Data Entry Keyers
Median $41,340
Occupation · SOC 43-9081
Proofreaders and Copy Markers: pay and where the jobs are
What proofreaders and copy markers earn in the U.S., how pay varies across workers and states, and tools to plan around it.
National pay, May 2025
$51,120 median annual wage
- Mean (average) annual wage
- $54,800
- Median hourly wage
- $24.58
- Mean hourly wage
- $26.35
- Employment
- 4,580
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 43-9081.
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See where your pay falls among proofreaders and copy markers nationally and in your state. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
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How much do proofreaders and copy markers make?
The median annual wage for proofreaders and copy markers was $51,120 in May 2025, so half of workers earned more and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,510 and the highest-paid 10% more than $79,290. As an hourly rate, the median is $24.58. About 4,580 people work in this occupation nationwide. The highest state medians are in District of Columbia ($68,120), New York ($59,740) and California ($57,490). After taxes and local prices, though, a median paycheck goes furthest in Ohio.
Pay ladder
What each step of the pay range for proofreaders and copy markers looks like per month. Take-home here includes federal tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer; add your state in the paycheck calculator.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Monthly gross | Monthly after federal tax & FICA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,510 | $16.59 | $2,876 | $2,492 |
| 25th percentile | $41,170 | $19.79 | $3,431 | $2,938 |
| Median | $51,120 | $24.58 | $4,260 | $3,605 |
| 75th percentile | $62,390 | $29.99 | $5,199 | $4,359 |
| 90th percentile | $79,290 | $38.12 | $6,608 | $5,384 |
Proofreaders and Copy Markers: pay by state
26 states and territories have a published median, sorted from highest to lowest. The last two columns are our estimates: the median after 2026 federal and state taxes, and that take-home restated in national-average prices.
1
$49,301 take-home in national prices
2
$48,927 take-home in national prices
3
$47,515 take-home in national prices
Where a median proofreaders and copy marker paycheck goes furthest after 2026 taxes and BEA price levels.
| State | Employment | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Median after tax* | In national prices† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 50 | $68,120 | $44,130 | $103,200 | $53,771 | $48,927 |
| New York | 1,030 | $59,740 | $39,080 | $97,300 | $47,263 | $43,794 |
| California | 300 | $57,490 | $34,320 | $81,500 | $46,137 | $41,670 |
| Massachusetts | 190 | $57,160 | $51,870 | $74,480 | $45,207 | $42,746 |
| New Jersey | 160 | $56,700 | $38,560 | $81,400 | $45,725 | $42,025 |
| Ohio | 100 | $55,560 | $29,670 | $71,980 | $45,738 | $49,301 |
| Maryland | Not published | $53,920 | $42,900 | $65,530 | $43,310 | $41,263 |
| Washington | 60 | $53,890 | $39,990 | $105,840 | $44,733 | $41,802 |
| Missouri | 110 | $52,920 | $28,600 | $69,850 | $43,151 | $47,515 |
| Kansas | 90 | $51,160 | $24,960 | $67,760 | $41,232 | $45,779 |
| Illinois | 300 | $50,060 | $33,950 | $77,030 | $40,070 | $40,087 |
| Minnesota | Not published | $49,450 | $42,720 | $57,590 | $39,856 | $40,414 |
| Georgia | Not published | $49,200 | $34,980 | $58,910 | $40,006 | $41,546 |
| Virginia | 90 | $48,090 | $41,270 | $60,510 | $38,869 | $38,445 |
| Pennsylvania | 230 | $47,510 | $38,000 | $82,340 | $38,862 | $39,830 |
| Kentucky | 70 | $46,380 | $41,200 | $72,830 | $37,941 | $42,082 |
| North Carolina | 70 | $46,140 | $36,020 | $56,730 | $37,921 | $40,202 |
| Iowa | 110 | $44,680 | $38,430 | $66,350 | $37,034 | $42,199 |
| Wisconsin | 60 | $43,630 | $28,400 | $62,820 | $35,974 | $38,231 |
| South Carolina | 40 | $42,900 | $35,670 | $60,390 | $36,079 | $38,485 |
| Utah | Not published | $42,840 | $38,560 | $52,920 | $35,341 | $35,748 |
| Texas | 200 | $41,990 | $32,010 | $65,460 | $35,919 | $37,008 |
| Indiana | 80 | $40,920 | $36,530 | $51,030 | $33,882 | $36,303 |
| West Virginia | 50 | $36,730 | $22,060 | $68,910 | $30,753 | $34,362 |
| Florida | 200 | $35,610 | $33,620 | $119,150 | $30,793 | $29,776 |
| Michigan | 140 | $35,530 | $32,180 | $63,090 | $29,469 | $30,628 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 43-9081. *Our estimate for a single filer paid biweekly with no pre-tax deductions or local tax, 2026 federal and state rules. †Take-home ÷ BEA Regional Price Parity × 100 (2024 price levels).
Sources
- OEWS May 2025 (oesm25nat.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- OEWS May 2025 (oesm25st.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.