How to become a proofreader and make over 40K a year working from home

I work from home as a proofreader. It wasn’t difficult for me to become a proofreader.

Besides my family and flowers, I love science. I’ve been a health blogger and now am a freelance proofreader of scientific papers.

It’s been a wonderful way to earn money while reading some fascinating research papers. I don’t work for high-power companies but make 35 – 40K per year.

I love the flexible schedule of being an independent contractor doing remote proofreading jobs.

Full-time proofreaders with previous experience can make much more money and command a higher hourly rate working for the best companies or doing freelance proofreading jobs.

My history as an author of scientific papers and a blog writer helped to get me the online proofreader positions that I’ve had, but anyone can do it.

I highly recommend proofreading to earn money.

You can do it as a freelancer or work for a company. You can work full-time or part-time. The subject matter is endless. Have you worked in a law office? pet store? health club?

Do you have an eagle eye for errors? A college degree and relevant personal experience will help, especially if the writing involves technical terms, but you can become a professional proofreader if you have the credentials or skills to stand out from the competition.

Proficiency in another language will also help because some jobs require bilingual skills.

Why you should become a proofreader

• You can proofread anywhere with only a computer and internet service. You can work from an RV while traveling!
• You can do it anytime. I am in the United States, but the companies I work for are overseas, so I work the day before it’s due because it’s later over there.
• You can use it to supplement your income, supplement retirement (that’s me), or as your only source of income.
• You can leave the daily grind behind and work in a relaxing environment where you have the flexibility to indulge in family time when you need it.

How to become a proofreader

Even if you have excellent English skills, I HIGHLY recommend taking a course.

There are skills you’ll need to acquire, questions you’ll need to be answered, and the ins and outs you’ll need to know. You may be asked to take an editing test or proofreading test by some companies you apply to.

Without prior experience, hard work and investing time into one of the courses below will set you up as an independent contractor to apply for some of the best proofreading jobs and be on your way to working remotely from home.

You may find work editing anything from academic papers to blog posts working as an independent contractor for large and small businesses and individuals who need your proofreading services.

Some jobs stipulate that they are looking for a native English speaker, want someone with a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree, have proof of taking a proofreading course, or have certain years of experience.

It’s a great option for stay-at-home moms and college students to make money. It’s a great opportunity to be paid for flexible work that you can do remotely and set your own hours.

The best proofreading courses

To me, the courses below are the best places for beginner proofreaders to start.

Proofreading Academy

Proofreading Academy has been training proofreaders for over 10 years. But they don’t just train you.

Check out Proofreading Academy and how you will learn how to:

• Proofread and edit (they are different). Editing involves identifying the writing tone and style and making revisions accordingly to improve the flow and readability of the document
• Use the major academic referencing styles correctly. Did you know there are many writing styles? Most are used in specific fields, such as medicine.
• Proofread documents written in American, British, and Australian English. This is huge! I often get asked to proofread in British English, and now I can.
• Edit documents that are written in Microsoft Word, as most are
• And they help line you up with a job!

You can try this course for free, and there’s even a Proofreader and Editor Bundle!

And according to their website, “If you pass the final assignments on our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with distinction scores of 80% or above, you’ll have the opportunity to work with our partner company, Proofed, initially on a trial basis.”

That is a huge plus and a great way for a new proofreader to get vital job experience!!

Proofread Anywhere

Proofread Anywhere was created by Caitlyn Pyle

Proofread Anywhere has two course systems. One of which is basic training called General Proofreading: Theory and Practice. A free workshop is offered so you can preview the course.

The second tier is called Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice, which includes a final exam, certificate, and the fantastic bonus of being listed as an approved proofreader for Self-Publishing School for an extra $100. A free 7-day intro course is offered for this system.

How much does a proofreader make?

Join Upwork (it’s free), and you’ll see many proofreader jobs posted. Some are entry-level, and some will pay more than $50 an hour. Experienced proofreaders have higher average pay levels and can set their own rates.

You’ll see general proofreader jobs and those requiring specific topic knowledge. You’ll see part-time, full-time, remote, on-site, and flexible-hour jobs.

However, you might not find an entry-level job on Upwork at a wage you’d accept. Take a look at these 38 places to find proofreading jobs.

Still, to me, the best option is to take the Proofreading Academy course and get a good enough score to get a trial job at Proofed.

How much can you work?

There is endless work available. You can be a part-time or full-time proofreader and work in other time zones or countries so you can proofread as a side hustle in your free time after a regular day job.

Where can I find work as a proofreader?

There are many places to find the best online proofreading jobs. My 3 favorite places are FlexJobs, Upwork, and Google Job Alerts, and I’ve decided to write a separate blog post on them and other places to find proofreading work.

I’ve written an entire post on where to find proofreading jobs, editing jobs, and the application process. You can find dozens of ideas for where to look for proofreading jobs here.

Starting with those options is the best way to find a great job, whether you are looking for remote work or other types of job opportunities, especially for entry-level proofreaders.

Proofreading tools I recommend

Starting off as a freelancer can be a little daunting, but it won’t take long to build your confidence and experience level.

No matter how outstanding your skills are, every proofreader needs the right tools. Besides an internet connection, these are the minimum tools I recommend. Don’t forget that these purchases are tax-deductible! Please see the last entry for more information on that.

Microsoft Word 365

Every paper I have read so far has either been written in or edited as a Microsoft Word or Google document. However, 99% have been written and edited in Microsoft Word, and you likely will not be able to do your job as a proofreader without it.

Grammarly

Even though I am a seasoned proofreader and editor, I ALWAYS ALWAYS double-check my work through Grammarly. This is amazing software based on artificial intelligence that catches many grammatical errors.

Both Grammarly (the free version) and Grammarly Premium (the paid version) identify grammatical and spelling errors. However, I highly recommend Grammarly Premium because it also identifies advanced grammatical issues, like punctuation in complex sentences and plagiarism. You can compare Grammarly and Grammarly Premium here.

One word of caution: You cannot rely solely on Grammarly Premium and think you can be a successful proofreader. First, you have to be a very good proofreader. You need those skills because you have to interpret the suggestions that Grammarly makes.

Grammarly is not perfect and must be interpreted by a skilled proofreader to determine if they are appropriate for the document you are proofreading.

The other benefit of using Grammarly is that your English and proofreading skills will be improved by Grammarly’s suggestions.

Intuit’s QuickBooks

If you work as a freelancer, you need to track your income and expenses for tax purposes. You can do this on your own Excel spreadsheet, but using software that will feed directly into your taxes will save tons of time and frustration. Plus, it will help identify and prompt you to deductible expenses you might not be aware of.

Intuit’s QuickBooks has several versions, from Simple Start to Advanced, so there’s probably one that will suit your needs.

Intuit’s TurboTax

If you use QuickBooks, your entries can feed directly into TurboTax, saving you tons of time and effort—and you can be assured that they are entered appropriately.

Using tax software means you won’t miss the details of filing self-employed taxes. Turbo Tax makes it easy by asking simple-to-understand questions and offering online advice.

Take the first step!

What are you waiting for? Extra money, job choice, and new skills await you.

Take a proofreading course, become a qualified proofreader, subscribe to Grammarly Pro, find work, and enjoy your newfound freedom, flexibility, and income!