Proofread Anywhere
Learn How to Become a Proofreader and Start a Freelance Proofreading Business.
15,000+ Students. 7+ Years of Results.
Watch FREE Workshop Now
