10 Jobs for People Who Know How to Use Correct Grammar
You can make a paycheck from your penchant for proper punctuation.
Get that red pen ready.
Is correct grammar your thing? Do you frequently spend time debating the necessity of the Oxford Comma? Are you constantly correcting your friends’ hastily written emails? Sure, they might get annoyed when you correct their spelling, word choice, and syntax, but there are grammar jobs where your boss would be pleased by your detail-oriented, rule-following disposition.
Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster found 10 jobs for people whose favorite bedtime story is The Elements of Style.
10 Awesome Grammar Jobs
- Copywriter
- Editor
- Writer
- Lawyer
- Paralegal
- Reporter
- High school teacher
- Public relations specialist
- Technical writer
- Proofreader
1. Copywriter
What you’ll do: Be prepared to channel your inner advertiser. If you’re a marketing mastermind who can craft a winning (and grammatically correct) tagline in your sleep, a copywriting career may be calling your name. You’ll be responsible for writing and editing copy for print and digital marketing materials.
What you’ll need: A bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or English is preferred.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a copywriter is $60,00 per year
Find copywriter jobs on Monster.
2. Editor
What you’ll do: Get your red pen (or your track changes skills) ready! As an editor, you’ll work closely with the author of a book, blog, or article to improve his or her work for clarity and organization. You’ll also edit for correct grammar, spelling, and typos.
What you’ll need: A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or English is preferred.
What you’ll make: The median salary for an editor is $24 per hour
Find editor jobs on Monster.
3. Writer
What you’ll do: Do you think you’re the voice of your generation (ahem, influencers) or the next Shakespeare? Show you have the write stuff. Sure, the role of an editor is important—it’s always beneficial to have an extra set of eyes on content before it goes out into the world—but the best (and most marketable) writers know how to edit their own work.
What you’ll need: Writing chops. But a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism or communications is preferred, though not mandatory.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a writer is $24.55 an hour.
Find writer jobs on Monster.
4. Lawyer
What you’ll do: No case is the same...but the grammar rules are. You are competitive, driven, inquisitive, detail-oriented, and feel comfortable using legal jargon in everyday life. You’ll make sure only copacetic, comma slice–free briefs go out.
What you’ll need: Pack up some books and head to law school. You’ll need a juris doctor degree, and you’ll also need to pass your state’s bar exam. View a sample resume for a lawyer.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a lawyer is $87,000 per year.
Find lawyer jobs on Monster.
5. Paralegal
What you’ll do: A paralegal jobs is a great trial run (pun intended) for becoming a lawyer if you decide to take that next step. You’ll be responsible for researching, organizing, and preparing court documents, and of course you’ll be editing lawyers’ work—and ghostwriting some too!
What you’ll need: You’ll need an associate degree or bachelor’s degree. View a sample resume for a paralegal.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a paralegal is $45,190 per year.
Find paralegal jobs on Monster.
6. Reporter
Why: Reporters gather facts and turn real-life events into well-written stories. Sharpen your pencils, though, because you’ll have to edit your scripts and articles for proper grammar before they go live.
What you’ll need: A bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications is preferred. View a sample resume for a reporter.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a reporter is $40,755 per year
Find reporting jobs on Monster.
7. High School Teacher
What you’ll do: This probably isn't top of mind when you think of proofreading jobs, but think of it: Someone has to be responsible for teaching grammar to the next generation. You’ll school students on syntax and sentence structure.
What you’ll need: If you’re teaching in a private school you’ll only need a bachelor’s degree. To teach in a public school, you’ll need a state-issued certification or license. View a sample resume for a teacher.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a high school teacher is $44,860 per year.
Find high school teacher jobs on Monster.
8. Public Relations Specialist
What you’ll do: People and companies are counting on you to make a good first impression. If your press releases have numerous errors, it’s very likely they’ll go straight into the trash. Public relations specialists help their clients or company get great press coverage by thoroughly checking the grammar, style, and facts of public-facing materials oriented toward reporters, editors, and other journalists or bloggers.
What you’ll need: Public relations specialists usually need a bachelor’s degree. A degree in public relations, journalism, communications, English, or business is preferred. View a sample resume for a public relations manager.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a public relations specialist is $58,175 per year.
Find public relations jobs on Monster.
9. Technical Writer
What you’ll do: Reading directions can be confusing enough—your sentence structure shouldn’t be. Hey, you may be the author of the instruction manual people read once...then keep forever (just in case they need it again). As a technical writer, you’ll create instruction manuals, how-to guides, and anything else that might be used to explain your organization’s products or goals.
What you’ll need: A college degree is necessary, and you’ll get extra credit if you studied a technical subject like computer programming or engineering. Learn how to become a technical writer.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a technical writer is $33 per hour.
Find technical writer jobs and technical editor jobs on Monster.
10. Proofreader
What you’ll do: You are the gatekeeper, the one who adheres to the standards of correct grammar, the last line of defense before something is published. You’ll check for typos, spelling errors, and grammar. It’s a lot of responsibility, but think of the pride you’ll have knowing you saved your company from poor word choice or spelling disasters.
What you’ll need: You’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree.
What you’ll make: The median salary for a proofreader is $21 per hour.
Find proofreader jobs on Monster.
Correct Grammar Must Shine on Your Resume
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