Rates, 2026
What should an editor or proofreader charge in a major city?
About $425 a day for a editor or proofreader who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $300 in the first years, $550 when senior. Editing a manuscript runs about $2,350. Also called: copyeditor, developmental editor.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$300
a day · $40 an hour
Working, booked
$425
a day · $55 an hour
Senior, sought after
$550
a day · $70 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$425 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$55 per hour
- Editing a manuscript$2,350 per project
Sold a project fee, by the hour. The outcome is the unit; the day rate is for when a client wants your time instead.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Proofreading$15 to $35 per 1,000 words
- Copyediting$25 to $70 per 1,000 words
- Developmental editing$50 to $125 per 1,000 words
- Website or deck read-through$175 to $500 each
How the number is made
Editor and proofreaders at this level in this market day at about $425 ($300 to $700 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
Editing a manuscript runs $500 to $5,000 and takes about 20 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $1,100. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a editor or proofreader in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $425 a day for someone working and booked, $300 in the first years, $550 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is editing a manuscript?
- $2,350 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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