Making Money

Proofreading Jobs From Home (No Experience Required)

Looking for proofreading jobs from home – no experience required? You’re in the right place!

If you’re looking for a job that has standard hours and is in an office setting, then this might not be the opportunity for you. If you’re looking to work from home, have your own schedule, and need some extra income, then proofreading could be perfect!

The only issue? Finding the right proofreading job! That’s why we’ve done the research for you and gathered up a guide to proofreading jobs from home (no experience required). We’ll discuss what this job entails, what benefits and compensation you can expect, and – of course – our picks for the very best proofreading jobs from home that don’t require experience. Let’s get started!

What Skills Are Necessary for Freelance Proofreading Jobs?

Before we dive into the many freelance proofreading job opportunities that are out there, it’s important to first define what a proofreader actually is.

In short, a proofreader is like an editor. As a proofreader, it will be your job to identify and fix any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical mistakes within a text. You will need to make sure the text flows properly and matches a company’s in-house style guidelines. 

As more and more publications move their operations online and look for content to push out to readers, there’s a corresponding demand for talented proofreaders. 

Proofreading Freelancer

The good news about becoming an online proofreader is that there are very few skills and qualifications required. You don’t have to have any kind of experience and in many cases, you don’t even have to have a permanent address! You can globetrot all around the world and still enjoy a lucrative career as a proofreader. 

Becoming a proofreader is a great way to make some cash, be it for your full-time income or as a side hustle. 

These jobs can be found just about anywhere, with potential clients including small business owners, website owners, bloggers, writers, and local businesses who are using online content to promote their businesses. All of these people need proofreaders – essentially, anyone who wants his content to sound flawless is going to want the services of a proofreader. 

The Many Types of Online Proofreading Jobs

Before you get too far into your rabbit hole of a job search, know that there are a few different types of entry-level proofreading jobs you can pursue – with no experience required.

One of the most common is finding proofreading jobs on crowdsourcing platforms. Although it is one of the best ways for beginners to find work as proofreaders, it’s also one of the lowest-paying. Freelance job boards and sites like Freelancer and Upwork frequently post jobs for aspiring proofreaders to apply to so you are sure to find a job quickly.

Since they pay less, though, you’ll want to slowly gravitate away from this avenue once you build up a solid portfolio of work.

You could also look for a full-time proofreading job with a company. Unfortunately, these jobs tend to pay a bit less, since a company will need to take you on full-time (with all the associated costs of hiring an employee, of course). 

Another option is to work as a freelance proofreader. You can bid to clients and companies directly, selling your proofreading services and picking and choosing which projects you’d like to complete as you go.

Best Proofreading Jobs from Home

1. Proofreading Pal

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-Proofreading Pal

This is, hands down, one of the best places to advertise your proofreading services to potential clients.

On ProofreadingPal, you’ll be hired as a work-from-home employee. You have to either be a current graduate or postgraduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 or have already earned a graduate degree with at least five years of editing and proofreading experience.

As you can see, the requirements here are quite stringent – but it’s worth it. Because hate competition is more intense, the work tends to be higher-paying as a result. 

Click Here To Get Started

2. Edit Fast

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-Edit Fast

You’ll find online proofreading jobs by the hundreds on Edit Fast. Here, you’ll be able to look for online proofreading jobs along with jobs in things like writing and editing. You’ll be hired as an independent contractor and be paid monthly via PayPal

To apply, you will need to complete an initial registration and pass an EditFast review process. 

Click Here To Get Started

3. ProofreadingServices.com

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-ProofreadingServices.com

Another great place to find proofreading jobs online – no experience required – is on ProofreadingServices.com. The somewhat clunky name of this website aside, it is a true treasure trove for aspiring freelance proofreaders. You’ll need to have a degree in order to qualify but more emphasis will be placed on the 20-minute proofreading test you’ll have to take than anything else.

The application process is simple, consisting of basic spelling and grammar questions. You could earn up to a whopping $46 an hour depending on the scope and turnaround time of the work that is required.

Click Here To Get Started

4. Scribbr

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-Scribbr

When you’re looking for freelance proofreading jobs, you’ll likely find that the search can get overwhelming in a hurry. This Is one of the best resources for the freelancer proofreader looking for work, especially when it comes to proofreading jobs for beginners. 

Based out of the Netherlands, this company is constantly looking for editors who wish to work remotely. You’ll be sent work opportunities, which tend to be academic in nature, via your email. You can choose what you want to work on and you’ll earn a flat rate per word that you proofread. Normally, that rate works out to about $25 per hour.

To qualify to work for Scribbr, you will need to have some experience editing academic papers along with a bachelor’s degree.

Click Here To Get Started

5. Upwork

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-Upwork

Some of the best online proofreading jobs can be found on Upwork, the world’s largest freelance marketplace. In addition to work proofreading and editing, you can also find work doing things like writing, marketing, and computer programming on Upwork, too.

Upwork will allow you to launch your own proofreading business so that you can meet new clients and build your portfolio. You will be able to create a detailed portfolio and profile that will highlight your skills and allow you to showcase yourself to potential clients. 

Click Here To Get Started

6. Clickworker

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-Clickworker

This is another great resource to find proofreading jobs online. Clickworker is a bit different from the other online proofreading jobs we’ve reviewed in that it’s a crowd-sourced website. You’ll be asked to look at and correct texts. These tend to be pretty brief texts, meaning you might be working on things like short descriptions of hotels or software. 

Clickworkers is easy for beginner proofreaders to navigate because there’s no formal hiring process. You don’t have to fill out a long application or sit through an interview. Since it’s a crowdsourced website, other companies and individuals post jobs that need to be completed and the Clickworkers platform is responsible for hiring the employees.

While the work here is sporadic – meaning there might be tons of proofreading jobs one day and none the next – it’s a good option for a freelance proofreader looking for a new side hustle. 

Click Here To Get Started

7. People Per Hour

Best Online Proofreading Jobs-People Per Hour

You will also find quite a few online proofreading jobs on People Per Hour. This website is similar to Upwork in that you will be able to create your own portfolio to showcase your skills and experience. You’ll be able to set your own rates, with the average proofreader on People Per Hour earning around $20 per hour.

Click Here To Get Started

How to Find the Right Proofreading Job

If you’re looking for a job as an online proofreader (or even when you’re looking for work in related fields, such as editing jobs or freelance writing), you’ll have a few hurdles to overcome. Fortunately, finding legitimate proofreading jobs is easier than ever when you browse the proofreading companies and proofreading projects we’ve mentioned above.

First, read some reviews to find the best proofreading jobs out there. To find online proofreading jobs that not only pay the bills but that you also enjoy, it can be helpful to read reviews of people who have been there and done that. It might give you a good idea of what kinds of proofreading work you might find here as well as how reliable the company is in terms of paying it contractors and dealing with client disputes.

Job boards are helpful when you’re looking for legitimate proofreading projects but you don’t have to stop there. Consider looking locally for proofreading work that you can complete at home. Is there a new business opening up down the street? Chances are, they probably have some marketing materials that need to be looked at. 

You can often find freelance proofreading jobs by browsing sites like Craigslist or Facebook, too. Don’t be afraid to look far and wide to find the right job for your specific proofreading skills. 

Take into consideration not just how much the proofreading jobs you’re looking at pay, but also what the hours might be. There are so many companies out there that advertise hundreds of proofreading jobs for beginners but require you to work long, odd hours for very little pay – so make sure you are diligent in your search for the right proofreading and editing jobs!

Is Working in Proofreading Services Right for Me? 

Do you need a side gig to make some extra money? Are you looking for something that does not require a lot of time commitment and can be done in your spare time? 

If so, finding a proofreading job from home might be the answer. 

Proofreading-Service

FAQ: Proofreading Jobs from Home

How do I become a proofreader?

To become a proofreader, it might be best if you have a degree in English, journalism, or communications – but individuals who have expertise in other areas (or degrees in other subjects) often find work as proofreaders, too. You’ll just need to demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of written language.

To become a proofreader, just apply! You may have to submit writing samples or even take a proofreading test to show your competency, but most of the time, getting hired as a proofreader is as easy as submitting an application and sitting through an interview.

How do I become a proofreader with no experience?

If you don’t have any experience, the best (and most obvious!) way to get some experience is to start working as soon as you can. You may want to offer your services at a slightly discounted rate to help get clients. Over time, you’ll be able to build up a portfolio of work that will showcase your skills and you can charge a higher rate. 

However, make sure you don’t sell yourself short – while you may want to offer a slight discount in your services, remember that your time is still valuable and you may be able to gain just as many clients by showing that your work has value. 

For both beginner and veteran proofreaders alike, it’s smart to rely on tools like Grammarly and the Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. This will help you find simple errors in a work you might be reviewing so that you can focus on the more complex stuff.

Of course, you can always offer extra services for your rate, too. Consider offering things like paraphrasing, reference checking, and formatting. You can always work in a specific niche to charge a higher rate, too, especially if you have experience (perhaps as a writer or a professional) in fields like marketing, engineering, or anything of that nature. 

How can I become a proofreader from home?

If you’re interested in becoming a proofreader from home, the easiest way to do so is to just start applying. Even if you don’t have much experience, you can use a job board to find a job with zero credentials required. Some good places to look include Problogger, Fiverr, and Upwork. 

How much do beginner proofreaders make?

Your wage as a proofreader will vary depending on how much experience you have and what kind of work you are doing. Many proofreaders with a bit of experience charge more than $30 an hour, but when you’re just starting out, you may want to advertise your services for a bit less, say around $20 an hour or so.

Kevin Martin

Kevin is an ambitious entrepreneur that is obsessed with all things related to finance. From a young age, Kevin has always been involved with side hustles ranging from online selling to freelance work. Over the years, Kevin graduated from side hustles and started launching multiple online and offline businesses. Kevin is a serial entrepreneur who loves starting new businesses and exploring all things related to business and finance. He is constantly looking for new ways to save money, invest money, and create income streams.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *