Career comparison
Editor vs. Proofreader
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Editors earn more at the median ($77,920 vs. $51,120), while proofreaders usually get to work faster (Short on-the-job training of training). Editors plan, review and improve writing for publications, websites and books. Proofreaders catch errors in text before it’s printed or published.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Editor | Proofreader | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $77,920 ($37.46/hr) | $51,120 ($24.58/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $41,250 – $153,700 | $34,510 – $79,290 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.1% (a projected decline) | -0.9% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 7,900 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Writing experience plus on-the-job learning | Short on-the-job training |
| Key credential | Editing certificate | Proofreading certificate |
| Work setting | Editors work in offices and remotely.. | Proofreaders work in offices and remotely.. |
What each job does
Editor
- Plan content
- Assign stories
- Edit copy
- Fact-check
- Write headlines
Proofreader
- Read final proofs
- Catch typos
- Check grammar
- Check formatting
- Mark corrections
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, remote-friendly work, working independently, and working with information. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose editor if…
- I love words
- I catch mistakes
- I give tactful feedback
Choose proofreader if…
- I spot every typo
- I like quiet focus
- I know grammar
Still torn? Take the Editor fit quiz and the Proofreader fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, editor or proofreader?
Editors earn more at the median: $77,920 versus $51,120 for proofreaders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Proofreaders typically train faster (Short on-the-job training) than editors (Writing experience plus on-the-job learning).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects proofreaders to grow -0.9% from 2025–35, compared with -1.1% for editors.