Proofreaders and Copy Markers Salary
The median pay for a proofreaders and copy markers in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $35,240/year ($16.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $34,929 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,977/month, about 78% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About proofreaders and copy markers
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What this looks like in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Pay for proofreaders and copy markers in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater runs about 31% below the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,977/month, which is 78.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.89) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for proofreaders and copy markerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for proofreaders and copy markers in metros near Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $52K | $46K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $53K | $53K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Entry-level proofreaders and copy markers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Proofreaders and Copy Markers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Proofreaders and Copy Markers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $68K | +33% | 50 |
| New York | $60K | +17% | 1,030 |
| California | $57K | +12% | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $57K | +12% | 190 |
| New Jersey | $57K | +11% | 160 |
| Ohio | $56K | +9% | 100 |
| Maryland | $54K | +5% | N/A |
| Washington | $54K | +5% | 60 |
| Missouri | $53K | +4% | 110 |
| Kansas | $51K | +0% | 90 |
| Illinois | $50K | -2% | 300 |
| Minnesota | $49K | -3% | N/A |
| Georgia | $49K | -4% | N/A |
| Virginia | $48K | -6% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -7% | 230 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -9% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -10% | 70 |
| Iowa | $45K | -13% | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $44K | -15% | 60 |
| South Carolina | $43K | -16% | 40 |
| Utah | $43K | -16% | N/A |
| Texas | $42K | -18% | 200 |
| Indiana | $41K | -20% | 80 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -28% | 50 |
| Florida | $36K | -30% | 200 |
| Michigan | $36K | -30% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 26 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track proofreaders and copy markers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a proofreaders and copy marker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 78.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,977/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for proofreaders and copy markers in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new proofreaders and copy markers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,795/month. At HUD’s $1,977/month FMR, rent would take 110% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is proofreaders and copy marker a high-paying job in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Local pay runs 31% below the national median — $35K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater compare to the national average for proofreaders and copy markers?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do proofreaders and copy markers make in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The median is $35,240 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,910, and experienced proofreaders and copy markers can clear $45,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,530/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,977/month, which eats 78.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a proofreaders and copy markers salary go in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median proofreaders and copy markers salary is worth about $34,929 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do proofreaders and copy markers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.