Proofreaders and Copy Markers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,040 or more. The middle half of proofreaders and copy markers in Chicago earn between $38,170 and $61,230.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $52KMedian
- $61K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,250 | $4,438 | $25.60 |
| Median | $51,970 | $4,331 | $24.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,170 | $3,181 | $18.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,230 | $5,102 | $29.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Proofreaders and copy markers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($52,010) and about the same as the U.S. average ($54,800). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $51,120.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $53,250 | $51,970 | $36,510 | $77,040 | 260 |
| Illinois | $52,010 | $50,060 | $33,950 | $77,030 | 300 |
| United States | $54,800 | $51,120 | $34,510 | $79,290 | 4,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $53,250, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $42,472 a year, or $3,539 a month and $1,634 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $43,399 | $3,617 |
| Working in IL | $42,472 | $3,539 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for proofreaders and copy markers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $53,250 buys what about $51,402 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers salary in nearby metro areas
- Detroit, MI$44,510
- St. Louis, MO$55,870
- Cincinnati, OH$54,050
- Louisville, KY$50,150
- Minneapolis, MN$52,830
- Kansas City, MO$47,660
Highest-paying cities for proofreaders and copy markers
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($67,880).
- New York, NY$67,880
- Los Angeles, CA$64,550
- Boston, MA$61,820
- Washington, DC$60,980
- Philadelphia, PA$60,240
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Proofreaders and Copy Markers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do proofreaders and copy markers make an hour in Chicago?
$25.60 an hour on average, and $24.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level proofreaders and copy markers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the proofreaders and copy markers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $42,472 a year ($3,539 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,250.
Do proofreaders and copy markers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($54,800).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-9081; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.99, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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