43
Proofreaders and Copy Markers is a notable career in the 43 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Proofreaders and Copy Markers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 43-9081 |
| title | Proofreaders and Copy Markers |
| onet code | 43-9081.00 |
| description | 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. |
| job zone | 4 |
| major group | 43 |
| tot emp | 5,160 |
| a mean | 52,730 |
| a median | 49,210 |
| a pct10 | 33,530 |
| a pct25 | 38,590 |
| a pct75 | 62,380 |
| a pct90 | 78,040 |
| h mean | 25 |
| h median | 23 |
The day-to-day work of a proofreaders and copy markers typically centers on mark copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Reading Comprehension, Writing, and Speaking. Across the top 5 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.45 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working proofreaders and copy markers, the most common entry qualification is a Bachelor's Degree (47.3%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 47% of incumbents. Entry pathways are mixed; a meaningful minority enters without a four-year degree.
Median annual pay is highest in District of Columbia at $63,920 and lowest in Florida at $37,330 — a 1.7× spread. The top five states (District of Columbia, California, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts) average $59,046. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $63,920 | $63,020 | $39,990 | $91,130 | 70 |
| California | $63,820 | $63,720 | $35,850 | $90,940 | 340 |
| New Jersey | $56,940 | $59,810 | $41,360 | $80,020 | 160 |
| Washington | $55,760 | $60,070 | $42,970 | $96,840 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $54,790 | $60,070 | $47,590 | $86,670 | — |
| Maryland | $54,680 | $55,550 | $45,730 | $70,000 | 60 |
| New York | $54,380 | $60,830 | $35,360 | $85,830 | 1,230 |
| Colorado | $53,710 | $53,720 | $38,630 | $57,970 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $53,220 | $50,280 | $33,990 | $59,150 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $50,560 | $50,690 | $40,970 | $61,070 | 80 |
| Texas | $49,990 | $49,510 | $31,190 | $65,240 | 200 |
| Ohio | $48,180 | $51,070 | $37,850 | $66,640 | 130 |
| Missouri | $47,700 | $48,470 | $32,620 | $61,300 | 80 |
| Virginia | $47,430 | $49,910 | $35,350 | $60,460 | 170 |
| Kansas | $46,960 | $45,240 | $24,260 | $63,680 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $45,800 | $50,560 | $35,350 | $70,710 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,510 | $47,540 | $35,450 | $61,460 | 270 |
| Illinois | $44,600 | $48,520 | $33,530 | $79,310 | 220 |
| Iowa | $43,630 | $44,080 | $31,290 | $55,610 | 160 |
| Kentucky | $42,500 | $49,690 | $40,000 | $70,720 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $41,790 | $43,480 | $27,690 | $66,730 | 100 |
| Georgia | $41,750 | $45,740 | $30,430 | $62,290 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $39,940 | $41,450 | $36,570 | $44,870 | 70 |
| Indiana | $39,590 | $41,090 | $35,630 | $49,590 | 90 |
| Michigan | $39,380 | $48,610 | $33,280 | $80,240 | 160 |
| Oregon | $38,600 | $40,670 | $31,840 | $51,050 | 30 |
| Florida | $37,330 | $44,970 | $29,060 | $71,390 | 220 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for proofreaders and copy markers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Braille Proofreader or Checker frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Proofreaders and Copy Markers compares to others in the 43 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Proofreaders and Copy Markers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.