Last updated: November 12, 2024
We’re commonly asked about industry-standard editing and proofreading rates. Rates can vary widely, and there’s was no standardization, though there are market trends and averages.
In 2020, the EFA put together a survey with averages and ranges of rates across various types of editing, including copy editing and proofreading.
PS: EditorNinja is a flat-rate, on-demand copy editing and proofreading service. We charge $50 per 1,000 words copy edited and proofread up to 5,000 words, with different pricing for needs above that. Schedule an Intro Call to see if we’re the right fit for you.
Copy editing rates
Copyediting | Median Rate Per Hour | Median Rate Per Word | Median Pace Of Work |
Copyediting, fiction | $36-40/hr | $.02-.029/wd | 7-10 pages/hr |
Copyediting, Nonfiction | $41–$45/hr | $.03–$.039/wd | 4–6 pages/hr |
Copyediting, Business/Sales | $46–$50/hr | $.04–$.049/wd | 4–6 pages/hr |
Copyediting, Medical/STEM | $46–$50/hr | $.04–$.049/wd | 4–6 pages/hr |
Proofreading rates
Proofreading | Median Rate Per Hour | Median Rate Per Word | Median Pace of Work** |
Proofreading, Fiction | $31–$35/hr | $.02–$.029/wd | 11–15 pages/hr |
Proofreading, Nonfiction | $36–$40/hr | $.02–$.029/wd | 7–10 pages/hr |
Proofreading, Business/Sales | $41–$45/hr | $.04–$.049/wd | 7–10 pages/hr |
Proofreading, Medical/STEM | $41–$45/hr | $.03–$.039/wd | 4–6 pages/hr |
How much does it cost to edit 1,000 words?
Copy editing costs a median per-hour rate of $35. This is the industry average, of course, with more senior editors (who can edit faster) charging more and less experienced editors taking longer, and so costs may vary by a few dollars per hour on either end.
EditorNinja charges $50 per thousand words edited, up to 5,000 words. Pricing is on a volume basis above that. Schedule a call with us here to chat about your need.
For the purposes of the EFA survey and this chart, a page was defined as 250 words, which is the industry standard for a manuscript page.