Proofreaders and Copy Markers
SOC 43-9081 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers is $48,790, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $51,100, and an estimated 5,490 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +18.6% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +0.7% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 0.6% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Proofreaders and Copy Markers has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $48,790 | $48,790 | 5,490 |
| 2022 | $45,410 | $47,279 | 5,120 |
| 2021 | $43,940 | $49,410 | 5,340 |
| 2020 | $41,140 | $48,435 | 6,610 |
Nominal change
+18.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+0.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-0.6%
About average
Employment 2024
12,000
Projected 2034
11,900
Annual Openings
1,900
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Proofreaders and Copy Markers earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $48,790. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $70,370 | +44.2% | 40 |
| California | $66,110 | +35.5% | 440 |
| New York | $62,330 | +27.8% | 790 |
| Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $55,700 | +14.2% | — |
| Massachusetts | $52,000 | +6.6% | — |
| Maryland | $51,890 | +6.4% | 120 |
| Washington | $51,010 | +4.6% | 90 |
| Colorado | $50,980 | +4.5% | 60 |
| Missouri | $50,460 | +3.4% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $49,500 | +1.5% | 100 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$31,730
25th Pct
$37,940
Median
$48,790
75th Pct
$59,090
90th Pct
$75,510
Related Occupations in Office & Administrative Support
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.