# Will AI replace proofreaders? Updated October 2026 Proofreaders score 76 of 100 for AI exposure. AI can already do 62% of their task time. AI speeds up the other 38%. - **62%** AI can do it - **38%** AI helps Very high exposure Higher than 100% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 11 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 6 of them today, speeds up 5 and leaves 0 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Compare information or figures on one record against same data on other records, or with original copy, to detect errors. Automated comparison matches figures and data against source records. | 85% AI can do it | | Mark copy to indicate and correct errors in type, arrangement, grammar, punctuation, or spelling, using standard printers' marks. AI reliably flags typos, grammar and punctuation errors in text. | 80% AI can do it | | Read corrected copies or proofs to ensure that all corrections have been made. Diff and comparison tools can verify every correction was applied. | 80% AI can do it | | Correct or record omissions, errors, or inconsistencies found. AI can log and correct omissions and inconsistencies in text. | 75% AI can do it | | Consult reference books or secure aid of readers to check references with rules of grammar and composition. AI checks grammar rules fast, but readers still needed for some checks. | 70% AI helps | [See what AI can take on across an operations team](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/operations/) ## How proofreaders compare All occupations (923) Office and administrative support (51) **Proofreaders score 76**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 57 for office and administrative support. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $51,120 a year, May 2025 People employed 4,580 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs \-0.9% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Mark copy with standard printers' marks in Adobe InDesign - Check house style rules in Microsoft Word review tools - Verify page layout and spacing in Adobe InDesign - Confirm proof corrections in Microsoft Excel comparison sheets - Read proof sheets aloud for proper names and unusual spellings ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Editors59 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/editors/) - [Desktop publishers65 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/desktop-publishers/) - [Technical writers61 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/technical-writers/) - [Typists66 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/typists/) - [File clerks59 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/file-clerks/) ## Questions about proofreaders and AI Will proofreaders be replaced by AI? Partly. About 7 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly comparing figures against source records and marking typos, grammar and punctuation errors. Proofreaders stay on the work that needs a person to judge sources, check spacing and read proper names aloud. Which proofreader tasks is AI taking over? Comparing figures on one record against other records or original copy has an exposure score of 85, so automated comparison now matches data against source files. Marking typos, grammar and punctuation errors, exposure 80, is also handled well by AI, which flags most errors in seconds. Which proofreader tasks stay human? Consulting with authors and editors on manuscript changes has the lowest exposure score, 35, because it needs live discussion. Reading proof sheets aloud and checking spacing in layout software also stay with people, since a person must lead the check and judge spacing. How can proofreaders stay valuable as AI takes on more checking? Move toward the steps AI handles poorly, such as reviewing final InDesign layouts for spacing and placement. Learn to set up and audit automated comparison and diff tools in Word and Excel, then sign off on the results. Keep direct contact with authors and editors on changes. ## Related jobs - [Writers65 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/writers/) - [Data entry clerks66 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/data-entry-clerks/) - [Video editors49 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/video-editors/) - [Library technicians53 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/library-technicians/) ## Next steps for proofreaders - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.